2024 Rankings: The Specialists
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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. These five South Carolina seniors are well prepared to make those…
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Continue ReadingThere’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.
These five South Carolina seniors are well prepared to make those big moments happen.
Let’s run through the most impressive specialists on our 2024 Prep Redzone South Carolina Rankings.
An experienced punter with success in competitions at the national stage, Coleman Franzone lands 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.
A quickly rising talent for the Iron Horses, Sam Crocker 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.
Consistently a strong standout on the field both kicking and punting, Cavan Craig 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.
A potent weapon for the kicking game at North Augusta, Jack Stevens 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.
One of the most talented specialists in the state, Thomas Guererro has 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.