Specialists to Know in Virginia for the 2024 Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing with my coverage on special teams players in Virginia, today I highlight five more players you should be aware of this season. Specialists are often overlooked in high school football, and the state of Virginia has many that you should be aware of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can read my four previous articles from early July covering specialists in Virginia <a href="https://prepredzone.com/author/cole-laing-author/">here</a>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1404654"],"_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-6697f8e03fcc2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kyle boasts a strong leg. He consistently can place kickoffs out of the back of the end zone. He made a 47-yard FG with some room to spare in a <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8404360/66c8bd22b96b3ab0990bc9c2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">recent scrimmage against Powhatan</a>. He earned 2nd Team All-State honors last season as a sophomore and will remain as one of the top specialists in the state this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/8404360/Kyle-Bitsko" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> / <a href="https://x.com/Kyle_Bitsko20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/kyle_bitsko20/status/1827816117156643207","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/kyle_bitsko20/status/1827816117156643207 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1404652"],"_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-66ccaf2d13a25"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jonathan handles Field Goal, PAT, Kickoff and Punts for Thomas Dale. Shows good poise under pressure and is trusted to make game-winning Field Goals. He has looked good in his preseason scrimmage kicks and will be a dependable player for Thomas Dale this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/19315635/jonathan-gates" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> / <a href="https://x.com/jgates13_" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jgates13_/status/1827881864633229813","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jgates13_/status/1827881864633229813 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1404656"],"_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-66a003dc93627"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Long Snapper for Thomas Dale will be a key piece to the success of their kicker and punter [player_tooltip player_id='1404652' first='Jonathan' last='Gates Jr.'] Shows accuracy and quickness in his snaps for both kicks and punts. He is Class of 2027 and has three more seasons to continue to develop his craft. He is also listed as an LB and ATH, and we may see him contribute in other ways on the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/22118890/Gavin-Dale" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> / <a href="https://x.com/g_rex_td" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/g_rex_td/status/1820637359626387749","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/g_rex_td/status/1820637359626387749 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1235619"],"_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-6697f8e03fd24"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Battlefield's long snapper is one to know. Snaps for punts and kicks, with good quickness and accuracy. He has good reps on film from Battlefield's recent scrimmage you can view on <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18041193/66c895c83128927d006f2f59" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Hudl</em></a>. Battlefield is set to have another big season and Augustus' role as long snapper should not be overlooked in their success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/18041193/Augustus-Kemp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> / <a href="https://x.com/AugustusKemp26" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/AugustusKemp26/status/1822470291878023172","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/AugustusKemp26/status/1822470291878023172 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1177963' first='Jaycob' last='Wolfe'] | ATH | 6'0" 170 lbs | Class of 2025<br><strong>State:</strong> Virginia <strong>School: </strong>Craig County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jaycob is known for his position versatility on offense and defense playing QB, WR, and DB. On top of that, he is his team's long snapper for kicks and punts. He is a leader for Craig County and has been a major part of defining a standard of excellence this off-season that I believe will reflect on the field this year for the Rockets. I will be providing coverage when Craig County hosts Twin Valley on September 27 this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/16433863/jaycob-wolfe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hudl</a> / <a href="https://x.com/jaycob_wolfe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">X</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/prospect-index/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>&nbsp;to claim your Prep Redzone Prospect Index profile.<br>Follow me on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/GoLions1934" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@GoLions1934</a>&nbsp;for further content |&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/PrepRedzoneVA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@PrepRedzoneVA</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/PrepRedzone" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@PrepRedzone</a>&nbsp;| Virginia Scout&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/carljfred" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@carljfred</a></em>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<em>View my previous Prep Redzone articles&nbsp;<a href="https://prepredzone.com/author/cole-laing-author/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->