There are exceptions to every rule.
The 5’7 150lbs kicker who has a freak leg, the un-recruited former soccer player who successfully makes the team or the player with an in at the school.
The rule for exceptions is that recruits tend to believe they are the exception rather than the rule.
Exceptions happen all the time, but due as much to things like luck, chance and timing as they are to hard work.
This is a difficult pill to swallow for a sport that believes hard work automatically equates to success.
I am a big fan of shooting BIG and fighting to be the exception to the rule. But, I also know ignoring the mathematical reality of kicking recruiting leads many players and families to miss opportunities at other levels of college football.
Here are some general markers based on a decade of helping kickers play in college and TrackMan Football data (thanks Simon!) of what, generally, most kickers can do at given levels of college football play:
FBS Scholarship Level Ability
FG 60+ yards off ground
KO 75+ yards 4.0 seconds of hang time
P 50 yards 5.5+ seconds of hang time
FCS Scholarship / FBS PWO Ability
FG 55+ yards off ground
KO 70+ yards 3.9 seconds of hang time
P 45 yards 5.0+ seconds of hang time
FCS PWO / DII Scholarship Ability
FG 50+ yards off ground
KO 65+ yards 3.7 seconds of hang time
P 45 yards 4.5+ seconds of hang time
DII PWO / DIII Starter Ability
FG 40+ yards off ground
KO 55+ yards 3.5+ seconds of hang time
P 40 yards 4.0+ seconds of hang time
It is possible to nudge yourself up a single division level with training in under a year sometimes, but making multiple division level jumps in performance usually doesn’t happen as often (unless you hit a mega growth spurt)
Summing It All Up
Recruits default to believing they are the exception rather than the rule.
Exceptions occur all the time, but more to timing, chance and luck than always work ethic.
Jumping a single division level in ability is normal with moderate levels of talent and great work ethic. Multiple divisional jumps in performance in under a year usually don’t occur without a serious growth spurt.
That’s all for now,
Coach Cahill
PS When you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you
Ebook: Grab a copy of my ebook How To Kick In College
Course: Participate in my course, and community for recruiting help The Recruiting Network
1:1 Consultation: Email me [email protected] for a personalized recruiting or kicking consultation.