Chicagoland product Nikola Dugandzic Nikola Dugandzic 6'5" | 205 lbs | K New Trier | 2025 State IL has been on my radar for a while and opened his high school career in impressive fashion, as his first-ever punt went 63 yards and was downed at the 1-yard line. Welcome to high school ball, stud! With a massive leg as both a kicker and punter that is far from average as an underclassman, Dugandzic is highly rated by third-party specialist services and got his recruiting journey going early with unofficial visits to Northwestern x2, Notre Dame, Purdue, and Illinois last fall. This spring, he kept the momentum going and visited Illinois, Notre Dame, Northwestern, and Illinois to stay busy and enter the all-important junior season on a ton of major program’s radars. He’s no doubt one of the best specialists in the 2025 class, and his padded, in-season play backs up the impressive times and kicks he’s popped off throughout the offseason, as Dugandzic averaged 40.3 yards a punt with 12 landing inside the 20, as well as touchbacks on 20 of his 28 kickoff attempts in 2022. The All-Conference selection out of New Trier’s highest totals are as followed:

Punts: 64 yards (55 in air, 4.5 hang time), 54 yards 52 yards, 53 yards, 48 yards (4.22 hang, landed inside the 10), 49 yards (4.25 hang), 53 yards (4.4 hang), 39 yards (downed inside the 5), 47 yards (4.18 hang) and 40 yards (4.28 hang, inside the 10) while consistently backing up & frustrating returners for visible reactions.

Kickoffs: 79+ yard kickoff (3.9 hang), 70 yards, 68 yards (4.1 hang), 69 yards (4.08 hang), 67 yards (4.28 hang), 75 yards, 67 yards (3.91 hang), and a successful onside recovery to go along with a ton of 65-70 yard kicks as well.

Field goals: 47 yards, 42 yards, 35yardsd, 26 yards (through contact)

PRzIL will continue to monitor him closely as his recruitment develops and he booms more & more punts, kickoffs, and field goals.