PRZIA ’26 Rankings Update Position Breakdown: Special Teams

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;OscarGalindo30&nbsp;in the coupon code area.</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The final set of rankings is officially out with the latest <em><a href="https://prepredzone.com/iowa/rankings/2026-rankings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Class of 2026 rankings</a></em> update! This was a big update with over 150 new players bringing our totals to 478 ranked prospects and 250+ watchlist players. As we have done with the recent updates, Rob and I will be doing position breakdowns where we cover some of the top prospects in each positional group and deliver insights into their recruitment and film breakdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first position I am covering is the sometimes-forgotten, but ALWAYS important, special teams. Here I feature some of the top kickers, punters, and long snappers in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["401672"],"_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-6871c147a5655"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/Jimmyscott016" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@Jimmyscott016)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The top-ranked special teamer in the 2026 cycle came off the board last month after Lewis Central's [player_tooltip player_id='401672' first='Jimmy' last='Scott'] announced his decision to stay in-state at Northern Iowa. Jimmy is a versatile special-teams player who could serve as a punter or kicker at the next level. Scott had a tremendous junior season in which he converted 7/12 field goal attempts (long 47), 48/50 PATs, 3,5666 kickoff yards, 1,309 punt yards (34 attempts), and a 38.5-yard per punt average. Jimmy was also a solid contributor on offense with eight receptions, 189 yards, and two touchdowns. Overall, Jimmy has a strong leg that gives him great range for field goal attempts and allows him to get solid distance on his punts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17722587/6738da2bb978c2e407e04b54' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6871c147a583c"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1328145"],"_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-6871c147a5897"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/KieranPolking" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@KieranPolking)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carroll's [player_tooltip player_id='1328145' first='Kieran' last='Polking'] is an interesting prospect who checks in as the #2 kicker but has the potential to earn a big role in the offense this season. As a junior, Polking excelled in kickoffs, where he was consistent with his kick placement and gave his teammates time to defend the return. Polking converted 26/30 of his PATs. Kieran is a versatile athlete who has the hands and blocking chops to be a TE/H-back at the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15089890/67ac1534da053c720da95eb0' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6871c85991147"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1241368"],"_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-6871c147a58e7"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/Stitz07" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@Stitz07)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Carroll will also have a top punter to complement their kicking game with senior [player_tooltip player_id='1241368' first='Mason' last='Stitz'] flipping the field for the Tigers. As a junior, Mason may have only punted 14 times, but he averaged 36.9 yards per attempt for 517 total yards. My biggest takeaway from Mason's game is his ability to get air under his punts with an average hang time in the 3.5-3.75 second range. With more reps and experience, I can see Mason push that past 4 seconds and an average closer to 40-45, which he showed on a monster 72-yard punt. I also counted five punts inside the 20, showing his ability to pin his opponents deep in their territory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15104363/67265dd5bf323254c184535b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6871c147a590d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1689778"],"_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-6871c147a5970"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/ColbySimon94799" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@ColbySimon94799)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">ADM [player_tooltip player_id='1689778' first='Colby' last='Simons'] is the second-rated punter in the latest ranking update after a strong junior campaign. Last season, Colby attempted 38 punts, averaging 37 yards per punt for a total of 1,406 yards. Colby has solid size at 6'4" and 180 pounds with a strong leg. Simons' hang time also consistently fell in the 3.5-3.75 second range. I can't tell from the film, but I wonder if Colby's punts rotate differently or something because opposing returners seemed to have some trouble fielding them, leading to possible turnovers. Colby is listed as a 4-star P/K.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16712153/67bcfb302003baa5c9a0ac41' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6871c147a5996"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1699450"],"_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-6871c147a59dd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/ReeceStrit81" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">(@ReeceStrit81)</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keeping it in the same special-teams room, ADM's [player_tooltip player_id='1699450' first='Reece' last='Strittmatter'] is another prospect to watch this season. Strittmater earned a 4.5-star distinction after going 100% (38/38) on his snaps as a junior. Watching Reece's film, you can see the velocity he can put on his snaps, getting the ball out quickly and with a sharp spiral as it comes out of his hands. He places the ball right on the money, making his holder's/punters' life a lot easier. At 6'6" and 205 pounds, I can see Reece carving out a bigger role for himself on offense this season as a tight end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18174820/677586403665c7256d0bbba8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6871c147a59fe"} /--> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Make sure to follow&nbsp;<em>@PRZ_OscarG</em>&nbsp;for more news on Nebraska and Iowa HS recruiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->