Place-Kickers

PLACE-KICKERS

TREVER AUSTIN, Shelby Crest, K, Jr., 5-11, 175 _ Made eight field goals, with six coming from outside of 35 yards. Was 3-for-3 in season opener, including a 47-yard go-ahead kick in the final 2 minutes. Made 20 extra-point kicks in addition to winning field position battle repeatedly in his kickoff and punting duties.

CASEY CARONIS, Charlotte Myers Park, K, Sr., 6-2, 170 _ Made 7 of 8 field goals with a long of 51 yards. Hit all 15 point-after kicks.

KEITH COOPER, Hickory St. Stephens, K/P, Sr., 6-1, 180 _ Made 7 of 11 field goals, including third-longest in state history with a 57-yarder against Hickory. Also hit from 42, 45, 48 and 50 and made 21 of 22 PATs. Touchbacks on 88 percent of his kickoffs. Had a 36.4-yard punting average.

WARREN HARVEY, Greenville Rose, K, Sr., 5-10, 209 _ Made 14 of 18 field goals with a long of 50 yards. Put 37 of 48 kickoffs into the end zone, while opponents started at the 20-yard line or inside of it on 44 of his 48 kickoffs. Made 22 of 23 extra-point kicks. First-team all-area by the Daily Reflector of Greenville. Ranked No. 1 kicker in the state by maxpreps.com.

TRIPP HUPMAN, Eastern Alamance, PK, Soph. 5-7, 153 _ Made six field goals and hit 73 of 79 extra-point kicks. Made a 43-yard field goal.

CASEY LANG, Weddington, K, Sr., 5-11, 150 _ All-conference pick. Had county record 57-yard field goal. Made 38 of 39 extra-point kicks and 9 of 15 field goals to set a county record.

SPENCER LINQUIST, Newton-Conover, K/P, 5-10, 170 _ Averaged 41.6 yards per punt. Had 55 of 94 kickoffs for touchbacks and was 6 of 16 field goals (team had trouble getting ball down on tee often). Made 52 of 58 PATs.

KASEY REDFERN, Jamestown Ragsdale, K/P, Sr., 6-3, 200 _ Made seven field goals and 45 extra-point kicks. Put 53 of 80 kickoffs into the end zone. Averaged 34.8 yards per punt on 56 attempts in first season as a punter. Put 23 punts inside the 20. Low Division I, Division II prospect with some offers. Dropped soccer to focus on football this year. Helped team go 13-1 overall.

BRYCE THOMPSON, Charlotte Providence, K, Sr,. 5-11, 175 _ Made 11 of 17 field goals with a long of 44 yards. Had 50 touchbacks and 2 of 3 onside kick attempts. Kicked 44 point-after kicks. All-conference pick.

PUNTERS

KEENAN ALLEN, Northern Guilford, DB/RB, Sr. _ See player of the year nominations.

WILL BAUMAN, Wilmington Hoggard, P, Jr., 6-4, 180 _ Averaged 44.8 yards on 44 punts. Placed 29 punts inside the 20. Only three punts were returned at all, the longest for 6 yards.

JOSH HENDERSON, Southern Alamance, P, Jr., 5-9, 150 _ Averaged 37 yards per punt on 40 attempts. Voted conference's top punter.

DYLAN NEIHEISER, Lake Norman, P, Sr., 6-3, 176 _ Set school record by averaging 35.4 net yards per kick with a long of 63 yards. All-conference pick who has a booming leg but is known more for hangtime. Teams managed 21 return yards in 12 games against him this year. Had 12 punts downed inside the 20, six inside the 10 and three inside the 5.

MICHAEL TART, Charlotte Mallard Creek, P, Sr., 6-2, 170 _ Two-time all-conference player had 32 punts for 43.7-yard average. Major college recruit.

JORDAN VANN, Fayetteville Sanford, P, Sr., 6-2, 207 _ Three-year starter. Averaged 43.2 yards per punt. Put nine punts inside the 20. Also played quarterback, throwing for 1,712 yards and 16 touchdowns.

KICK RETURNERS

KEENAN ALLEN, Northern Guilford, DB/RB, Sr. _ See player of the year nominations.

P.J. CLYBURN, West Iredell, KR, Sr., 6-3, 225 _ Averaged 40 yards per return on 14 chances with four returned for touchdowns. Three of those four TD returns were go-ahead scores. Teams kicked away from him all year after he earned AP All-State honors at kick returner last season. Committed to North Carolina, where could play linebacker and return kicks. Shrine Bowl pick. County player of the year. On defense, had 65 tackles and an interception.

GERMONE HOPPER, Charlotte Berry Tech, KR, Soph., 6-0, 180 _ Had 844 return yards this season with four touchdowns despite teams kicking away from him. Has 4.4 speed. All-Charlotte Observer first-team pick as a freshman.

JAMAAL WILLIAMS, Southwest Onslow, QB/S/PR, Sr., 5-10, 160 _ Tied a state record with seven punt returns for touchdowns this season. Had seven interceptions at safety, and ran for 518 yards and 11 touchdowns as a quarterback. Was the top player on a team that went 15-1 and reached the 1-AA final. Area MVP by the Jacksonville Daily News.