Kicker Watch List - 2018

Kickers to Watch in 2018

By Marc Rhorer and Evan Jaffe, August 24, 2018

After extensive evaluation of kickers and their individual performances in the 2017 season, we set out to select players we believe will most likely be among the top 20 placekickers for the 2018 football season. Our methodology was based on past performance, as indicated in the 2017 FAU Jaffe Kicker Index (FJKI), but other factors could be considered, such as the overall characteristics of teams, and performance trends. The kickers are listed in alphabetical order (not ranked), but rest assured, if a player is included in this listing we believe they have significant potential to elevate the status of their team in the 2018 season.

Ricky Aguayo (JR) – Florida State - Hometown: Mascotte, Florida
Ranked #32 (FJKI 2017)
Ricky is the brother of former 2nd round NFL draft pick and Lou Groza Award winner, kicker Roberto Aguayo. Ricky earned All-ACC honorable mention in 2016 and 2017. Of his 21 field goal attempts including post-season play, Ricky only had three beyond 39 yards going 2 of 3 (long of 51).  His rating will likely improve with more long-distance opportunities.

Tyler Bass (R JR) – Georgia Southern - Hometown: Irmo, South Carolina
Ranked #26 (FJKI 2017)
Tyler was named to the All-Sun Belt Conference second team in 2017. He is a Marketing major. .

Rodrigo Blankenship (R JR) – Georgia - Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Ranked #30 (FJKI 2017)
He was named to the SEC All-Freshman team in 2016. Rodrigo has the largest Twitter following (nearly 20 thousand) of all kickers on our Watch List!  He went 7 of 8 in three post-season games connecting from 51 and 55 yards; certainly a top 20 talent.

Jose Borregales (R SO) – FIU - Hometown: Miami, Florida
Ranked #29 (FJKI 2017)
Jose is a product of Miami’s Booker T. Washington High School. While in High School, he was named All-America Honorable Mention by Kohl’s (2015). He was perfect from inside 40 yards (13/13) in 2017.

Wyatt Bryan (R SR) – Colorado State - Hometown: Larkspur, Colorado
Ranked #43 (FJKI 2017)
Wyatt was named as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award in 2017. He became a social media sensation for his famous trick shot field goal kicks. Wyatt is majoring in mechanical engineering.

Jace Christman (R SO) – Mississippi State - Hometown: Houston, Texas
Ranked #28 (FJKI 2017)
Jace was named to the SEC 2017 All-Freshman Team. Jace was a former walk-on.  He majors in petroleum engineering.

Bryce Crawford (SR) – San Jose State - Hometown: Frisco, Texas
Ranked #2 (FJKI 2017)
Bryce was named as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza award in 2017 and the same year also earned honorable mention in the All-Mountain West. In 2018 he will certainly be multi-tasking with his feet, covering the tasks of kicking, punting, and kickoff specialist.

Blanton Creque (R JR) – Louisville - Hometown: Shelbyville, Kentucky
Ranked #16 (FJKI 2017)
Blanton earned honorable mention All-ACC honors (2017).  He was named first team all-state in Kentucky during his junior and senior high school seasons.  Blanton is a rare left-footed kicker.

Rafael Gaglianone (SR) – Wisconsin - Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Ranked #49 (FJKI 2017)
Rafael was named to the All-Big Ten second team in 2017. He was named Tennessee Mr. Football in high school after a strong season with a 57-yarder. He went 4 of 4 in the 2017 post-season including kicks from 46 and 47 yards.

Matt Gay (SR) – Utah - Hometown: Orem, Utah
Ranked #1 (FJKI 2017)
Matt was the winner of the 2017 Lou Groza Collegiate Placekicking Award...enough said.

Daniel LaCamera (SR) – Texas A&M - Hometown: Tarpon Springs, Florida
Ranked #12 (FJKI 2017)
Daniel was a 2017 semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award. He chose Texas A&M over Colorado and Florida.

Connor Limpert (JR) – Arkansas - Hometown: Allen, Texas
Connor was not ranked in the 2017 FJKI due to insufficient number of kicks (minimum of 12)
Last season Connor clinched a Razorback victory against Ole Miss with a field goal in the last four seconds. In the 2017 campaign, he was 8 of 9 with a long of 48 yards.  With more opportunities this year, we project him to earn a top 20 finish.

Connor Martin (JR) – Baylor - Hometown: Frisco, Texas
Ranked #19 (FJKI 2017)
Connor received honorable mention in the All-Big 12 coaches’ selection in 2017. He was an all-state kicker and punter in high school.  Connor's major is Communications.

Quinn Nordin (JR) – Michigan - Hometown: Rockford, Michigan
Ranked #46 (FJKI 2017)
Quinn has the record for the longest field goal made in AT&T Stadium (55 yards). He is an academic All-Big Ten honoree (2017). He went 4 of 4 in the post-season with a long of 48 yards.

Gavin Patterson (SR) – South Alabama - Hometown: Bourbonnais, Illinois
Ranked #35 (FJKI 2017)
Gavin earned first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors (2017). Gavin is an exercise science major. He played baseball in high school in Illinois.

Gabriel Rui (SR) – Kansas - Hometown: Hinton, Oklahoma
Ranked #21 (FJKI 2017)
Gabriel earned honorable mention All-Big 12 (2017). He made a 54-yard field goal in high school. Gabriel majors in liberal arts and sciences.

Brandon Ruiz (SO) – Arizona State - Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona
Ranked #15 (FJKI 2017)
Brandon was twice honored as the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week in 2017. He was the first in school history to kick two or more field goals longer than 50 yards in their freshman season.

James Stefanou (SO) – Colorado - Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Ranked #23 (FJKI 2017)
James was named semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (2017). He played professional soccer in Australia. James is the oldest active player in FBS football, at age 31.

Jameson Vest (SR) – Toledo - Hometown: Peachtree City, Georgia
Ranked #17 (FJKI 2017)
Jameson was a high school quarterback who threw for over 3000 yards and ran for over 2000. His major is Mechanical Engineering.

Louie Zervos (R JR) – Ohio - Hometown: Tarpon Springs, Florida
Ranked #11 (FJKI 2017)
Louie earned first team All-MAC conference honors (2016) and third-team All-MAC Conference honors (2017).  He was letterman for two years of high school soccer.  Louie's major is Pre-Pharmacy.