McGinn Draft Series - Part 12: ST

[Risen Star]

It wouldn’t be all that shocking if this becomes the first year since 1998 that not a single kicker or punter ends up being drafted.

Certainly, the odds are against a blank job. Slightly more than two kickers and two punters have been drafted on average over the last eight years.

Nevertheless, the reviews for what’s available in the 2025 draft wouldn’t engender a whole lot of optimism. It’s a thin list at long snapper, too.

Listen to how one experienced special-teams coach sized up the three-pronged foundation of special teams.

Kickers: “I don’t think there’s anybody that should get drafted. Unless you got three extra draft picks.”

Punters: “I think you’d have to be crazy to give anybody a draft pick. There’s nobody there I would jump off and say, ‘I’ve gotta have this punter.’”

Long snappers: “There’s nobody that should be drafted. Nobody.”

Another veteran of NFL special teams has found a few more rays of sunlight.

“It’s not a very strong class for kickers and punters,” the coach said. “Late (rounds) for the kickers. The first three punters are potentially draftable, and I didn’t think any of the long snappers are draftable. I couldn’t tell you the last time a snapper was drafted.”

After at least one long snapper was drafted from 2015-’21, none has gone in the past three years. Ten snappers have been selected in the last 20 years; the highest of the draftees, Navy’s Joe Cardona, went to New England in the fifth round of the 2015 draft and has been a rock for the Patriots, snapping every game other than the last three in 2022 when he was felled by a foot injury.

Some point to the Bears’ selection of Patrick Mannelly in the sixth round in 1998 as the starting point for drafted snappers. Mannelly, however, was listed as a tackle/long snapper in Chicago’s 1998 media guide after he started two seasons on the offensive line at Duke.

Surprisingly, the high-water period for long snappers occurred two decades ago when 10 were drafted in the four years from 2000-’03. Not one was taken in the five drafts from 2010-’14.

It has been said that kickers are more vital than punters because they score points. In the eyes of NFL teams, they’re on equal footing. The 20-year draft registry shows 41 kickers and 39 punters. Interestingly, eight punters have been taken in the rich rounds of 2-4 compared to seven kickers.

KICKERS​

1. ANDY BORREGALES, Miami (5-11, 202, 6-7): Four-year starter. “If you’re looking for the most consistent field-goal kicker this is probably the guy,” one special-teams coach said.

“He’s 95% (in his career) on what I call clutch kicks. I do not think he’s a great kickoff guy. He has solid enough leg strength but it’s not overwhelming. With the rules changes, the kickoffs aren’t as big a deal as they’ve been in the past. You’ve got to look long and hard for the best field-goal kicker.” Made 18 of 19 in 2024, his 94.7% ranking fourth in the country. Finished his career at 86.1% (74 of 86), which includes 77.4% (24 of 31) from 40 yards and longer. Also made 184 of 185 extra points. “I don’t think he kicks a real high ball,” another coach said. “He hits a low trajectory ball.” His brother, Jose (5-10, 207) kicked for the Hurricanes in 2020, his final year of eligibility. Jose, who made 80.5% in one season at Miami and four at Florida International, spent 2021 on Tampa Bay’s practice squad before being released in 2022. “Jose (was) kicking in the CFL,” said one coach. “This guy (Andy) is better than his brother.” Three-star recruit from Miami. “He’s kind of like his brother,” said one coach. “He (Jose) got a lot of opportunity and was pretty good. He (Andy) is a good college kicker.” Venezuelan American was born in Caracas and immigrated to the U.S. as a toddler.

2. BEN SAULS, Pittsburgh (5-10, 186, 6-7): Kicked in one game in 2020 and served as a kickoff specialist in ’21 before starting from 2022-’24. “Left-footed,” one coach said. “Some holders have never held for a lefty. How many left-footed kickers are in the NFL? The answer is none.” Some notable left-footed booters of the past would include Morten Andersen, Sebastian Janikowski, David Akers, John Kasay and Joe Nedney. Career mark of 81.3% (52 of 64) includes 73% (27 of 37) from 40-plus. Hit six of seven from 50-plus in 2024. “He’s got a pretty powerful leg,” a second coach said. “He’s 91% (career) in the clutch. The only issue is he’s a lefty, and you’d have to figure out how you practice that in training camp to give him a fair shot. He’s pretty solid. He is stronger than Borregales is but he’s just not quite as accurate as a field-goal kicker.” Made 122 of 124 extra points. Posted a touchback rate of 63.3% and average distance of 63 yards on 316 kickoffs. All-state soccer player from Tipp City, Ohio.

3. TYLER LOOP, Arizona (5-11 ½, 191, 7-FA): Punted 24 times as a freshman (43.0) but didn’t punt after that. Functioned as the short-field kicker in 2021 before going on to start three seasons. “He’s a very, very strong guy and a really effective kickoff guy,” one coach said. “He was at the combine and was very solid. Made 14 of 15 there. Hasn’t been quite as good 40 and over and certainly not been as good in the clutch at 60%.” Finished at 83.8% (67 of 80), including 66.7% (22 of 33) from 40-plus. Made one from 62 in 2024. On extra points, he was 126 of 128. Kicked off 210 times with a touchback rate of 81.4%. “He’s got a hell of a leg,” said another coach. “Compared to kickers of the past, he was up there. But he kicked like **** at the Hula Bowl. Good kickers shouldn’t have good days and bad days. He had a bad week. He has the most potential. He’s pretty cocky but he’s pretty good.” From Lucas, Texas.

THE NEXT THREE​

Ryan Fitzgerald, Florida State (5-11, 193)
Said one coach: “He’s been relatively accurate. He’s been very good in the clutch. My biggest issue is he does not hit a very high ball and I worry some about balls getting blocked.”

Caden Davis, Mississippi (6-1 ½, 208)
Said one coach: “He’s got a hell of a story. He went from being a starter to being benched last year. He started this year guns blazin’. I thought he and Loop were the best kickers. Then at the end of the season he goes in the tank and missed a couple kicks, and then at the combine he didn’t kick real well. I think he’s more of a head case. Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane.”

Maddux Trujillo, Temple (6-0 ½, 172)
Said one scout: “He has a very explosive leg. Just very inconsistent. He’s a little bit like Caden Davis. Lot of ability but his misses can be bad, bad, bad.”

 

[Risen Star]

PUNTERS​

1. JAMES BURNIP, Alabama (6-6 ½, 239, 6-7): Hails from Mount Macedon, Victoria, Australia, one of the growing number of Australian-born and Australian-trained punters. “They all come from the same school over there,” one coach said. “It’s called Pro Kick Australia. Most of the guys that come through the NFL come from the same academy. They’re all taught the same and all kind of respond the same. It’s just a tossup. They’re all pretty good.” Said another coach: “I’ve got this thing about the Aussies. I think they’re one-dimensional. They can do some of the trick stuff but can’t do all the other stuff real well. They do the end-over-end pooch punts inside the 10.” A four-year starter, Burnip punted 203 times in 55 games for an average of 43.9, the second-best mark in Crimson Tide history. “Burnip’s pro day was just OK,” one coach said. “At the combine, he averaged 47.4 at 4.84 (seconds of hang time). He can really get it up well. It’s impressive.” Served as the holder for several seasons, as did all the leading punters. “He’s a bigger kid,” said another coach. “I’m not saying he’s the best guy. He’s pretty good. Got some potential.” Very small hands (8 5/8 inches).

2. KAI KROEGER, South Carolina (6-3 ½, 213, 6-7): Five-year starter. “He’s left-footed,” one coach said. “Extremely athletic. Maybe a little less overall punter but he’s really, really athletic. He’s the best holder, for sure. A bunch of punters at the combine requested him. He was spectacular. He held for both a righty and a lefty, which is a difficult thing to do. It speaks to his athleticism.” Completed seven of 10 passes on fakes for 205 yards and three touchdowns. “He can bring a whole other (dimension),” said the coach. “He’s a legitimate threat to run a fake. He’s along the lines of (Johnny) Hekker. He’s very multi-faceted.” Played in 61 games, punting 265 times for a 44.6 average, including a career-best 47.8 in 2024. Hands were 9 ¼. “He was at the East-West,” another coach said. “He line-drives a lot of balls. Good holder. Some coaches like the lefties because they think it’s harder for punt returners to catch those balls.” Enrolled in August 2020 and won the job almost immediately. From Lake Forest, Ill.

3. JEREMY CRAWSHAW, Florida (6-3 ½, 201, 6-7): From Emu Plains, New South Wales, Australia. “If you want a hang time guy you go with Burnip,” one coach said. “If you want a guy who will get the ball down the field more you go with Crawshaw. They are the two top guys. They were very similar at the combine. Crawshaw averaged 52.4 yards at 4.6. One will line drive it a little bit and the other will hang it up a little bit.” In 53 games he punted 190 times for 46.4 as a four-year starter. Hands were 9 1/8. Redshirted in 2020. “He’s a good punter and a good holder,” another coach said. “I don’t think he’s got a really big leg.” Team captain in 2024. Won numerous academic awards. Graduated in fall 2023.

THE NEXT THREE​

Eddie Czaplicki, Southern Cal (6-1, 200)
Said one scout: “Excellent prospect. Got a real good leg and control. Kind of checks all the boxes. He’s draftable.”

Jesse Mirco, Vanderbilt (6-3 ½, 220)
Said one coach: “Transferred from Ohio State because he thought he’d get to punt more, and he actually didn’t. He hit more conventional, NFL-style punts at Vanderbilt than at Ohio State where they did a bunch of the rollout, Aussie stuff. He’s OK.”

Brendan Hall, Montana State (6-8 ½, 232)
Said one coach: “Nobody kicks the ball further and higher than Brendan Hall. He has the most upside but he’s running a (440-yard) race and everybody’s at the 330 mark and he’s at the 220. When he hits it, man, it’s gone. He is the biggest sleeper but he needs mechanical work, this and that. He kicked and punted in college but really never held. He has to do that.”

LONG SNAPPERS​

1. WILL WAGNER, Michigan (6-1 ½, 239, 4.97, 7-FA): Redshirted in 2019 before snapping in 53 games from 2020-’24. “He’s a good-sized guy and has good overall strength,” one coach said. “He runs around 5-flat and did not have great tackle production. He did have to protect so it correlates a little bit to what we do. In college, the rules are different because they can just snap and take off in coverage. They don’t have to wait for the ball to be punted like we do. So some of them are not asked to protect. That is a factor a bit. Did they protect or did they not have to protect?” Blew out his knee in Game 5 of 2022 and underwent season-ending surgery. His 19 reps on the bench press were the most of the four leading snappers. Credited with one tackle in his career. “He’s from a big-time school,” another coach said. “But he was not very good.” Has undergraduate and Master’s degrees in engineering. From Alpharetta, Ga.

2. AUSTIN BRINKMAN, West Virginia (6-4, 241, 5.07, FA): Redshirted in 2020 before snapping in 51 games from 2021-’24. “Left-handed snapper, which takes a little bit getting used to for the holder and the punter,” one coach said. “He did not protect although I think he can do it. He’s about 5-flat and did not have great tackle production.” Thirteen reps on the bench. Zero career tackles. “A lot of punters don’t like a left-handed snapper because of the spin,” a second coach said. From Bel Air, Md., where he played four sports. His father was the football coach.

3. LUKE ELKIN, Iowa (6-0 ½, 233, 4.80, FA): Four-year starter. “He did not have to protect at Iowa. Ever,” said one coach. “I think he can do it. He’s the most athletic of the top (snappers). He’s the fastest. He’s 231, which is a little bit below the line in terms of size, something you need to hold up in protection.” Credited with six career tackles. His 32-inch vertical jump was the best of the leading snappers. Managed just 12 reps on the bench. Team captain. From Neenah, Wis.

THE NEXT THREE​

Julian Ashby, Vanderbilt (6-1, 233, 4.94)
Said one coach: “One-year player. Came from Furman. He’s the most athletic and has the most production. He has like 14 career tackles, which is a lot. Only issue with him was his size. He played this year at 215 to 220. He’s up to 233 now but you’re worried he’s just a little bit puffed up.”

Josh Wojciechowicz, Colorado School of Mines (6-2, 240, 5.05)
Said one coach: “He was at the Hula Bowl and the East-West. He’s a good athlete. Strong and can run. He’s a real smart engineering student but he doesn’t seem to want to change. Just needs more coaching. He’s strung a little high.”

Austin Riggs, Rutgers (6-2 ½, 235, no 40)
Said one coach: “He’s a bigger kid from BYU. Throws a nice ball. He’s got some upside. Just needs to be more consistent.”

 

[Risen Star]

This is the end of the draft series.

Question. Did any of the scouts comments change your opinion on a player?

I was a little shaken up on Mukuba.

 

[Cowboyny]

Thanks for providing all the reports! Graham was the biggest shocker to me.

 

[darthseinfeld]

This is the end of the draft series.

Question. Did any of the scouts comments change your opinion on a player?

I was a little shaken up on Mukuba.

Pearce. The personality stuff could be a real problem and inhibit his development. Getting Charles Haley out of those guys is hitting the lotto

There always seem to be some character issue in McGinn's reports, but he had alot and there was already alot of talk about it

 

[darthseinfeld]

This is the end of the draft series.

Question. Did any of the scouts comments change your opinion on a player?

I was a little shaken up on Mukuba.

Gave me some pause on Jihaad Campbell too. He sounds he could be another lost athete at LB in the Jaylon Smith/Damone Clarke/Jason Williams/Bruce Carter mold

Now we are definitely drafting him