In college football today, it is too easy to overlook the importance of kickers. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is not one of those that take special teams lightly. Last month June 14, the Tigers got a commitment from one of the top place kickers in the country, Robert Gunn out of Largo, Florida.
Over the weekend at the All In Cookout, Clemson picked up their punter of the future in Jackson Smith from Saraland, Alabama. He received a Preferred Walk On Offer and accepted it.
Smith, 6-5 225, will remind Clemson fans of former Tiger Bradley Pinion who is now kicking for the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The two are roughly the same size, and both received similar accolades coming out of high school.
“Jackson is our number one ranked punter in the 2022 grad class. He’s been number one ranked for a year and a half now out of over 150 kids in his class. He has the prototypical body type and size that the NFL and power five special teams coaches look for in his position. Jackson has a long lever and can drive the ball very high and far. He is also a baseball player and can play quarterback if needed (sound familiar, Will Spiers?), “ says Coach Brian Jackson, owner of NKR Kicking Camps, @NKR_Camps.
“Coaches love punters that are multi-sport athletes that have good hand eye coordination. THey also love punters that can place the ball directionally where they want, with great hang time, and obviously distance that matches. Jackson has really become a consistent weapon with directionally punting to the numbers towards the side line with close to five seconds of hang time. He also has mastered the art of holding for field goals. I knew this guy was going to be a Division 1 football player two years ago when I met him, and I’m happy for Clemson that they made a wonderful choice. Jackson is a phenomenal young man, with great character, and has a fantastic family and a high school coaching staff that is very supportive. We at NKR are very proud of him and have been very pleased with his progress in our program.”
The Clemson kicking game is going to be in good “hands” for the years to come.
