With the first week of Iowa high school football practice coming to a close, the Ames Tribune is looking ahead and highlighting some of the best talent in the area heading into the 2024 season.
The Ames area has some quality kickers and punters returning this fall. Roland-Story quarterback Sam Knoll has kicking and punting experience, and Owen Mattsen gives Gilbert a battle-tested kicker.
There are also several new kickers and punters looking to make a name for themselves in the Ames area during the 2024 season. The area will also feature some quality kick and punt returners ready to provide explosive plays in special teams.
Here is a look at the top five special teams players from the Ames area heading into the 2024 IHSAA football season.
Stream Iowa HS football games on the NFHS Network
Best Iowa high school football special teams players in Ames area for 20245. Sam Hoffman
Ballard
Vitals: 5-9, 145, Soph.
Hoffman stepped up big at kicker for Ballard as a freshman, and he will look to perform at an even higher level in 2024.
During the 2023 season Hoffman made 24 of 26 extra points. He also averaged 48 yards on 18 kickoffs with one touchback.
4. Nate Smith
Collins-Maxwell
Vitals: 5-9, 150, Jr.
Smith Gives Collins-Maxwell a big weapon in the return game.
During his sophomore season Smith returned only six kickoffs, but two of them went for touchdowns. He averaged 28.5 yards per return.
3. Austin McIntire
Ames
Vitals: 6-3, 225, Jr.
McIntire comes into his junior season with a lot of praise from new Ames coach Tom Crowden.
As a sophomore McIntire punted just once, but it went for 44 yards. Crowden said he thinks McIntire could be one of the top punters in the state during his junior campaign.
2. Owen Mattson
Gilbert
Vitals: 5-11, 135, Sr.
Mattson enters the 2024 season as the most productive kicker in the Ames area from the 2023 season.
In 2023 Mattson made 3 of 6 field goals, with a long of 35 yards. Matson also made all 25 of his extra points and he had eight touchbacks on 38 kickoffs.
1. Sam Knoll
Roland-Story
Vitals: 6-2, 173, Sr.
In addition to handling the quarterback duties for Roland-Story, Knoll also gives the Norsemen one of the best punters in 2A.
During his junior season Knoll averaged 40.2 yards on 36 punts. He also handled the kicking duties for Roland-Story, making 35 of 40 extra points and getting 21 touchbacks on 53 kickoffs.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=66bca53560ef48a8afa7c770cec05ffd&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amestrib.com%2Fstory%2Fsports%2Fhigh-school%2F2024%2F08%2F14%2Fiowa-ihsaa-high-school-football-players-special-teams-rankings-2024%2F74746060007%2F&c=13232879174605452023&mkt=en-us
Author :
Publish date : 2024-08-14 01:30:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
