By MARK MAYNARD / Prokickernews.com

ASHLAND, Ky. – The inaugural Ray Guy Prokicker.com High School All-Americans include some of the nation’s top punting, kicking, kickoff and long-snapping prospects.

Players were selected after much vetting from the Prokicker.com staff, who watched and coached the players during camps, and also by how the players performed on the field during the 2011 high school season.

“Our staff has personally watched these players and worked with these players during camps,” said Prokicker.com founder and camp director Rick Sang. “We’ve seen them and know what they can do.”

There were four All-America categories – punting, kicking, long-snapping and kickoff specialist. The last category is believed to be the first of its kind in receiving All-America postseason recognition.

“There are a lot of facets to special teams and we feel like this is an important one that sometimes gets overlooked when it comes to being recognized as the best,” Sang said.

Selecting the first All-America team with the Ray Guy Prokicker.com brand was something that Sang wanted to make sure was done as accurately and fairly as possible. Prokicker.com rankings and ratings weighed into the selection process but only because that meant staff members had either worked with or watched these honorees perform.

“We’re proud of what these young men have accomplished for their high school teams and look for each one of them to play at the college level,” Sang said.

Eight different states were represented: Georgia (two), Texas (two), Florida (two), Kentucky, Virginia (two), Arizona, South Carolina and Arkansas.

Among the first-, second- and third-team selections three players – kickers Harrison Butker, Nick Tankersley and Patrick Sohrt – were selected as Ray Guy Prokicker.com All-Americans in two different categories.

Butker, a combo kicker for The Westminster Schools near Atlanta, was the first-team All-America kicker and third-team punter.

Sohrt, the left-footed kicker from St. Joseph High School in Victoria, Tex., was a second-team All-America selection as both a punter and kickoff specialist.

Tankersley, who helped Manatee High School capture the Florida Class 7A championship, was the second-team kicker and the third-team kickoff specialist. He was 18 of 26 on field goals and 68 of his 100 kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Ray Guy, the former All-Pro punter for the Oakland Raiders who is considered the greatest punter in NFL history, was proud to lend his name to the inaugural Ray Guy Prokicker.com High School All-Americans.

“These young men have proven that they’re the best of the best,” Guy said. “I’ve seen many of them personally in camps and know the work ethic that goes with being a great kicker or punter. These guys have that something special, that ‘it’ factor, that separates them from the pack. This is just a steppingstone for many of them. We look for them to do great things at the next level.”

First-team selections were:

PUNTER: Thomas Meadows (6-0, 170, senior), Goochland, Va., Goochland High School, Purdue commit. Averaged 41.2 yards per punt for Goochland High School, the Division II Class A state runner-up. He had 13 punts inside the 20 and allowed only 14 return yards. He was first-team district, first-team region, All-Metro and participated in the Chesapeake Bowl where he punted five times for a 46-yard average.

Meadows credits his early experience with Prokicker.com into making him a top-notch punter.

“They really teach the techniques,” Meadows said. “I took a different approach than most kids my age did. Most kids my age went out and kicked the ball. I wanted to learn how to do it the right way. I wanted to establish my form. In my opinion, and in Rick Sang’s opinion, I’ve got some of the best form of anybody my age.”

Meadows will compete for the punting, kickoff and placekicking jobs when he gets to Purdue this summer.

“It depends on how I do in the offseason but I could be doing all three (for Purdue in the fall).”

KICKER: Harrison Butker (6-3, 170, junior), Atlanta, Ga., Westminster. All-State First Team in Class AA Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Georgia Sports Writers Association; All Metro, all classification, in Atlanta/South Fulton area; participated in Georgia Junior Bowl.

Butker made 16 of 17 field goals with only miss coming from 59 yards. Butker connected on a 51-yard field goal. He also had touchbacks on 47 of 59 kickoffs (80 percent) and also punted for a 39.5 average on 33 punts. Four of them were more than 50 yards with six downed inside the opponent’s 20.

“It was an incredible season,” Butker said. “A lot of credit goes to the (long)-snappers and holders. I was lucky to have a kicking coach (Joe Sturniolo) and a head coach (Gerry Romberg) who liked to kick.”

KICKOFF SPECIALIST: Zach Burgy-VanHoose (6-1, 214, senior), Pikeville, Ky., Pikeville High School. Led high school team to Class A state semifinals by booming 85 percent of kickoffs for touchbacks. Kicker for Kentucky in Border Bowl against Tennessee and was selected as kicker on the WMYT All-Mountain Team.

“It definitely is great to be able to end the high school season with that award. It makes you feel good; makes you feel like all the hard work is finally paying off.”

LONG-SNAPPER: Rey Higuera (5-11, 225, senior), Gilbert, Ariz., Perry High School. Arizona All-State 5A Division II first-team; All-Region, All-Section first team; snapped in Semper Fidelis Bowl; Prokicker.com national champion long-snapper for 2011.

“I’ve been long-snapping since I was a sophomore but I didn’t start getting competitive in it until the end of my junior year,” Higuera said. “Our team had a guy who was long-snapping and getting fairly good. We had heard about a coach (Ben Bernard) in Phoenix (Arizona Elite Long Snapping in North Phoenix) who turned out a lot of Division I long-snappers. I really enjoyed playing football but was not the most athletically gifted person. I had to work to get where I am.”

Second-team selections were:

PUNTER/KICKOFF SPECIALIST: Patrick Sohrt (6-2, 205, senior), Victoria, Tex., St. Joseph High School. Sohrt did a little bit of everything for his team in the kicking department but excelled on punt and kickoffs.

“I actually think my punting got better from last year. We had a 1-9 season, so we did punt a lot,” Sohrt said.

Despite St. Joseph’s record, Sohrt was named a first-team All-State punter. “I’d like to do punting and kickoffs (in college) but I’ll do whatever they ask me to do. I just want the chance.”

KICKER: Nick Tankersley (6-1, 165, senior), Bradenton, Fla., Manatee High School. Tankersley had a huge season for Florida 7A state champion Manatee High School, which finished 13-2. “When you play that many games, it’s good experience and good exposure.” Tankersley made 18 of 26 field goals with a long of 53 yards, a school record. Four of his misses were from 50-plus yards. He also had 68 touchbacks on 100 kickoffs and punted 39 times for a net average of 37.18. He allowed only 28 punt return yards.

“He can do all of it (in the kicking game),” said Manatee assistant coach Dennis Stallard. “He’s probably more natural kicker/kickoff guy. He taught himself through what he learned at Prokicker.com camps. It’s not a natural motion for a kid with a soccer background.”

LONG-SNAPPER: Ike Powell (6-3, 240, sophomore), Tifton, Ga., Tift County High School. Powell was the Ray Guy Prokicker.com National Championship runner-up for 2011 and was the national winner in the underclassman division. He was All-Area in a four-county area. Powell is also the youngest Prokicker.com All-American selection and the top-ranked player in his class at long-snapper.

Here’s what Jacob Claycomb, a Prokicker.com staff member, said about Powell:

“Ike has always been really gifted. You can tell he works hard at it. He has his own target in the back yard. Most kids don’t know their exact score before you tell him. Ike threw the last ball and said ‘Oh, man, 24 points.’ He had a running clock in his head. Ike’s pretty much the whole package. He’s probably one of the better long-snappers I’ve had come through the camps. He’s such a hard worker.

During the national championships his fastest snap was .77 and his average was .83.

Third-team selections were:

PUNTER (tie): Mitchell Ludwig (6-0, 170, junior), Abingdon, Va., Abingdon High School. First-team district and regional punter, second-team kicker; Virginia preps.com AA First-Team All-State Punter and Virginia Preps.com AA underclassmen First Team All-State Punter; set five school kicking and punting records; one state of Virginia record submitted (single game six punts for 50.33 yard average).

Harrison Butker (6-3, 170, junior), Atlanta, Ga., Westminster (See information above).

KICKER: Houston Ray (5-11, 170, junior), Van Buren, Ark., Van Buren High School.

KICKOFF SPECIALIST (tie): Sean Covington (6-1, 175, junior), St. Petersburg, Fla., St. Petersburg High School; Nick Tankersley (6-1, 165, senior), Bradenton, Fla., Manatee High School.

LONG-SNAPPER (tie): Mike Sulka (6-4, 240, senior), Bluffton, S.C., Bluffton High School; Fred McClimans (6-0, 205, senior), Flower Mound, Tex., Flower Mound High School.

HONORABLE MENTION

KICKERS

Nick Bartolotta, Fox High School (Mo.), class of 2012

Sean Covington, St. Petersburg High School (Fla.), class of 2013

Andy Ellington, Winfield High School (W.Va.), class of 2012

Pedro Ramello, Fishers High School (Ind.), class of 2012

Austin Jordan, Airport High School (S.C.), class of 2012

Trent Domingue, St. Paul’s School (La.), class of 2012

PUNTERS

Alex Barta, Clarkston High School (Mich.), class of 2012

Cliff Hurst, Centreville Academy (La.), class of 2012

Brian Bostrom, Kings Academy (Calif.), class of 2012

KICKOFF SPECIALISTS

Mark Grant, Mosley High School (Fla.), class of 2012

Ryan Frain, Scecina Memorial High School (Ind.), class of 2012

Harrison Butker, Westminster Schools (Ga.), class of 2013

Nick Bartolotta, Fox High School (Mo.), class of 2012

Carson Greifenkamp, Murray High School (Ky.), class of 2012

LONG-SNAPPERS

Chris Fitzpatrick, Anderson County High School (Ky.), class of 2012

Leonard Skubal, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fla.) High School, class of 2012

Chad Leonard, Queens Creek High School (Ariz.), class of 2012

Travis Taulbee, Montgomery County High School (Ky.), class of 2012

Zack Hirth, Eureka High School (Mo.), class of 2012

Nick Walter, Pickerington Central (Ohio) High School, class of 2013

Billy Oldach, The Rivers School (Ma.), class of 2012

Brent Becenti, Ganado High School (Ariz.), class of 2012

The list will be narrowed to ten semi-finalists to be announced on November 11. Following the semi-finalists announcement, a national body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, coaches, media representatives, and previous Ray Guy Award winners will vote for the top three finalists, who will be identified on November 21.  The voting body will then cast ballots to select the winner.

The presentation of the Ray Guy Award will be featured on The Home Depot College Football Awards live on Thursday, December 8 at 9:00 pm ET on ESPN. The show, hosted by ESPN’s Chris Fowler, Lee Corson, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard will feature live presentation of nine player awards, along with the recipients of Disney’s Spirit Award, The Home Depot Coach of the Year Award, the NCFAA (National College Football Awards Association) Contributions to College Football Award, and student-athletes selected to the Walter Camp All-America Team. Fans can visit the show’s dedicated web site at www.espncollegefootballawards.com to find the latest college football awards news, including show details, previous winners, fan voting, a photo gallery and video highlights.

2011 Ray Guy Award Candidates
Bryan Anger - California
Ben Armer - Western Michigan
Will Atterberry - North Texas
Trey Barrow - Missouri
Tyler Bennett - Utah State
Peter Boehme - Southern Mississippi
Dylan Breeding - Arkansas
Ben Buchanan - Ohio State
Drew Butler - Georgia
Ian Campbell - UTEP
Tyler Campbell - Ole Miss
Steven Clark - Auburn
Bobby Cowan - Idaho
Ryan Doerr - Kansas State
Ron Doherty - Kansas
Kyle Dugandzic - Arizona
Anthony Fera – Penn State

Will Goggans - Troy
Mickey Groody - Florida Atlantic
Eric Guthrie - Iowa
Johnny Hekker - Oregon State
Tom Hornsey - Memphis
Jimmy Howell - Virginia
Josh Hubner - Arizona State
Jay Karutz - Eastern Michigan
Anson Kelton - TCU
Alex King - Duke
Pete Kontodiakos - Colorado State
Scott Kovanda - Ball State
Chase Lansford - UNLV
Richie Leone - Houston
Jeff Locke - UCLA
Brett Maher - Nebraska
Kyle Martens - Rice
Austin McCoy - Wyoming
Brandon McManus - Temple
Kyle Negrete - USC
Brad Nortman - Wisconsin
Pat O’Donnell - Cincinnati
Shawn Powell - Florida State
Ryan Quigley - Boston College
Jackson Rice - Oregon
Matt Rinehart - Kent State
Brian Schmiedebusch - Bowling Green
Quinn Sharp - Oklahoma State
Brian Stahovich - San Diego State
Riley Stephenson – BYU
Ryan Tydlacka - Kentucky
Kirby Van Der Kamp - Iowa State
Cole Wagner - Connecticut
Cody Webster - Purdue
Kase Whitehead - Marshall
Brad Wing - LSU
Dawson Zimmerman - Clemson

Ray Guy Award
The Augusta Sports Council created the Ray Guy Award in 2000 to honor Thomson, Georgia native and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ray Guy. The Ray Guy Award winner is determined by a national voting body of sports writers, college coaches, sports information directors, and past Ray Guy Award winners. Among the statistics used to identify the winner is net punting average, number of times a punt is downed or kicked out of bounds inside the opponents 20-yard line, total yardage punted, average returned yardage, and percentage of punts not returned. The winner must display team leadership, self-discipline, and have a positive impact on the team’s success.

Augusta Sports Council
The Augusta Sports Council (ASC), a non-profit organization dedicated to marketing the Augusta area as a destination for amateur sporting events, celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2011. The ASC attracts, creates and supports dozens of sporting events and activities each year, generating a positive economic impact and enhancing the quality of life for residents of the greater Augusta community. To learn more, visit www.augustasportscouncil.org.

National College Football Awards Association
The Ray Guy Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA). The NCFAA was founded in 1997 as a coalition of the major collegiate football awards to protect, preserve and enhance the integrity, influence and prestige of the game’s predominant awards. The NCFAA encourages professionalism and the highest standards for the administration of its member awards and the selection of their candidates and recipients. For more information, visit the association’s official website, www.ncfaa.org.

DOVER, Del. – Competition results from the Ray Guy Prokicker.com camp in Dover, Del. It was the last camp of the spring-summer season.

Long Distance Field Goal High School: Eric Chaconas, 52 yards.

Long Distance Kickoff: Bryan Haldeman, 68 yards, 3.81

Hang Time Punt: Garrett Long, 50 yards, 4.26

Out of Bounds Punt Right: Robbie Budd, 3 yard-line.

Out of Bounds Punt Left: T.J. Morton, 2.5 yard-line

Fastest Single Snap: Robert Longwell, 0.81

Most Accurate Snapper: Dennis Long, 20 of 30

TOP PROSPECTS

Bryan Haldeman, kicker, 2012

Christopher Smith, kicker, 2012

Will Estes, kicker, 2012

Garrett Long, kicker, 2013

Glenn Beckmeyer, long-snapper, 2012

Long Distance Field Goal High School: Jason Van Buren, 56 yards

Long Distance Kickoff: Nolan McMahon, 67 yards

Hang Time Punt: Caleb Houston, 42 yards, 4.52

Out of Bounds Punt Right: George Howington, .5 yard-line

Out of Bounds Punt Left: Nolan McMahon, 10 yard-line

Fastest Single Snap: John Bednar, 0.77

Most Accurate Snapper: Jean Nicolas Proulx, 21 of 30

TOP PROSPECTS

Pedro Ramello, kicker-punter, 2012

Nolan McMahon, kicker-punter, 2013

Jean Nicolas Proulx, long-snapper, 2012

Long Distance Field Goal High School: Garrett Wallen, 50 yards

Long Distance Kickoff: Brenton Zuzo, 67 yards

Hang Time Punt: Alex Barta, 44 yards, 4.43

Out of Bounds Punt Right: Dylan Kanaan, 3.5 yard-line

Out of Bounds Punt Left: Dylan Kanaan, 3.5 yard-line

Fastest Single Snap: Ben Shanley, 0.75; Karl Marback, 0.88; Max Elder

Most Accurate Snapper: Ben Shanley, 15 of 30

TOP PROSPECTS

Garrett Wallen, kicker, 2012

Brenton Zuzo, kicker, 2013

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Competition results from the Ray Guy Prokicker.com camp in Hattiesburg.

Long Distance Field Goal High School: Joey Silvani, 45 yards

Long Distance Kickoff: Trent Domingue, 65 yards, 3.67

Hang Time Punt: Trent Domingue, 42 yards, 4.64

Out of Bounds Punt Right: Joey Silvani, 3-yard line

Out of Bounds Punt Left: Brandt Moore, 4-yard line

Fastest Single Snap: Michael Pate, 0.75

Most Accurate Snapper: Evan Chancellor and Michael Pate, 20 of 30

TOP PROSPECTS

Trent Domingue, kicker-punter, 2012

Reece Everett, kicker, 2013

Evan Chancellor, long-snapper, 2012

Luke Burnham, long-snapper, 2012

Joey Silvani, kicker-punter, 2012

Grant McLaurin, kicker-punter, 2012

Evan Russell, kicker, 2012

Al Wells, kicker, 2014

Jamie Stuart, long-snapper, 2012

Michael Pate, long-snapper, 2012

ATLANTA – Competition results from the Ray Guy Prokicker.com camp at the Lovett School.

Long Distance Field Goal High School: Tyler Newsome, 60 yards

Long Distance Kickoff: Harrison Butker, 73 yards, 4.01

Hang Time Punt: Mac Miller, 35 yards, 4.67

Out of Bounds Punt Right: Troy Bray

Out of Bounds Punt Left: Troy Bray

Fastest Single Snap: Michael Sulka, .74

Most Accurate Snapper: Ike Powell, 25 of 30

TOP PROSPECTS

Michael Sulka, long-snapper, 2012

Ike Powell, long-snapper, 2014

Tyler Newsome, kicker, 2014

Anthony Price, kicker, 2013

Harrison Butker, kicker, 2013

Patrick McAlpin, kicker, 2012

Rodrigo Blankenship, kicker, 2015

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Competition results from the Ray Guy Prokicker.com camp in the Nashville area.

Long Distance Field Goal High School: Justin Yoon and Marc Wynstra, 52 yards.

Long Distance Kickoff: Thomas Farst, 68 yards, 3.75

Out of Bounds Punt Right: Cale Mitchell and Brett Hopper

Out of Bounds Punt Left: Crawford Sullins

Fastest Single Snap: Ben Groelke and Wes Drewery, 0.75

Most Accurate Snapper: Ben Groelke, 21 of 30

TOP PROSPECTS

Ben Groelke, long-snapper, 2012

Thomas Farst, kicker, 2013

PITTSBURGH – Competition results from the Ray Guy Prokicker.com camp at Upper St. Clair High School in the Pittsburgh area.

Long Distance Field Goal High School: Zach Daughtery, 50 yards

Long Distance Kickoff: Matt Carter, 65 yards, 3.51

Hang Time Punt: Mitchell Ludwig, 41 yards, 4.82

Out of Bounds Punt Right: Tyler Ganhao, 2 yard-line

Out of Bounds Punt Left: Blaine Friday, 3.5 yard-line

Fastest Single Snap: Zach Ross, .81

Most Accurate Snapper: Zach Ross, 22 of 30

TOP PROSPECTS

Mitchell Ludwig, punter-kicker, 2012

Austin Crimmins, kicker, 2012

Matt Carter, kicker, 2012

Killian Mulkern kicker, 2012

Long Distance Field Goal High School: Damon Neil, 50 yards

Long Distance Kickoff: Brandon Mandes, 68 yards (3.51)

Hang Time Punt: Ryan Winslow, 39 yards, (4.46)

Out of Bounds Punt Right: Nick Spadafino, 4-yard line

Out of Bounds Punt Left: Brett Vasvari, 8-yard line

Fastest Single Snap: Bill Oldach, 0.78

Most Accurate Snapper: Emmett Odegard, 20 out of 30

TOP PROSPECTS

Bill Oldach, long-snapper, 2012

Brandon Mandes, kicker, 2013

Justin Renninger, kicker, 2012