Kicker Watch List - 2020
Kickers to Watch in 2020
By Evan Jaffe, September 3, 2020
The new football season begins this week, so it's time to sift through our data and organize our Kicker Watch List for 2020. Throughout the 2018 season our math formulas allowed for a precise evaluation of kickers and their individual performances. Our methodology was based on past performance ratings which were derived from percent of made field goals, distance of the field goal attempts, altitude of the stadium, and whether the kick was during a critical part of the game. In 2019, we also added temperature and weather conditions to the formula. The formulas and methodologies are working well, so no new metrics will be introduced in 2020.
We believe past performance is a good indicator of future performance, therefore, in creating our "Best of the Best" list, we decided to follow the math formulas unbiased view of who were statistically the best kickers from 2019. The kickers are listed in alphabetical order, although their ranking is noted. 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 2020 season.
One other note: Predicting success for kickers is more difficult than punters. Many capable kickers in the Top 50 have the physical ability and mental strength to be ranked in the Top 10 by season’s end. However, when the average kicker has only 20 field goal attempts per season, just one or two missed field goal attempts can be the difference between a good kicker and a great kicker. It’s a very fine line….so, while we believe all who made this list are most likely to be in the Kicker of the Year discussion, several kickers not on the list will make a strong case too.
Matt Araiza (SO-R) – San Diego State – Hometown: San Diego, California
2019 FAU Ranking: #35
Gabe Brkic (SO-R) – Oklahoma – Hometown: Chardon, Ohio
2019 FAU Ranking: #10
Brent Cimaglia (SR) – Tennessee – Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee
2018 FAU Ranking: #57
2019 FAU Ranking: #9
Brian Delaney (SR) – Virginia – Hometown: Chantilly, Virginia
2018 FAU Ranking: #47
2019 FAU Ranking: #29
Cameron Dicker (JR) – Texas – Hometown: Austin, Texas
2018 FAU Ranking: #40
2019 FAU Ranking: #18
Jonathan Doerer (SR) – Notre Dame – Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
2019 FAU Ranking: #14
Christopher Dunn (SO) – NC State – Hometown: Lexington, North Carolina
2018 FAU Ranking: #31
2019 FAU Ranking: #21
Keith Duncan (SR) – Iowa – Hometown: Weddington, North Carolina
2019 FAU Ranking: #3
Blake Grupe (JR-R) – Arkansas State – Hometown: Sedalia, Missouri
2018 FAU Ranking: #92
2019 FAU Ranking: #22
Peyton Henry (JR) – Washington – Hometown: Danville, California
2019 FAU Ranking: #38
Brian Johnson (SR-R) – Virginia Tech – Hometown: Washington, D.C.
2018 FAU Ranking: #75
2019 FAU Ranking: #36
Blake Lynch (SR) – Kansas State – Hometown: Goddard, Kansas
2018 FAU Ranking: #21
2019 FAU Ranking: #17
Blake Mazza (JR-R) – Washington State – Hometown: Plano, Texas
2018 FAU Ranking: #79
2019 FAU Ranking: #8
John Mayers (SO-R) – Baylor – Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas
2019 FAU Ranking: #32
James McCourt (SR) – Illinois – Hometown: Parkland, Florida
2019 FAU Ranking: #30
Evan McPherson (JR) – Florida – Hometown: Fort Payne, Alabama
2018 FAU Ranking: #33
2019 FAU Ranking: #20
Quinn Nordin (GR) – Michigan – Hometown: Rockford, Michigan
2017 FAU Ranking: #46
2018 FAU Ranking: #59
2019 FAU Ranking: #25
Riley Patterson (SR) – Memphis – Hometown: Edwardsville, Illinois
2018 FAU Ranking: #78
2019 FAU Ranking: #1
AJ Reed (SR-R) – Duke – Hometown: Prattville, Alabama
2019 FAU Ranking: #27
John Richardson (SO-R) – Northern Illinois – Hometown: Orland Park, Illinois
2019 FAU Ranking: #31
Nick Sciba (SO) – Wake Forest – Hometown: Clover, South Carolina
2018 FAU Ranking: #35
2019 FAU Ranking: #6
Andre Szmyt (JR-R) – Syracuse – Hometown: Vernon Hills, Illinois
2018 FAU Ranking: #4
2019 FAU Ranking: #26
Brandon Talton (SO) – Nevada – Hometown: Vacaville, California
2019 FAU Ranking: #12
Matthew Trickett (JR) – Kent State – Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
2018 FAU Ranking: #41
2019 FAU Ranking: #4
Jake Verity (SR) – East Carolina – Hometown: Bremen, Georgia
2018 FAU Ranking: #6
2019 FAU Ranking: #19
Parker White (SR-R) – South Carolina – Hometown: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
2018 FAU Ranking: #50
2019 FAU Ranking: #13
Trey Wolff (SO-R) – Texas Tech – Hometown: Spring, Texas
2019 FAU Ranking: #24
Cade York (SO) – LSU – Hometown: McKinney, Texas
2019 FAU Ranking: #23
Christian Zendejas (JR-R) – Arizona State – Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
2019 FAU Ranking: #34
Other Notables:
Jose Borregales (SR-R) - Miami - Hometown: Miami, Florida
2019 FAU Ranking: #60
2018 FAU Ranking: #71
2017 FAU Ranking: #29
Jonathan Cruz (JR) - Charlotte - Howetown: Cartersville, Georiga
2019 FAU Ranking: #63
2018 FAU Ranking: #16
Alex Kessman (SR-R) - Pittsburgh - Hometown: Clarkston, Michigan
2019 FAU Ranking: #59
2018 FAU Ranking: #7