2024 Rankings Update: Top 5 Kickers & Long Snappers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 Rankings have been updated for the final time of their cycle and nearly 300 new names have been added! There are now almost 400 names in our 2024 Rankings with PRZ WV ranking every senior prospect that had film on their HUDL to evaluate. Here are the Top 5 kickers and long snappers in the 2024 class!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Kickers</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["370275"],"_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":"Huntington kicker [player_tooltip player_id='370275' first='Jonny' last='Aya-ay'] capped off a fantastic high school career with the state's biggest honor for a special teams player earning the Fulton Walker award. The award signifies the state's best special teams player each season and there were none better in 2023. Aya-ay was perfect on his place kicks this season making 91/91 PATs and 5/5 field goals. He finished his high school career making 104 consecutive PATs dating back to his junior season which is a state record. Aya-ay also tied the WVSSAC playoff record for longest field goal at 46 yards and also set the record for number of extra points scored in a season. Aya-ay is a high academic student posting a 4.4 GPA and has earned a couple of G5 offers to kick at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["893398"],"_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":"Another specialist who has earned plenty of accolades during his high school career is John Marshall's [player_tooltip player_id='893398' first='Conor' last='Fitzpatrick']. Fitzpatrick is another great student posting a 4.0 GPA and earned First Team All-State as a punter his junior year and Second Team All-State this year for the same position. He was also named the WTOV9 Special Teams Player of the Year this season in the Ohio Valley along with being a PRZ WV Second Team All-State selection. The 6'0 165 senior is also a very good placekicker and that may just be what he's best at which speaks volumes to how versatile and talented he is in all facets of special teams. Fitzpatrick can hit from 50+ yards on field goals comfortably and has hit from 40+ yards multiple times this season and in the past. He has a few D2 offers but can kick at the D1 level in my opinion.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["370292"],"_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":"The best specialist in Class A by far has been Wheeling Central kicker/punter [player_tooltip player_id='370292' first='Eli' last='Tucker'] who just entered our Top 50 in the 2024 Rankings. Tucker was a First Team All-State selection by PRZ WV and the WVSWA this season and is a 3-time First Team selection by the WVSWA in his senior, junior, and sophomore years along with being a Second Team selection as a freshman. Tucker has to be in rare company as a 4-time All-State selection and one of the most decorated athletes in WV regardless of classification. He was perfect on his PATs and field goals this season for the Maroon Knights and has garnered serious attention and interest from D2 and D3 colleges but has the ability to kick at the D1 level. Yet another high academic student with a 4.12 GPA and 1140 SAT score who has the added bonus of kicking on NCAA uprights for Wheeling Central's home games.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["370284"],"_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":"Parkersburg specialist [player_tooltip player_id='370284' first='Casey' last='Stanley'] may just be the best athlete in the state for a specialist and totaled 480 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns while making 43 tackles this season on defense for the Big Reds. Stanley went 51/54 on PATS and 7/8 on field goals as a senior. Standing at 6'3 180, Stanley also has very good size along with being a very good athlete which benefits him in the kicking and punting game. He was a Second Team All-State selection by the WVSWA and a PRZ WV First Team All-State Defense selection as a K/P. Stanley is 17/21 on field goals during his career with a long of 46 yards and 107/115 on PATs. He's also averaged 35.5 yards per punt in his high school career.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["370312"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"The most underrated specialist in WV may just be Wheeling Park kicker/punter [player_tooltip player_id='370312' first='Aidan' last='Forget'] in my opinion. Forget was 4/5 on field goals this season for the Patriots hitting on kicks of 33, 32, 32, and 21 yards during his senior year. He also averaged 37.4 yards per punt this year with 4 of them being downed inside the 20. Forget makes it 5/5 on high academic students in our Top 5 kickers ranking with an impressive 4.6 GPA. He was a field goal and punt specialist this season for the Patriots but has the ability to kick PATs and handle kickoffs in college as well. Wheeling Park has produced some high-level specialists through the years and Forget is another example of that. He has considerable D3 interest but should be getting some D2 looks as well.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65887ddd4f9ca"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Long Snappers</strong></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1117914"],"_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":"The long snapper position is the toughest to evaluate out of any of them but the often-overlooked aspect of the game deserves some love and spotlight too. WV had 6 long snappers in the 2024 class that we could find film on and Winfield's [player_tooltip player_id='1117914' first='Luke' last='Davis'] earned our #1 ranking at the long snapper position. While he may be the smallest of the six at 6'0 and 180 pounds, Davis makes up for it with his athleticism and has the best put-together film. He's a good athlete who was the only long snapper on our list who showed himself covering punts consistently which is an essential aspect of the position. Davis also snaps a fast ball and showed the versatility of playing other positions for the Generals. His size will likely keep him at the D3 level but Davis should be at the top of your list if you need a long snapper.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["907815"],"_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":"Coming in at our #2 spot in the long snapper ranking is [player_tooltip player_id='907815' first='Elijah' last='Crowley'] from Capital. Crowley is our biggest long snapper and has great size at 6'5 220. We named him First Team All-State for Class AAA and may just have the highest ceiling out of our six ranked long snappers. He's a high academic student posting a 4.43 GPA and a member of the National Honor Society. Crowley holds 5 current offers ranging from the D2 level to NAIA and D3. He's a consistent snapper who has a snap-to-kick time on field goals and extra points under 1.5 seconds and is in the 0.77-0.82 second range on punt snaps from 13 yards out. The only thing that kept him from being ranked #1 was not showing his athleticism and coverage ability on punts but Crowley is a very quality long snapper in the other facets of the position.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["893402"],"_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":"Another high ceiling long snapper prospect because of his size is Musselman's [player_tooltip player_id='893402' first='Breyden' last='Parker']. Parker measures in at 6'3 245 and was a PRZ WV Honorable Mention Class AAA All-State selection this year for the position. With his size, Parker can be a very good blocker for the position and although he doesn't possess elite athleticism he showed he can run downfield on punts. More consistency on snap speed and placement along with tighter spirals will benefit him at the college level. Musselman lines up their punter about 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage so he may need some continued development at the 15-yard depth in college. Raw prospect with pretty high upside who should be able to snap at the D2 or D3 level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["370310"],"_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":"There wasn't much game film from Cabell Midland long snapper [player_tooltip player_id='370310' first='Jared' last='Nethercutt'] which hurt his ranking but he has nice size and athleticism for the position. Nethercutt measures in at 6'2 215 and doubles as a quality baseball pitching prospect for the 2023 State Baseball Champion Knights. From the game film that was available, Nethercutt showed good consistency on PAT snaps with speed and location and has reps snapping punts from 15 yards out. However, he did not show his athleticism or ability on punt coverage which also hurt his ranking. I think he may just be the most talented and athletic long snapper prospect on the list but unfortunately, we can only evaluate what film is available. Nethercutt still ranks in our Top 5 for long snappers and is certainly worth reaching out to if he has an interest in playing football in college.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1117913"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Rounding out our Top 5 long snapper 2024 Rankings is James Monroe's [player_tooltip player_id='1117913' first='Jackson' last='Phipps']. Phipps is another nice-sized long snapping prospect at 6'3 225 whose ranking was hurt by not having any 2023 season highlights. From watching his junior highlights, Phipps was typically snapping from between 10-13 yards on punts and could be more consistent on snap speed and location. There were a couple of highlights of him covering punts and it seems like he has the athleticism needed to do so. It's possible he made a big jump from his junior to senior year but it's hard to say with no highlights. With more development, I think Phipps could long snap at the D2 or D3 level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65887ddd4fac2"} /-->