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Dan Albano ranks the Top 10 specialists, who contribute as kickers, punters, returners and long snappers, in Orange County going into the 2024 high school football season:
TOP 10 SPECIALISTS
1. Connor Stephens, Crean Lutheran: The senior is the top kicker/punter to watch in Orange County this fall, said Brad Bohn of West Coast Kicking. “Stephens is the best kicker and also the best punter this year,” Bohn said. Stephens averaged almost 39 yards a punt last season en route to third-team All-County honors. He also made 5 of 8 field goals and 45 of 48 PATs. He was selected the Empire League’s Special Teams Player of the Year. The Saints have arguably their best team in school history so Stephens should have plenty of opportunities to score points this season.
2. Manuel Maganda, San Juan Hills: The senior booted 9 of 12 field goals and 53 of 56 PATs last season on his way to third-team All-County honors. Maganda made a season-long field goal of 42 yards in a first-round playoff victory against St. Francis. “He has the strongest leg of any player I’ve ever coached,” Stallions coach Robert Frith said.
3. AJ Campbell, Orange Lutheran: The athletic senior brings a strong foot from soccer to the football field. Campbell averaged 41.5 yards per punt last season and was selected second-team All-County. This fall, Campbell (6-0, 175) will play defensive back in addition to punting, Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman said.
4. Luke Whitfield, Laguna Hills: The senior returns as one the county’s best and most experienced kickers. He converted 40 of 42 PATs and 7 of 12 field goals last season. In 2022, he kicked four field goals and 70 of 72 PATs for the Hawks’ state championship team. The past two seasons combined, Whitfield has booted four game-winning field goals.
5. Nolan Olivares, Fountain Valley: The senior is the most well-rounded specialist in the county. Olivares (5-10, 170) not only converted 4 of 6 field goals and 22 of 24 PATs last season, he averaged almost 29 yards on kickoff returns and returned a punt for a score. He was selected the Sunset League’s Kicker of the Year. The Foxtrot League has been warned.
6. Devan Parker, Servite: The junior returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last season to help spark the Friars’ run to the CIF-SS Division 2 final. He returned the season-opening kickoff 97 yards for a score against Silverado. A few weeks later against Los Alamitos, Parker returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a TD in another win. As a wide receiver last season, Parker (6-0, 175) tied for the team lead with 53 receptions for 605 yards and three TDs.
7. Ryan Gass, Santa Margarita: The senior emerged last season as one of the best kickers in the Trinity League by making 4 of 6 field goals and 38 of 41 PATs. He booted a late, game-winning field goal to lift Santa Margarita past JSerra 34-31 in league.
8. Owen Walz, Dana Hills: The 5-foot-11, 180-pound senior returned two kickoffs for touchdowns last season in the Pacific Coast League to claim league’s specialist MVP award. Walz returned the first against Laguna Hills and added another the following week against Portola. Walz projects as the Dolphins’ No. 1 running back this season, coach Tony Henney said.
9. Jacob Poff, Villa Park: The senior ranks as the No. 1 long snapper from Orange County and No. 37 in the nation for the Class of 2025, according to Rubio Long Snapping. Poff (6-0, 180) also is a key defensive back for the Spartans. San Juan Hills’ Trey Young and Mission Viejo’s Jack Baldi are two other senior long snappers to watch, said Cruz Rubio of Rubio Long Snapping.
10T. Gian Luca D’Amato, El Toro: First-year El Toro coach Peter Lofthouse is high on D’Amato, who is a junior. “He has a strong leg for field goals and kickoffs,” Lofthouse said, “and punts it well.” Strong legs run in D’Amato’s genes. His brother Vince starred at El Toro as a kicker before a successful career at Cal.
10T. Gui De Luca, Beckman: De Luca is another kicker highly-regarded by Bohn and Beckman coach Marcello Giuliano. The senior converted all six of his field goals last season. “(He’ll) also be our punter and he’s a weapon,” Giuliano said.
10T. Benjamin Gamarnik, Los Alamitos: The senior ranks as a 4.5-star kicking recruit by Chris Sailer Kicking. Gamarnik was recently offered by Division III Denison.
10T. Logan Kennedy, Cypress: The senior is the No. 18 punter in the nation for the Class of 2025 by Chris Sailer Kicking. He earned second-team All-Empire League honors last season as a punter. Kennedy also kicks and plays wide receiver for Cypress. “Great punting talent,” Sailer said of the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Kennedy.
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