NY 2025 Rankings: Specialists

I always find it difficult rankings specialists because the overall ability of a specialist many times is not reflected during the fall season when there are limited opportunities or just the fact the the entire operation kicking field goals or punts is not done at nearly similar level to what you see in college. Additionally, there is an aspect of being a specialist there are so limited available spots at the next level especially in division 1 football. Each D1 team carries 1 scholarship specialist at each position if they even carry that in some cases, and the lower level you go in college football the less scholarship recruiting there is. Still, some of the most important players to the game are specialists and good teams often are good in all three phases of the game.   I did throw these guys at the end of the rankings, both LS and K, and the rank is based on a combination of outside sources, some of their stats, and whatever kicking clips I could conjure up from social media or Hudl.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Kickers</h1>    [player_tooltip player_id='648913' first='Daniel' last='Blank'] - Blank is a 4.5 star kicker & punter by Kohls and has the most experience kicking at the varsity level of any prospects in this class being the main guy kicking for Longwood since his 8th grade season. Tons of reps in-game for Blank, something we don't always see from the states top kickers. Blank has the leg to really be either a P or K at the next level and could help doing both based on team need.   [player_tooltip player_id='811903' first='Jace' last='D'Jon'] - The Holy Trinity K/P was one of the best specialists in the NYCHSFL last season which featured a couple of standouts. With a soccer goalie back ground D'Jon's leg strength is evident with plenty of touchbacks and had some huge punts for Holy Trinity near the end of the season when the weather and cold makes life of a specialist extremely difficult.   [player_tooltip player_id='1171128' first='Gavin' last='Dandrea'] - Dandrea did not miss a PAT this last season and the 4 star kicker & punter by Kohls was automatic for Comsewogue. Dandrea excelled on kickoffs with 6 touchbacks and even had one of the longer FGs this year with a 37 yarder.   [player_tooltip player_id='811905' first='Cole' last='Callard'] - Callard who as of a few days ago was rated a 4.5 star kicker and 4 star punter by Kohls is a standout on Medina's soccer team in the fall while also kicking for Medina. Callard holds the school record with a 47 yard field goal on a ball that on the tape looks like it would have been good from 55+.   [player_tooltip player_id='648914' first='Brendan' last='Griffey'] - Griffey who is a 3.5 star prospect by Kohls was solid as a kicker for West Seneca West this season, I think he is the one prospect on this list who may be seen more as a punter/KO combo guy. He has a strong leg and I really like some of the punts he had against Clarence & West Seneca East.   <h1 class="wp-block-heading">Long Snappers</h1>    [player_tooltip player_id='1284170' first='Jake' last='Campisi'] - Campisi just picked up his first offer from Bucknell and the former St. John the Baptist LS reclassified and will be an early enrollee next season. Campisi is a 4.5 star LS by Rubio Long Snapping and shows some athleticism to cover on punts on tape.   [player_tooltip player_id='648915' first='John' last='Winner'] - Winner who is a 4 star by Rubio and #31 ranked LS & 4.5 star by Kohls. At 6' 230lbs Winner has the most intriguing frame of any of the specialists on this list. Winner has the most velocity behind his ball in this class and is very much in the mix as the top snapper in the state.   [player_tooltip player_id='1284169' first='Jake' last='Schlipf'] - Schlipf out of Garden City is a 4 star snapper by Rubio and has a very intriguing frame at 6'3 195. Schlipf has solid tape and looks to have real quality consistency with pinpoint accurate snaps.   There are plenty of additional of other guys I am really tracking and watching still. [player_tooltip player_id='648883' first='Yusuf' last='Abdi'] out of East is a very intriguing prospect as is [player_tooltip player_id='806529' first='Efe' last='Ilgar'] from Dalton on the Kicker side of things. At LS [player_tooltip player_id='735862' first='Thomas' last='O'Sullivan'] is right up with the best in the state as a snapper at 6' 200lbs and comes from Kellenberg who recently sent a LS to Notre Dame.

I always find it difficult rankings specialists because the overall ability of a specialist many times is not reflected during the fall season when there are limited opportunities or just the fact the the entire operation kicking field goals or punts is not done at nearly similar level to what you see in college. Additionally, there is an aspect of being a specialist there are so limited available spots at the next level especially in division 1 football. Each D1 team carries 1 scholarship specialist at each position if they even carry that in some cases, and the lower level you go in college football the less scholarship recruiting there is. Still, some of the most important players to the game are specialists and good teams often are good in all three phases of the game.