Michigan's Top 10 Kickers and Punters for the Class of 2019

The state of Michigan has always been one of the country's best when it comes to producing and developing top place-kicking and punting talent. From former NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowl kickers and punters such as Chester Marcol (Imlay City, Hillsdale, NFL), Pete Stoyanovich (Dearborn Heights Crestwood, Indiana, NFL) and Ralf Mojsiejenko (Bridgman, MSU, NFL) to current D-I kickers Quinn Nordin (Rockford, U-M), Pierson Cooke (Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood, Vanderbilt), Cam Shook (Grosse Pointe South, Navy), Ryan Tice (Saline, CMU), Jake Moody (Northville, U-M), Ben Fee (Orchard Lake St. Mary's, Navy) and Tyler Hunt (Gobles, MSU), the Great Lakes State is stocked full with skillful kickers. Year in and year out, the state of Michigan churns out multiple Division I-level kickers and punters -- the class of 2019 is no different. Here are the top 10 kickers and punters for Michigan's class of 2019.

Top 10 kickers and punters for Michigan's class of 2019 (all are D-I-level players) -- 

1. Jackson Griskie-5-11, 185-Macomb Lutheran North-Two-time Detroit All-Catholic League selection.  
2. Luke Elzinga-6-4, 200-Grand Rapids Christian- Named to the AP Division 1-2 All-State first team and the Grand Rapids Press Dream Team as a junior, averaging 46 yards per punt. Ranked the No. 8 punter in the nation.
3. Evan Morris-6-5, 195-Ovid-Elsie-Named to AP Division 5-6 All-State first team as a junior. Made 12-of-16 FGs, including a long of 50 yards, made 22 PATs and recorded 24 touchbacks on kickoffs last year. Verbal to Michigan State
4. Drew Alsobrooks-6-1, 180-Livonia Churchill-Outstanding all-around athlete for Chargers. One of the top kickers in Michigan, but will play baseball in Mid-American Conference for CMU.
5. Tristan Mattson-5-11, 170-Clarkston-Has kicked 45- and 42-yard field goals this season for the Wolves. Verbal to Buffalo
6. Micah Sonnenberg-6-0, 180-Brooklyn Columbia Central- A dual sport star, Sonnenberg could play Division I college soccer or football. Sonnenberg has 59 goals this season on the soccer field (ninth all-time for one season in state history) and 160 goals in his career (sixth all-time). On the football field this year he kicked a school record 48-yard field goal.
7. Ethan Martysz-6-0, 185-Marquette- Besides being a strong kicker, Martysz is also one of the best wide receivers in the state. Last season, Martysz was named to the All-Upper Peninsula Dream Team as both a receiver and kicker.
8. Alec Thelen-5-11, 175-Pewamo-Westphalia-Truly one of the best kickers in the Midwest, Thelen is a small school standout with a big leg. Helped lead P-W to the Division 7 state championship last season. This year, while playing quarterback for the top-ranked Pirates, Thelen also handles the kicking duties. This season he has kicked a school-record 50-yard field goal and a 49-yarder, while punting for a 46-yard average. Last year, Thelen was selected to the AP Division 7-8 All-State team.
9. Jayce Bourcier-6-5, 190-Freeland- Has one of the strongest legs in the country. Last season, Bourcier boomed a 79-yard punt (seventh longest in state history) and a 58-yard punt. A rugby-style punter, Bourcier averaged 46 yards per punt as a junior. He had nine punts placed inside the opponents' 20-yard line last season en route to AP Division 5-6 All-State honors.
10. Marshall Fox-5-10, 195-Elk Rapids- Four-year starter for Elk Rapids as a kicker. Last season, Fox was named to the Traverse City Record-Eagle All-Region squad, making 28-of-29 PATs and 7-of-10 FGs, including a long of 42 yards. Seventy-one percent of Fox's kickoffs reached the end zone last year.  (TIE) Josh Castillo-5-10, 180-Wyandotte-Last season, Castillo was 44-of-47 on PATs and 7-of-10 on FGs, including a long of 39 yards.

Other top kicker and punters for Michigan's class of 2019 (all are D-I prospects) -- 
Jeremy Wiersman-5-10, 160-Allendale, Gabe Doree-5-10, 190-Trenton, J.T. Turner-5-11, 165-Saline, Dayne Weldy-6-1, 185-Grand Rapids Christian, Antonio Buhrfiend-5-9, 175-St. Joseph, Josh Gilmour-5-9, 160-Plymouth Salem, Cody Fick-5-9, 185-Lapeer (has kicked 49-yard FG this season).

PHOTO -- Pewamo-Westphalia senior Alec Thelen (5-11, 175) is one of the top kickers/punters in the state of Michigan, if not the Midwest. Also the Pirates' quarterback, this season Thelen, ranked No. 8 in the Great Lakes State, has kicked a school-record 50-yard field goal, while punting for a 46-yard average. Last year, Thelen helped lead P-W to the Division 7 state championship.


-- Up next, I'll start listing my top 10 position rankings for the state of Michigan's class of 2020 and class of 2021.