Having to replace a former Lou Groza Award winning kicker who went in the second round of the NFL Draft in Roberto Aguayo and the ACC’s leading punter in Cason Beatty won’t be easy for Florida State, but the Seminoles do have two very talented specialists coming in.
FSU will also see its fair share of talented opposing kicking specialists this season as well. Here is a look at the top 5 kickers and punters the Seminoles will face in 2016:
1. Johnny Townsend, Florida (P)
2015 Stats: 83 punts, 45.4 yards per punt, 61 long, 30 inside 20
Florida punter Johnny Townsend has a big leg and was an unsung hero for the Gators as a sophomore in 2015. Townsend averaged more than 45 yards per punt during the season and better than 46 yards per punt on nine boots against FSU last season. The Gators and Seminoles will square off this year in Tallahassee on Nov. 26.
2. Nick Weiler, North Carolina (K)
2015 Stats: 20-for-23 field goals, 48 long, 67-for-67 PATS
Senior Nick Weiler was extremely accurate for North Carolina a season ago. Weiler missed just three field goal attempts all season and was 4-for-6 from beyond 40 yards. Weiler doesn’t have the biggest leg, but improved tremendously from his sophomore season. The Tar Heels will visit FSU on Oct. 1.
3. Michael Badgley, Miami (K)
2015 Stats: 25-for-30 field goals, 57 long, 48-for-48 PATs
Miami’s Michael Badgley has a big leg and showed tremendous improvement as a sophomore in 2015. Badgley hit a career-long field goal of 57 yards in a win over Georgia Tech last season and is 3-for-4 in his career against FSU. The Noles and Hurricanes meet this year on Oct. 8 in South Florida.
4. Justin Vogel, Miami (P)
2015 Stats: 67 punts, 42.5 yards per punt, 73 long, 21 inside 20
One of the ACC’s most consistent punters of the last two years, Miami’s Justin Vogel averaged nearly 43 yards per punt in 2015. 13 of Vogel’s 67 punts a season ago traveled 50 yards or further. He averaged more than 41 yards per boot in last season’s 29-24 loss at Florida State.
5. Greg Huegel, Clemson (K)
2015 Stats: 27-for-32 field goals, 47 long, 57-for-62 PATs
An All-ACC kicker a season ago, Clemson’s Greg Huegel had some issues with extra points, but was very accurate on field goals. At one point last season, Huegel hit 16 straight field goals. He was 3-for-3 in a 23-13 win over Florida State last season. The teams meet this season in Tallahassee on Oct. 29.
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