2024 Rankings: The Specialists

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's nothing like watching a big special teams play turn a game around. From a well-positioned punt to that clutch game winning kick, specialists can define their team's seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These five South Carolina seniors are well prepared to make those big moments happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's run through the most impressive specialists on our 2024 Prep Redzone South Carolina Rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["91354"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAn experienced punter with success in competitions at the national stage, u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eColeman Franzone u003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003elands on the top spot of all our 2024 specialists. Franzone broke through with some tremendous showings in the summer of 2022, winning a Kohl's Kicking national punt contest alongside top competition from across the country. His powerful leg has been impactful for the Trojans, posting a 50-yard punt and back-to-back 60-yard kicks in a recent game against Bishop England. A selection to the prestigious Shrine Bowl, Franzone has developed into a standout in the punting game that could be enormous to the Trojans as they enter Region VII-4A play. u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65146dee15420"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18201791/65072d666899990b6444835d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65146dee154e8"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["340392"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eA quickly rising talent for the Iron Horses, u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eSam Crockeru003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e has become a versatile specialist on the rise in the Class of 2024. He's got tremendous mechanics and skill as a punter, consistently delivering accurate kicks to pin his opponents back. He delivered a spectacular performance against Georgetown earlier this season, recording five touchbacks and a flawless punt that was downed at the 1-yard-line. He's knocked five of his 10 punts inside the 20 this year and could be an important factor in a massive Region VIII-3A clash this week against Beaufort. u003c/spanu003ernrnu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["340391"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eConsistently a strong standout on the field both kicking and punting, u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eCavan Craigu003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e has made a name for himself at Bishop England. Craig has shown his strong leg this season in the punting game, launching a 67 yard punt from the back of the end zone against Woodland. A tremendously hard worker who has developed a tremendous average distance and hang time, Craig took high honors as the top specialist at this year's Palmetto Combine Series South event. He's a former champion in national Kohl's kicking competitions and has proven to be one of his best at the position in South Carolina.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["346194"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u0026nbsp;rnrnu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eA potent weapon for the kicking game at North Augusta, u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eJack Stevensu003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e has impressed so far in his senior year. Stevens is a tireless worker and has consistently proven his kicking prowess with a strong and accurate leg. He was excellent in his last action against Strom Thurmond, going a perfect 5-for-5 on touchbacks with a long of 72 yards alongside a field goal. Stevens is a terrific student in the classroom and translates that strong work ethic to the field. He's developed some more distance on his kicks including several 50+ yarders at camps. Stevens will be a force to watch in the kicking game when region play begins this week.  u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["208343"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eOne of the most talented specialists in the state, u003c/spanu003eu003cbu003eThomas Guererro u003c/bu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003ehas taken his skills a step further in 2023. The Greenville senior has been a wizard with the ball in his hands, showing elite directional punting skills to pin the ball out of bounds inside the 20 at a consistent basis. Guererro has developed textbook technique and shows impressive dedication to his work both at the field and the gym to make a quick rise up the ranks. His excellent hang time on punts and precise accuracy has made him a lethal component of the Red Raider special teams unit.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65146dee15696"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15282192/6509cc394205d90bc4924fc2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65146dee156dc"} /-->