Fred Mitchell Award recognizes kickers for October performances
The Fred Mitchell Award recognizes 41 place-kickers for their excellence on the football field during the month of October and for continued community service during their off-season. As the list grows, so does our pride in these committed young men.
The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community. Details are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com. The season’s watch lists and updates may also be found on Facebook, facebook.com/fredmitchellaward, and on Twitter at @kickeruww.
The breakdown of the 41 place-kickers is as follows:
- Collegiate Division – 8 FCS, 12 Division II, 15 Division III, 2 NAIA, and 4 NJCAA
- State – the place-kickers play at schools located in 23 different states. (AL, AR, CA (2), CT, GA, IL (5), IN (2), IA, KS (3), KY, MD (2), MA (2), MN, MS, NJ, NM, NY (3), PA, SC, TN (2), TX (3), UT (2), and WI)
- Year – 16 Seniors, 11 Juniors, 11 Sophomores, and 3 Freshmen
In alphabetical order, the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List honorees for 2017 are listed below.
2017 Fred Mitchell Award October Watch List
JON ALBERTS
Central College (Iowa) – Division III
Senior from Huntley, Ill., … Leads the team in scoring with 43 points from 8 of 8 FG’s and 19 of 20 PAT’s … Named the Iowa Conference Special Teams Player of the Week on September 11 and September 18 … Set school record with 4-4 day on field goals against Augustana College in a 33-22 win for Central on September 9 … Added 3 more field goals in 39-38 loss against Buena Vista on September 16 … Averaging 58.3 yards per kickoff and has two touchbacks.
NINO ALIBEGIC
Independence Community College (Kan.) – NJCAA
Sophomore from Meridian, Ida.: Transfer played 9 of 11 games as primary place-kicker … Led team in scoring, helping #2 ranked Arizona Western to NJCAA berth in the El Toro Bowl … Nino is active in his school and offers time and mentoring in anti-bullying and suicide prevention campaigns.
RYDER ANDREWS
Birmingham-Southern (Alabama) – Division III
Junior from Homewood, Ala. … 2nd on team in scoring with 22 points … 5-for-7 in FG’s including a career-long 43-yarder … made 7 of 8 PATs … also handles kickoff duties for team. Week 2 was named Southern Athletic Association Special Teams Player of the Week after his career best FG, 5 for 5 PATs, and 59.9-yard average with two touchbacks on kick-off duty.
COLE ANTLEY
Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) – Division II
Junior from Atlanta, Ga.: Participated in mentoring program with local elementary schools during scheduled recess times … Regular participant in Tiger Serve Day, a bi-annual event that allows students to provide assistance to Arkadelphia and Clark County families in need … Regular participant in the Elrod Center delivery of food baskets to area families in need during Thanksgiving. Volunteered at an elementary school in Louisiana for 2 months – after school tutoring … Visit Ouachita Elementary twice a month to play and talk with the kids … Distributes umbrellas to homeless for a nonprofit called “Under His Umbrella”
TRISTON BAILEY
Coffeyville Community College (Kan.) – NJCAA
Freshman from Colorado Springs, Col.: Battling for the starting position, in HS, was first in scoring with 65 points, going 10-12 with a long of 53 yards … Had a 73% touchback percentage on kickoffs … Senior year awards: All-League Specialist MVP, 1st Team All-Conference, 2nd Team All-State, Denver Post 1st Team All-State, Gazette 5A/4A All Area Team Kicker … Volunteers with former coaches helping their teams kickers understand the position and get better at kicking and punting.
BRADLY BATES
Campbellsville University (Ky.) – NAIA
Senior from Campbellsville, Ky.: NAIA First-Team All-American … In addition to his on the field success, Bates was named a 2017 Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Commonwealth Team … NAIA Scholar-Athlete … Academic All-Conference … Named College Football America NAIA Starting Lineup for 2017 … Active member of Campbellsville FCA … Traveled to Florida with football team during spring break to play softball and minister to inmates in medium security prisons … Named MSC Player of the Week to begin the month.
WILL BRAZILL
California (Penn.) – Division II
Senior from Kansas City, Mo …. Leads team in scoring with 81 points on 15-of-18 field goals and 36-of-36 PAT attempts … Selected PSAC West Special Teams Athlete of the Week three times this season … Scored at least 10 points in four of nine games … Tallied at least eight points in seven of nine contests … Ranks fifth in NCAA Division II with 1.67 field goals per game … Ranks 18th overall in the country, and third among kickers, with 81 points … Sits No. 11 in the nation with an .833 field-goal percentage … Converted three field goals against both Seton Hill and Slippery Rock … Made game-winning, 25-yard field goal with 49 seconds left in 36-34 season-opening win against Ohio Dominican … Set career long with 47-yard field goal in 44-41 victory versus Seton Hill … Two of three missed kicks (FG or PAT) of the year have been over 40 yards … Averages 60.2 yards on 59 kickoffs with 16 touchbacks (none out of bounds) … Has become only the second kicker in school history to reach 250 career points … Nominated for CoSIDA Academic All-District;
GENE CARSON, II
Bowie State (Maryland) – Division II
Sophomore from Accokeek, Md. … Ranks 1st on the team in scoring with 41 points from 4 of 4 FG’s and 29 of 30 PAT’s … scored 16 points in 76-7 home debut (9/23) win over Shaw University and averaged 56.2 yards per kick-off in that contest. He was named All-CIAA Honorable Mention in 2016 … Offers time to help feed homeless through varied organizations.
LANE CLARK
Tennessee State – FCS
Senior from Hays, Kan.: Led the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring with 89 points (second best in a single season at TSU) and 8.1 points per game … One of three players in the four levels of NCAA to kick at least four field goals of over 50 yards… Added five field goals ranging from 40–49 yards … Connected on more field goals (9) from 40-plus yards than 120 of the other 124 FCS teams attempted from same distance … North Dakota matched by attempting nine … The nine field goals from 40-plus yards were tops in FCS play, two better than three programs which tied for second (Mercer, Texas Southern and Wofford) … Had four of the five longest distances in the FCS … Set the school record for longest field goal twice on the same day … Hit from 54 yards to break a 17-year-old record against UT Martin (10/1), only to reset the record to 57 yards two quarters later … Teaches kicking to kids … Used as inspirational speaker at his high school … Part of reading program to local schools.
LIAM CROTTY
North Central College (Ill.) – Division III
Senior from Sandwich, Ill.: North Central’s leading scorer in 2016, running for a two-point conversion Oct. 29 vs. Carroll in addition to his kicking output … Led College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) in points scored by kicking … Scored season-high 11 points in back-to-back games Nov. 12 vs. Elmhurst and Nov. 19 in first-round playoff win over Rose-Hulman … Made his first 36 extra-point kicks of the season and connected on a perfect 8 of 8 against Elmhurst … Diagnosed with high-functioning autism at age 6 … Involved with campus radio station as on-air broadcaster for basketball and baseball games … Has volunteered with the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation for the past ten years … Has also done volunteer work with Special Olympics, Relay for Life and Feed My Starving Children.
ZACK DeWITT
Illinois College – Division III
Junior from Jacksonville, Ill. … Leads team in scoring so far this season, making 6 of 10 field goals and 4 of 4 PAT’s … Kicked a school-record 50-yarder in the season opener, tying the score with Rose-Hulman at 26-26 with less than two minutes to play … Averages 56.4 yards per kickoff with one touchback.
DARREN FORD
Hope College (Mich.) – Division III
Senior from Howell, Mich.: Set Flying Dutchmen single-season record with 14 field goals during 2016 season. Second on the team in scoring with a school-record 68 points as a junior … Tied a Michigan Intercollegiate Association record with 11 field goals in 16 attempts over six league games … Also converted all 16 of his PATs in MIAA competition and averaged 38.2 yards over 29 punts against MIAA foes … Tied single-game MIAA record with four made goals in an Oct. 15 win at Adrian … Kicked three longest field goals in Flying Dutchmen history as a junior with makes of 46 yards twice and 45 yards … Volunteers on student group that raised $275,000 at a 2016 event for DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids through a dance marathon.
WYATT FORD
Ferris State University (Mich.) – Division II
Junior from Montague, Mich.: Helped lead Bulldogs to a third-straight NCAA Playoff appearance last year … 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team honoree … GLIAC All-Academic Team pick … Key part of team that reached the 2016 NCAA Division II National Semifinals … Helped team to a second-straight GLIAC Championship in 2015 … Tallied 40 points in month of October last year with six field goals and 22 extra points … Ranked among league & national leaders in field goals per game … Made three field goals and had 11 points at nationally second-ranked Grand Valley State (10/8/16) … Closed the month of October last fall with 21 points in the last three outings … Drilled two field goals and accounted for eight points in a 20-17 road win at Findlay (10/1/16) … Converted a game-winning field goal with seven seconds remaining on the road in last year’s victory at Michigan Tech (9/10/16) … Converted three-of-three field goals in win over Michigan Tech, including two in the final eight minutes of the game … Was nearly perfect on PAT kicks last season … Made 17-of-21 field goals overall last year to rank among D2 leaders …. First-year as the team’s primary placekicker last fall … Tallied 117 points overall last season … Three-year letter winner … Ranked as team’s top scorer in 2016 … Active in various team community service projects … Part of program’s reading to children effort … Joined football team in helping freshmen students move into residence halls.
ALEX GALLAND
Yale University (Connecticut) – FCS
Junior from Bakersfield, Calif. Contends in the Ivy League with 57 points … Last summer, in addition to interning as a mechanical engineer, Galland helped design facilities for Hess Oil. The mechanical engineering major in Pauli Murray College was building 3D models and making sure they were compliant with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) laws.
MATTHEW HAITE
Stonehill College (Mass.) – Division II
Sophomore from Kingston, Mass. … 2nd on the team in scoring with 35 points, ranking seventh among NE10 leaders overall and second among NE10 kickers … Has been impressive on kickoffs, averaging 60.4 yards on 30 kickoffs, with eight touchbacks, giving opponents an average starting position of their own 26-yard line … Scored a career-high 14 points by going 3-for-3 on field goals (25, 31 & 44 yds) and converting all five PATs in the Skyhawks season-opening 44-28 win at Bloomsburg … Scored eight points with 2-for-2 FGs, including a career-long 49-yarder, and two extra points against Southern Connecticut State in week two … Drilled a 43-yard field goal to put the Skyhawks in front for good in the second quarter and added six PATs for nine points in Stonehill’s 45-21 win at Merrimack in week 5… Has already moved into sixth place on the program’s career list for PATs (41) and third for field goals made (16) in 16 career games … volunteers at Boston Higahsi School for Autism in Randolph, Massachusetts, and Kingston Intermediate School’s “National Night Out” in his hometown. He also coaches youth basketball with Silver Lake High School’s 7-on-7 summer league and youth basketball.
BAILEY HALE
Eastern New Mexico University – Division II
Sophomore from Iowa Park, Texas: 2016 was ENMU’s second leading scorer with 70 points … 10-point game against UT-Permian Basin including a 47-yard field goal … Only missed PATs were blocked.
SPENCER HERRINGTON
Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Mass.) – Division III
Junior from Clearfield, Penn. … 2nd on the team in scoring with 25 points while perfect on FG’s (4 of 4) and PAT’s (13 of 13) … First-ever NEWMAC Special Teams Athlete Week of the Week for his week 1 performance against Anna Maria… A perfect 6-for-6 in PATs and 2-for-2 in field goals as WPI shutout Anna Maria… Aerospace Engineering major… Member of Promotion of Animal Welfare Society… IQP project: Worcester Center for Community Empowerment and Environmental Responsibility
NATHAN HIERLIHY
University of Redlands (Calif.) – Division III
Junior from Redondo Beach, Calif.: Only competed in four games due to injury last season … Ranked fifth on the team in scoring … Split the uprights on a 48-yard field goal in the Bulldogs’ 34-30 win over Cal Lutheran in the final game of the regular season for the SCIAC title … Dedicated May Term break to volunteering at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times® by providing physical labor with fellow teammates … Involved with several Christian organizations on campus including Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Intervarsity, and Young Life … Outdoor Programs guide and Intramural sports referee.
WILLIAM HOLSCHER
SUNY Cortland (N.Y.) – Division III
Senior from Commack, N.Y. … Made game-winning 31-yard field goal with 18 seconds left in 34-32 win vs. Augustana (Ill.) … Made what proved to be winning 25-yard field goal with 6:15 left in 31-30 win vs. Hartwick…First year as Cortland’s starting placekicker.
CHRISTIAN KAPP
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y.) – Division III
Senior from Amawalk, N.Y. … Two for two as placekicker … long of 32 yards … perfect 17 for 17 on extra points … one two-point conversion rush … first on team in scoring … Third in Liberty League in scoring … Second among kickers … Liberty League Special Teams Performer of the Week … Student-Athlete Advisory Committee … Fellowship of Christian Athletes … Co-Founder of Students for Service, volunteer organization that assists Troy community on weekly basis … Internship at W.L. Gore & Associates as Operations Specialist.
TYLER KNIGHTON
Rowan University (N.J.) – Division III
Senior from Gibbstown, NJ…. second on the team with 25 points from 5 of 5 FG’s and 10 of 10 PAT’s….tied for first in the New Jersey Athletic Conference in field goals, field goal percentage and PAT percentage, tied for third in kick scoring and tied for 10th in overall scoring… made two field goals vs. Widener University (Sept. 2) and at William Paterson University (Sept. 16)… kicked a 22-yard field goal against Frostburg State University (Sept. 23)… Was 4-for-4 on PATs versus Southern Virginia University (Sept. 9)… one of just 14 players tied for first in field goal percentage in NCAA Division III… named first team All-Conference in 2014… participates in the football team’s annual Get in the Game. Save A Life. Be The Match Marrow Registry drive.
STEFAN KNOERR
Wheaton College (Illinois) – Division III
Senior from Arvada, Colo. … Leads the team in scoring with 40 points from 6 of 7 FG’s and 22 of 22 PAT’s … Scored 16 points in 40-15 win at Elmhurst on September 23 including four field goals … Named CCIW Special Teams Player of the Week on Sept. 25 … Active member of Wheaton Football Ministry Partnership, helping to lead a missions trip to Palo Alto, Dominican Republic.
NICK MADONIA
Tennessee Tech – FCS
Sophomore from Arrington, Tenn.: Season-long was 57 at Tennessee State, tied for the longest in the Ohio Valley Conference and second-longest in the FCS … Twice named the OVC co-Specialist of the Week … Named the HERO Sports FCS Defensive/Special Teams Hero of the Week (11/18).
ABDUL MAHDI
Saint Xavier University (Ill.) – NAIA
Senior from Chicago, Ill.: Second on the team in scoring with 59 points from 9 of 12 FG’sm missing from 53 and 59 yards, and 32 of 33 PAT’s, his only miss being blocked … Volunteered to help paint his high school alma mater in Chicago, Bogan High School … Spent a day volunteering to clean up Marquette Park, the largest park on the Southwest side of Chicago at 323 acres … Along with some of his teammates helped raise monetary donations for Misericordia by offering candy on their annual Candy Days drive at 95th and Cicero in Chicago this past April.
MATTHEW MURPHY
Maritime College (New York) – Division III
Senior from Seaford, N.Y. …Leads the team in scoring with 34 points including six field goals and 16 PATs…connected on a career-long 48-yard field goal in week three against Merchant Marine on September 16…has also punted the ball seven times for an average of 46.5 yards per punt including two punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line…accumulated 1,560 yards on kickoffs for an average of 62.4 yards on his 25 kickoffs…is now seventh all-time in scoring with 104 career points…was D3football.com All-East Region Second Team and was Eastern Collegiate Football Conference First Team honoree as a junior…majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
JERRY NUNEZ
Indiana State – FCS
Sophomore from Naples, Fla., Played in all 11 games … Was 15-of-18 in field goals and 29-of-31 in PAT … Started the season 7-of-7 in field goals, was one of nine kickers in the nation to remain perfect at that point … Led the Valley in FG percentage (83.3) and tied for the lead with 15 made field goals … 9th nationally in field goals per game (1.36) and FG made, 11th in percentage … Career-long of 46 yards … Was 7-of-8 from 40-plus yards and 4-of-4 from 30-39 yards out.
MAX O’ROURKE
University of California – Davis – FCS
Sophomore from Rocklin, Calif. … Leads the team in scoring with 54 points… Connected on last six straight FG attempts, including both kicks taken vs. North Dakota (9/30) … Responsible for all of the Aggies’ points at nationally-ranked Weber State… Member of UC Davis’ Athletes in Action bible study organization.
DREW PEARSON
University of Wisconsin – Stout – Division III
Junior from Wausau, Wisconsin… 2017: preseason All-America by Street & Smith, Lindy’s, D3football.com, HERO Sports Network…2-3 in field goals in 34-27 loss to 10th ranked UW-Platteville, Sept. 30, missed 48 yarder…1-2 in field goals with 35 yard field goal made in 25-22 win over then fourth-ranked St. Thomas, missed on 42-yard field goal, Sept. 9…1-2 with 39-yard field game made in 17-0 win over Simpson College, missed on 55-yard attempt, Sept. 2…2016: first team D3football.com All-America…second team AFCA All-America…first team D3football.com All-West Region…one of 10 finalists for Fred Mitchell Award, which recognizes top place collegiate place kickers in FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA and NJCAA, earning Fred Mitchell All-America honors…First team all-WIAC…WIAC special teams co-player of the year…set school record for most field goals made in a single season with 16…made field goals of 26, 26, 44, 52, 42, 51, 42, 33, 27, 47, 44, 48, 48, 37, 29, 29…made 14 consecutive field goals from Sept. 10-Nov. 12…was 16-of-19 in field goals, 27-of-27 in PATs…kicked three field goals against Mayville State, UW-Eau Claire and UW-Whitewater… has made all 27 PAT attempts on the season, has twice gone 3-for-3 and twice gone 2-for-2 in field goals made in a single game…is the only Stout kicker to ever make two 50-plus yard field goals in a single season…led the Blue Devils in scoring with 75 points, the most by a Stout player in a single season since 2000…the 16 field goals made tops the WIAC during the regular season and only one other WIAC kicker hit 100 percent of his PATs…nationally at the completion of the regular season, Pearson was ranked 12th in field goal percentage (.842) and fourth in field goals made per game (1.60). Only one kicker nationally has made more field goals than Pearson this season…Pearson made 14 consecutive field goals, with the streak coming to an end when his potential school and conference record 56 yard kick was blocked with two second remaining in first half against UW-Whitewater…his 16 field goals breaks the school mark of 15 set by Kevin McCulley in 2000…after kicking three field goals and an extra point, selected WIAC special teams player of the week for third time this season…after kicking two 48-yard field goals and making all three extra point attempts, named WIAC special teams player for the second time this season….after kicking field goals of 44-, 52- and 42-yards against Mayville State, named UW-Stout/DigiCopy Athlete of the Week, WIAC special team player of the week, and D3football.com Team of the Week, also added two PATs to tally 11 points in 23-13 win, his 52-yarder was first 50-plus yard field goal by a Stout player since 2007…was 6-6 in PATs in season-opening 45-30 win over Simpson College, added 26 yard field goal for nine points…currently leads team in scoring with 25 points in month of September…volunteer at for campus Residence Hall move-in day…. Within the community, Pearson has volunteered with Arbor Place with the Football Friends 4 Life program, has participated in volunteer work at the Mountain Terrace Senior Living Facility, the Wausau Manor Nursing Home, the Sunshine Home of Wausau, the Feed My Starving Children program, worked the C3 Center Choices Program, has been a bell ringer for the Salvation Army and has worked with the Stevens Point Hope Center… has also worked with his high school football team training kickers and punters on the field and in the weight room during the summer.
SHEA RODGERS
Newberry (S.C.) – Division II
Sophomore from Indian Land, S.C. … Newberry’s leading scorer with 56 points … Attempts all field goals from inside 40 yards…Tied for second in school history with three field goals made in a single game at Virginia Union on Sept. 9…Currently seventh in school history with 57 PAT’s made.
ELIJAH “STORM” RUIZ
Stephen F. Austin (Texas) – FCS
Sophomore from League City, Texas: Sophomore Storm Ruiz remains a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts this season and went 2-for-2 in the 20-10 Southland Conference road win over Abilene Christian on Sept. 23, nailing one from 35 and 27 yards out … He hit a season-long 37-yard field goal during SFA’s 37-31 comeback home win against Incarnate Word, the kick igniting a 16-0 scoring run in the final 8:30 of play … Ruiz also went an unblemished 4-for-4 on point after attempts during the victory over Incarnate Word … A year ago, Ruiz ranked 27th nationally in field goal percentage (76.5) and 34th in points per game (7.3) … Helped with the Big Event project this past April, an annual campus-wide community service project where members of the football program cleanup the local community by doing work on houses for in-need families … Participates in SFA football’s Read to Succeed reading program, where he reads to elementary-age school children on Fridays before home football games.
KEKOA SASAOKA
Snow College (Utah) – NJCAA
Redshirt Freshman from Kailua, Hi., member of the Western States Football League in the National Junior College Athletic Association. 89% field goal percentage on 9 kicks, with his only miss being a 50-yard attempt. Leads the league kickers in points with 60. Has also recorded 12 touchbacks. Kekoa is from Kailua, HI and attended Kahuku High School.
JONAS SCHENDERLEIN
Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) – Division II
Junior from Jena, Germany … leads the nation in kickoff touchback rate (26-of-39) … ranks 13th in DII and 4th in the NSIC with 1.44 field goals made per game … ranks 44th in the NCAA DII and 7th in the NSIC with a 72.2 field goal percentage … his 13 FGM in 2017 are second most in CSP history … had a streak of 16 straight field goals inside of 50 yards dating back to 2015 during his freshman season snapped in week eight against Sioux Falls … has connected on 54 consecutive PAT attempts dating back to October of 2015 as a freshman … tied CSP’s single game field goals made record (3) twice in a row in October, first in week eight against USF including the second longest field goal in DII this season (58), just one yard shy of the CSP record behind 2014 Mitchell Award winner Tom Obarski (59, 2012 vs Augustana) … repeated his three field goal made performance in week nine at Wayne State … was a 2016 All-NSIC South Division First Team kicker … has made three 50-plus yard field goals in his career second most in CSP history behind Obarski … a career 24-of-36 field goal kicker and 66-of-67 on PAT with 138 points … his 24 career FGM ranks third in CSP history, one make shy of second … Feed My Starving Children volunteer … Community Clean Up volunteer … assisted with campus move-in for general student population … volunteers to take down the dome following spring football season … assists with lining up chairs for commencement ceremony … helped build the Church Garden … took shifts at concession stands on campus for high school tournament games.
BRAD SCHICKEL
University of Indianapolis – Division II
Senior from Louisville, Ky.: Two-time All-GLVC 2nd Team honoree … Voted the team’s Special Teams MVP for a second consecutive season … Ranked first in the GLVC and 13th in Division II in FG percentage (.789) … Also first in GLVC and 10th in D-II in FG per game (1.4) … Ranked 3rd among all GLVC players in points scored (78) … connected on a season-long 43-yard FG vs Lincoln in week 8 … thrice scored 10 points in a game this year . also handled punting duties for the Greyhounds, averaging 39.3 yards per punt while dropping nearly 1/3 of his punts (19) inside the 20 … Moved into the program’s all-time top 10 with 180 career points . UIndy’s all-time most accurate FG kicker at 84.6% for his career … Set school’s single-season records for field goals and points scored by a kicker in 2015 … Provided support and encouragement for Special Olympics athletes during events hosted on campus … Volunteered multiple times at Gleaners Food bank in Indianapolis, sorting over 27,000 pounds of food for people in need on one occasion … Helped plant over 150 trees at a local park.
PERRY SCHMIEDELER
Washburn University (Kansas) – Division II
Junior from Topeka, Kan.: Named second team all-MIAA offense as a placekicker … Hit 19 of 24 field goals including a career-long 50-yard attempt against Missouri Western … The 19 field goals led the MIAA and tied for most on the Ichabod single-season chart … Led Ichabods in scoring with 92 points this season hitting 35 of 36 extra points … Finished third in the MIAA in scoring overall and third in kick scoring … Set a school postseason record with three field goals against Bemidji State in the Mineral Water Bowl … Named MIAA Special Teams Player of the Week after the Central Oklahoma game … A first team CoSIDA Academic all-district selection … A MIAA Academic Honor Roll selection and an MIAA Scholar Athlete Award winner … Volunteer with an organization called Doxazo which helps restore houses in the Hi-Crest neighborhood area of Topeka … Also volunteers with YoungLife volunteering as a high school leader reaching out to high school kids in Topeka to share the Gospel of Jesus working as a mentor with high school aged students.
JUAN SERNA
Fort Valley State University (Georgia) – Division II
Senior from Douglasville, Ga.: 2nd on the team in scoring with 46 points on 7-of-11 FG’s and 25-of-27 PAT’s … 2016 SIAC Championship game Serna tied the game 24-24 with a 37-yard FG to send the game to first OT … made a 43-yard FG in the first OT for a 27-24 lead and a win in double OT 33-30 … Serna had 43 kickoffs for 2,395 yards and averaged 55.7 yards per kick.
SEAN SLATTERY
Illinois State University – FCS
Junior from Rockford, Ill.: Handles all kickoff and placekicking duties for the Redbirds … Key factor in the Redbirds’ win over Missouri State, and for his efforts he was named the MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week Sunday by the league office … Was also a game-changer for the Redbirds, evening up the score at 6-all at the half with a season-long 48-yard make in the first quarter, before knocking a 28-yard field goal through the uprights late in the second quarter. Slattery was also 4-for-4 on extra point attempts to finish the day with 10 points scored and he also kept dangerous Missouri State kick returns at bay with four touchbacks on kickoffs in the victory for the Redbirds … Is involved in ISU Student Council efforts to better the university, different agriculture organizations to promote efficiencies in agriculture production, and remains involved with his high school football development through advising and mentoring.
SERGIO SROKA
Tarleton State University (Texas) – Division II
Senior from Miami, Fla.: As a Junior, this Lone Star Conference Honor Roll connected on 11 of 16 field goals, including a long of 44 yards twice … Started strong with 5 of 6 of FG, 13 of 14 on PAT, and averaging 57 yards from 7 kick-offs. In his time at Tarleton, has volunteered with Tarleton’s annual Service Day, assisting with Texan Move to help incoming freshman move into their new dorms, and Angel League, which is a baseball league for special needs children.
GRIFFIN SUBLETT
Copiah Lincoln Community College (Miss.) – NJCAA
Sophomore from Pascagoula, MS … 2ND on the team in scoring with 47 total points from 5 of 9 FG’s and 32 of 32 PAT’s … scored 9 points in a 27 – 22 win vs. Jones County JC with two FG’s from 30 and 39 yards and 3 PAT’s … kicked a season long 46 yard FG in a 26 – 6 win vs. Coahoma CC … Opponent’s average starting field position was on the 11-yard line after Griffin’s kickoffs … Averaged 54 yards on kickoffs with 3 touchbacks … member of Phi Theta Kappa … Volunteers at his local church’s vacation bible school and daily bread events … volunteers and assists in local youth sport’s camps…
JAMIE SULLIVAN
Johns Hopkins (Maryland) – Division III
Senior from Thousand Oaks, Cal.: Centennial Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (September 3, 2017) • Tied JHU record with four field goals in a 32-29 overtime win at Washington & Lee in the season-opener • Currently leads the nation in field goals per game (2.5) and ranks second in the nation in points per game by a kicker (11.5) … Helped coordinate the Johns Hopkins football Be the Match drive in 2015 and 2016 by packaging and administering cheek swabs … Helped plan Alpha Delta Phi’s Stop Soldier Suicide golf outing to raise awareness for veterans battling PTSD.
TREY TUTTLE
Weber State University (Utah) – FCS
Red shirt freshman from Arlington, Texas … Currently is first in the nation (FCS) in field goals made with 10 … Is a perfect 10-of-10 on field goals this season and 19-of-20 on point after attempts, helping Weber State to a 4-1 overall record and a 16th ranking nationally in the FCS poll … Leads the Big Sky and ranks ninth in the nation in scoring with 49 points this season … Made four field goals in Weber State’s road win at Montana State, the tied for the second most in a game in school history … Has a long field goal made of 45 yards against University of California-Berkley (Cal) … Also has 36 kickoffs for 2,228 yards for an average of 61.9 yards per kick with 13 touchbacks … Is majoring in Supply Chain Management at Weber State.
TANNER WRIGHT
McMurry University (Texas) – Division III
Sophomore from Ft. Worth, Texas … As a freshman, tied school game record by going 9-9 on PAT kicks versus Texas College … Led team in scoring with 59 points … Has an on-going school record of 35-consecutive PAT kicks made (went 35-for-35 in 2016) … 2nd team All-American Southwest Conference and first team All-National Christian College Athletic Association as a freshman … 8-for-10 in field goals … Averaged 58.3 y.p.k. on 51 kickoff attempts … Wright is a Paralympic athlete, suffering from a condition called Arthrogryposis, which shrunk his joints when he was in the womb and his left arm did not fully develop, and he has gone through minor issues with his ribcage and left leg, as well … He was selected to represent the United States at the World Para Athletics Championships in London last July … Wright volunteers his time at Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas (where he underwent several surgeries) and hopes for a career as a caregiver for those with similar afflictions.
