Special teams are paramount to any football program's success. How many times does a game come down to an extra point kick or a last-second field goal or a clutch punt deep in one's own territory? If you are passionate about football, you know the importance of special teams, especially the kicking game.
The state of Michigan has a long and storied history of producing top-notch kickers and punters. The Great Lakes State's class of 2021 kicking group is, as usual, one of the richest, deepest and most-talented in the country.
Here are Michigan's top 10 placekickers/punters for the class of 2021.
Top 10 kickers for Michigan's class of 2021 --
1. Tommy Doman-6-3, 175-Orchard Lake St. Mary's -- Ranked the No. 3 kicker and the No. 4 punter in the nation, Doman is rated the No. 1 combo K/P in the country by Kohl's Kicking Camp. Last season, Doman had a 43-yard punting average and was 9-of-15 on FGs with a long of 43 yards. As a sophomore, Doman had a 50-yard FG. Verbal to U-M
2.Tyler McCoon-6-4, 205-Traverse City Central -- If Orchard Lake St. Mary's Tommy Doman is a top five kicking prospect, then McCoon is in the top 10 nationally. McCoon has been a kicking standout since his sophomore season. Last year, McCoon was named to the Traverse City Record-Eagle Dream Team, punting for a 43.7 average.
3. Tommy Yanoski-6-2, 205-Pinconning -- Finished with a 39.5 average as a punter last season with longs of 55 and 65 yards. Also starting quarterback for Pinconning. Selected to the Bay City Times Dream Team.
4. Luke Leto-6-3, 190-Portage Central -- Named to the Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team as a punter last season. Leto averaged a whopping 42.3 yards per punt for the Mustangs. Football, however, isn't even Leto's best sport. Leto, a shortstop and right-handed pitcher, is widely considered the class of 2021's No. 1 baseball recruit in the nation. Verbal to LSU for baseball
5. Jake Ward-5-9, 160-West Bloomfield -- Was named a Top Performer at the nationally renowned Top 40 Kicking Camp in Orlando, Florida this summer. Booming leg, excellent strength. Made nine FGs last season for the Lakers, including two kicks from 39 yards.
6. Joey Pizzo-5-10, 165-Grosse Ile -- Selected to the Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State team and the Detroit News All-Metro West first squad last season as a junior. Powerful, accurate leg.
7. Chase Paulus-5-10, 180-Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood -- Selected to the Detroit News Division 3-4 All-State first team as a punter.
8. Nicholai Emde-5-10, 160-Plainwell -- Selected to the Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team last season. Emde was 17-of-17 on PATs and 4-of-4 on FGs, with a long of 37 yards.
9. Luke Drzewiecki-6-1, 180-Utica Eisenhower -- Made 14-of-15 PATs and 4-of-6 FGs last season en route to All-Macomb Country first team.
10. Kollin Kralapp-6-1, 175-Macomb Dakota -- Ranked nationally by Kohl's Kicking Camp. Last season, Kralapp was 17-of-18 on PATs, 2-of-3 on FGs, had a 38-yard punting average, with a long of 56 yards and blasted 14 of his 25 kickoffs into the end zone.
Other top kickers for Michigan's class of 2021 (all are D-I college football prospects at some level) -- Will Ozdych-5-11, 180-Bay City John Glenn (four-year starter, kicked school-record 50-yard field goal for Bobcats), Jon Popp-6-2, 190-Maple City Glen Lake (was selected to the Division 5-6 All-State team as a punter last season), Rasmus Anderson-5-10, 170-Ionia (earned All-Ionia County accolades last year, finished 22-of-22 on PATs and 7-of-7 on FGs last season), Teagen Lenderink-6-1, 175-Rockford (named to the Detroit News Division 1-2 All-State team last year as a punter).
PHOTO -- Orchard Lake St. Mary's Tommy Doman (6-3, 175) is the No. 1-ranked kicker for Michigan's class of 2021. Doman is ranked the No. 1 combo kicker in the nation. Doman is verbally committed to U-M.
PHOTO -- Pinconning's Tommy Yanoski (6-2, 205) is ranked as the No. 3 kicker in Michigan. Last season, Yanoski was selected to the Bay City Times Dream Team after averaging 39 yards per punt, with longs of 55 and 65 yards. Photo by Lee Thompson/MLive.com.
PHOTO -- Portage Central's Luke Leto is the No. 4-ranked kicker in the Great Lakes State. Last year, Leto averaged 42.3 yards per punt en route to Kalamazoo Gazette Dream Team honors. A shortstop and pitcher, Leto is ranked the No. 1 prospect in the nation for the class of 2021 and is verbally committed to LSU for baseball. Photo by Emil Lippe/MLive.com.
