2025 Specialists to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get closer to the 2024 high school football season, another rankings update period has begun. After covering the top players on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball in the upcoming senior class, I wanted to turn my attention to an often under appreciated group of players, the specialists. With that being said, here are some top players to watch on special teams in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1315097"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669578a185bbf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1315097' first='Carson' last='Hilbert'] is the top returning kicker in the entire state of Kentucky, regardless of class. He played a key role in Trinity's 6A State Championship run as a junior, making 12/14 field goal attempts and 57/57 PATs in 16 games. While he is at his best as a kicker, Hilbert is also a very reliable punter, averaging 41.2 yards on 52 punts last season. His performance helped him earn All-State honors for the 2023 season. Carson currently holds offers from Louisville and Western Kentucky, and I expect more to come his way as he has the talent to kick at the Power 4 level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1315098"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669578a185c18"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1315098' first='Parker' last='Friedman'] is the second and final specialist that made our updated Top 200 rankings for the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky. Friedman is coming off a strong junior year as a kicker in which he made 10/13 field goal attempts in 12 games, leading the state in field goals made per game. He also connected on 47/49 PAT attempts. Parker has a very strong leg, showing the ability to hit from 50+ yards out with ease. He was rated as a 4.5 Star kicker by Kohl's Kicking. Friedman doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received a solid amount of college interest and has the talent to be a very reliable kicker at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1315102"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669578a185c62"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1315102' first='Braden' last='Widener'] is another kicker from the class of 2025 who is coming off a strong junior year. Widener played a key role in Bowling Green's 5A State Championship run last season, making 8/11 field goals and 71/71 PATs. Braden has a strong leg, showing the ability to make field goals from 50+ yards out. He also shows this on kickoffs, finishing last season with 23 touch backs. Braden was rated as a 4.5 Star kicker by Kohl's Kicking. Widener doesn't currently hold any offers but he has received some college interest and definitely has the talent to kick somewhere at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1315099"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669578a185c9e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">My final specialist to watch in the class of 2025 in the state of Kentucky is [player_tooltip player_id='1315099' first='Logan' last='Zoeller']. Zoeller had a strong junior year as a kicker, connecting on 8/9 field goals and 47/48 PATs in 11 games. Logan has a strong leg, showing the ability to hit field goals consistently from 50+ yards out and kick very frequent touch backs as a kickoff specialist. Zoeller was named a 4.5 Star kicker by Kohl's Kicking while also being named a 3.5 Star punter. Logan doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who college coaches who are looking for a kicker should keep an eye on heading into his senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->