2020

[aqualung]

I guees that video ends all doubt if there was any.

I suppose in some good news, Furman has never really struggled to find good kickers.

Looks like GA will finish his Furman career with the highest career FG% and in the top 5 in career kick scoring. He also has 5 of the top 17 longest field goals in school history.

Maybe Aqualung can offer some more insight into what a good FG%/leg strength for an FCS kicker is. Because we've certainly had three kickers in a row with a really strong leg (Early, Hollingsworth, Atkins), and 3 of our last four kickers (Cesari, Early, Atkins) are in the top 4 all-time in FG%. We've also been incredibly lucky at finding a kicker and having that consistency for their entire career. Unless I'm missing someone, it appears that Atkins, Hollingsworth, Early, Cesari, Beckler, Marshall, Wells, Richter get us from basically 1992-2019 having all been the primary kicker for multiple years.

Luck is some of it. Some of it is numbers.

Most D1 programs aren't going to carry many kickers/punters. FCS schools especially won't spend a lot of scholarship dollars on specialists given reduced restrictions. It's not coincidental that Furman has long had a history of one guy basically handling all the kicking and punting duties for a four year period and then handing the job to the next guy.

So, in recruiting, most of the teams Furman is competing against are only going to have space for a small number (maybe even one) scholarship kicker every few years. There's just not as much demand against a pretty steady supply.

Factor too that kickers are largely able to project. A 35 yard field goal or a kickoff largely looks the same at the smallest high school to the biggest P5 program. The level of competition doesn't really matter. Coaches, therefore, can more easily project what the player may look like in college because it won't be that significantly different than what they were doing in high school.

There is one big litmus test. Unlike the past, today most serious D-1 HS kickers either kick off the ground in their senior year or have lot's of film from camps demonstrating their ability to do so. Most kickers can easily transition but it's not a given. The coaches are all over this.

[The Jackal]

I guees that video ends all doubt if there was any.

I suppose in some good news, Furman has never really struggled to find good kickers.

Looks like GA will finish his Furman career with the highest career FG% and in the top 5 in career kick scoring. He also has 5 of the top 17 longest field goals in school history.

Maybe Aqualung can offer some more insight into what a good FG%/leg strength for an FCS kicker is. Because we've certainly had three kickers in a row with a really strong leg (Early, Hollingsworth, Atkins), and 3 of our last four kickers (Cesari, Early, Atkins) are in the top 4 all-time in FG%. We've also been incredibly lucky at finding a kicker and having that consistency for their entire career. Unless I'm missing someone, it appears that Atkins, Hollingsworth, Early, Cesari, Beckler, Marshall, Wells, Richter get us from basically 1992-2019 having all been the primary kicker for multiple years.

Luck is some of it. Some of it is numbers.

Most D1 programs aren't going to carry many kickers/punters. FCS schools especially won't spend a lot of scholarship dollars on specialists given reduced restrictions. It's not coincidental that Furman has long had a history of one guy basically handling all the kicking and punting duties for a four year period and then handing the job to the next guy.

So, in recruiting, most of the teams Furman is competing against are only going to have space for a small number (maybe even one) scholarship kicker every few years. There's just not as much demand against a pretty steady supply.

Factor too that kickers are largely able to project. A 35 yard field goal or a kickoff largely looks the same at the smallest high school to the biggest P5 program. The level of competition doesn't really matter. Coaches, therefore, can more easily project what the player may look like in college because it won't be that significantly different than what they were doing in high school.

There is one big litmus test. Unlike the past, today most serious D-1 HS kickers either kick off the ground in their senior year or have lot's of film from camps demonstrating their ability to do so. Most kickers can easily transition but it's not a given. The coaches are all over this.

That's interesting.

I handled the long snapping duties in my high school days. My brother was the holder. Our kicker was highly recruited and eventually landed at Georgia Tech. To my knowledge, he only ever kicked off the ground.

[fufanatic]

I thought all HS kickers used a tee. Good to know that's starting to go away some.

[aqualung]

I thought all HS kickers used a tee. Good to know that's starting to go away some.

Kicking has really evolved over the years. Today as in the past, HS kickers can use a block up to 2" in height for FG's and KO's. In the old days all D1 college kickers also used a 2" block throughout their college careers. Even those who would be entering the NFL. You just transitioned to the ground right after your senior college Season. This all changed in 1990 (I think) when college rules changed and mandated kicking FG's off the ground. After this, serious HS kickers would start migrating to a 1" tee for their senior season to help the transition. Over the past 15 years or so this has continued to evolve and the proliferation of kicking camps has been a catalyst. Now talented HS kickers are migrating to a 1" tee their freshman or sophomore year and moving to the ground in their junior or senior year. A high school kid kicking off the ground in games used to be unheard of but it's common now among those with college potential.

[fufanatic]

I thought all HS kickers used a tee. Good to know that's starting to go away some.

Kicking has really evolved over the years. Today as in the past, HS kickers can use a block up to 2" in height for FG's and KO's. In the old days all D1 college kickers also used a 2" block throughout their college careers. Even those who would be entering the NFL. You just transitioned to the ground right after your senior college Season. This all changed in 1990 (I think) when college rules changed and mandated kicking FG's off the ground. After this, serious HS kickers would start migrating to a 1" tee for their senior season to help the transition. Over the past 15 years or so this has continued to evolve and the proliferation of kicking camps has been a catalyst. Now talented HS kickers are migrating to a 1" tee their freshman or sophomore year and moving to the ground in their junior or senior year. A high school kid kicking off the ground in games used to be unheard of but it's common now among those with college potential.

I’m really sorry I tried to have a kicking discussion with you, lol. Thank you for the info. I find it weird that most special teams coaches are not actual kicking experts. Seems like a missed opportunity. And that’s nothing against BB, who is one of my favorite furman players ever.

[cavedweller2]

I thought all HS kickers used a tee. Good to know that's starting to go away some.

Kicking has really evolved over the years. Today as in the past, HS kickers can use a block up to 2" in height for FG's and KO's. In the old days all D1 college kickers also used a 2" block throughout their college careers. Even those who would be entering the NFL. You just transitioned to the ground right after your senior college Season. This all changed in 1990 (I think) when college rules changed and mandated kicking FG's off the ground. After this, serious HS kickers would start migrating to a 1" tee for their senior season to help the transition. Over the past 15 years or so this has continued to evolve and the proliferation of kicking camps has been a catalyst. Now talented HS kickers are migrating to a 1" tee their freshman or sophomore year and moving to the ground in their junior or senior year. A high school kid kicking off the ground in games used to be unheard of but it's common now among those with college potential.

Great info. I used it to school a room full of so called know it alls yesterday. We were watching the Dorman/Dutch Fork game and the topic of HS kickers and tees came up. They got a lesson and explanation like I actually knew what I was talking about.

This is why I love this website. Usually obscure and useless information surfaces just in time to be used in general conversation.

[FUBeAR]

I thought all HS kickers used a tee. Good to know that's starting to go away some.

Kicking has really evolved over the years. Today as in the past, HS kickers can use a block up to 2" in height for FG's and KO's. In the old days all D1 college kickers also used a 2" block throughout their college careers. Even those who would be entering the NFL. You just transitioned to the ground right after your senior college Season. This all changed in 1990 (I think) when college rules changed and mandated kicking FG's off the ground. After this, serious HS kickers would start migrating to a 1" tee for their senior season to help the transition. Over the past 15 years or so this has continued to evolve and the proliferation of kicking camps has been a catalyst. Now talented HS kickers are migrating to a 1" tee their freshman or sophomore year and moving to the ground in their junior or senior year. A high school kid kicking off the ground in games used to be unheard of but it's common now among those with college potential.

obscure and useless information

yep

[fufanatic]

Well, it is nice to hear from the horse's mouth. Maybe he's gone. Maybe not.

Anyone heard anything? I guess he could wait all the way until just after graduation, but I would think he would want to have a plan in place before then.

[apaladin]

Well, it is nice to hear from the horse's mouth. Maybe he's gone. Maybe not.

Anyone heard anything? I guess he could wait all the way until just after graduation, but I would think he would want to have a plan in place before then.

Atkins really has all summer. Remember Feister from Clempson didn’t decide until late summer right before practice started. I have an idea about TE. Why don’t we just move an OL to TE? All we want our TE’s to do is block so why not move a true blocker there as we never throw to our TE’s.

[The Jackal]

Well, it is nice to hear from the horse's mouth. Maybe he's gone. Maybe not.

Anyone heard anything? I guess he could wait all the way until just after graduation, but I would think he would want to have a plan in place before then.

Atkins really has all summer. Remember Feister from Clempson didn’t decide until late summer right before practice started. I have an idea about TE. Why don’t we just move an OL to TE? All we want our TE’s to do is block so why not move a true blocker there as we never throw to our TE’s.

Actually, we are the complete opposite. Our TEs have to be able to run. We move guys off of TE that aren't fast enough for the position.

[AstroDin]

Hero Sports is running breakdowns of the 24 playoff teams and what they have returning for 2020. Furman is #2 in rushing… 99.7% Nova is #1 with 99.8%.

Other teams of note; Wofford is #17 returns 56.2%, APSU is #23 only returning 27%.

https://herosports.com/fcs/football-202 ... yards-bzbz

[gofurman]

I thought all HS kickers used a tee. Good to know that's starting to go away some.

Kicking has really evolved over the years. Today as in the past, HS kickers can use a block up to 2" in height for FG's and KO's. In the old days all D1 college kickers also used a 2" block throughout their college careers. Even those who would be entering the NFL. You just transitioned to the ground right after your senior college Season. This all changed in 1990 (I think) when college rules changed and mandated kicking FG's off the ground. After this, serious HS kickers would start migrating to a 1" tee for their senior season to help the transition. Over the past 15 years or so this has continued to evolve and the proliferation of kicking camps has been a catalyst. Now talented HS kickers are migrating to a 1" tee their freshman or sophomore year and moving to the ground in their junior or senior year. A high school kid kicking off the ground in games used to be unheard of but it's common now among those with college potential.

aqualung this is great information and why I like strong discussion - thank you for educating us! seriously, good stuff

[AstroDin]

I think the posts Sam Herder is doing on Hero Sports about an early peak at 2020 is really interesting.
Sam is comparing the 24 playoff teams in relationship to what teams are returning in 2020.

A look so far into where Furman stands…

Most return points
Furman is #9 returning 72% of 2019 points 33.5 points per game
for comparison, Wofford is #22 returning just 34.4 % at 19.8 points per game
NDSU leads the pack at 79.2 % at 37.2 points per game

Returning Rushing Production
Furman is #2 returning 3,444 yards and 99.7% returns (FU brings back the most production yards)
Wofford comes in at #17 returning 2,063 yards and 56.2 % returns

Top returning Passers
He didn't rank the passers, 12 of the 24 bring back QBs Grainger ranks #11 in passing yards. Sam should have made this Grainger/Sisson and combined their numbers (he did this for SDSU) if you include Sisson - 1860 passing yards and 16 touchdowns - that would move Furman up to #10

Returning Receiving Production
Furman does take a hit - Furman comes in at #18 bringing back 1,015 yards per game 54% percent production returning. With Bell back, add Shiflett and Henderson and a healthier Walker - I'd expect Furman to surpass last year's receiving total of 1,880.

I'm not sure what positions groups Sam will take on next - but looking at the numbers above Furmanis comparing very well overall.