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Thursday, December 27, 2012

Get To Know- Alexi Johnson- Class of 2013

Over the holidays I got to sit down with Alexi Johnson of Shakopee High School and interview him for our 'Get To Know' segment.


Alexi Johnson is a Senior kicker from Shakopee High School in Shakopee, MN.  Alexi earned the starting kicking spot for his high school his Junior year.  Shakopee High School plays in a very competitive conference and an even more competitive playoff section.  Over his 2 years of kicking for his high school, Alexi has seen and experienced it all.  He's played in a number of games that came down to the last kick, and has been able to to execute a number of skilled kicks to help his team win and compete in games.   All of this could not have been done without the hard work and dedication Alexi has put into his kicking training.  I've had the privilege to train Alexi for two years during his Junior and Senior years.  Alexi came to me with a high level soccer background and a very strong leg.  Alexi works very hard at the kicking game and has proven to be on of the most well rounded and top kickers in Minnesota.  With what I've seen in his improvements over the year, he is ready to take his kicking game to the collegiate level. He has become a very accurate and a deep threat kicker.


Alexi has had a pretty decorated career as a high school kicker.  Over his last two years, he's earned various kicking honors such has All State Honorable Mention, All Metro and All Conference, as well being named to the Preseason All Metro Team.  He was the leading scorer for kickers as a junior and 3rd overall kicker in the state in points scored.  Alexi is ranked as one of the top 3 All Around Minnesota Senior Kickers according to National Camp Series evaluation of Kickers and Punters, and was named to the "All Midwest Team" in 2011.  In August 2012, he was named to the "2012 Minnesota Bombers Class" as one of the six top kickers in the state of Minnesota to Watch, according to Special Teams Football Academy.  Alexi also earned a spot on the Top Tier All American Watch List for Kickers. During his senior year he kicked another game winner and set the school record for longest field goal.



We took time to sit down over the holidays to 'Get To Know' Alexi Johnson a bit more after this senior year of football.


What has it been like knowing you were playing in your last high school football season?
It was amazing and odd at the same time, knowing that this would be my final season playing high school sports. It was also pretty cool knowing that what I would do this final season would help me transition to college football.  

How did your season turn out this year?
It went well, but not as well as I had hoped.  I ended up 19-21 on PATs with the two misses blocked, and 6-8 on FGs with one of them blocked. I would have liked to have scored more for my team but they used me when they needed me.

What did you like most about your Senior Year?
The football team became my family and I got to win homecoming for our school!



What will you miss most about your Senior year and high school football?
The adventure of playing under the "Friday night lights" for eight weeks and trying to help my team win games.


Shakopee had a young team this year, what has that experience been like in an almost "Rebuilding year?"
It was hard because we did not have the experience on the offensive line and in some skill positions. On the other hand it was really run to be a part of watching the younger guys begin to step up late in the season and contribute.  This was especially true when we won our last two games against the top two teams in conference.


You had a great year of kicking as a Junior finishing as the top point scoring Junior kicker.  What kind of off season training did you do to prepare yourself for this year?
I went on a weight lifting program at school. I went to several camps as well. Finally, I worked with Coaches Husby and Mehlhaff on a regular basis to perfect my skills.


Based on your strong Junior year, it appeared that your coach trusted you in the kicking game and gave you a number of opportunities to kick this year, how did that make you feel?
It gave me much more confidence when I kicked. My coaches made it clear that I would be a clear contributor to the team and it was a good feeling knowing they could rely on me.


What kind of "in season" training did you do to stay on top of your kicking game?
I decreased my workload in the weightroom but worked a lot more on technical skills. I would watch film from each game and work to correct mistakes I may have made in the previous game.

What are some of your personal and team highlights from this season?
I kicked the game winning last second field goal to win Homecoming. I set the school record for the longest field goal in Shakopee history. 
Our running back Nick Larson ran for over 1100 yards which was a testament to our offensive line. We also bounced back from some early disappointments to win two huge games against the best two teams in conference.
What are your goals for playing collegiate football?  Have you thought about a degree you may want to pursue?
I would like to play either at the Division 1 or Division 2 level, and start for a team as soon as I am ready. In college I hope to pursue degrees in sports training and political science.

Have you had any college contacts yet based on the season you are having?
Yes I have had visits with Mankato, SMSU, Northern State, UW Stout, St. Johns, and St. Scholastica.

What are a few things you have learned about the college recruiting process that you didn't know before?
It has been interesting to learn all the NCAA rules about when coaches can talk to me and when they cannot. It has been fun to talk to all the different programs and learn when they have to offer.

What have been some highlights from your high school career individually?  And as a team?
  • Two game winning last second FGs in the past two years.
  • A successful onsides kick to put us in position to win a game in 2012
  • Being named all-metro and all-state honorable mentions in 2011
  • Being named to the Kare11 pre-season all metro team
  • Winning conference two times in three years and the first time in 30 years
  • Winning the first playoff game for Shakopee in 30 years.
What were some of your kicking statistics this season as well as your Career Statistics?


Year
PATM
PATA
PAT%
FGM
FGA
FG%
Distances
Long
TB
2012 
19 
21 
90.48% 
75.00% 
23, 29,27, 37, 19, 26 
37 
9/18 = 50.0% 
2011 
34 
36 
94.44% 
66.67% 
30, 32 
32 
Total 
53 
57 
92.98% 
11 
72.73% 
* * *  
37 

What are you doing to get yourself ready to kick next year?
Beginning to lift weights again after taking time off at the end of the season. I will be kicking as much as possible this winter in domes, and then outside when the weather warms.
 
Here is a fun video of Alexi kicking the game winning field goal in one of our camp's last man standing contests!

It's been a pleasure to work with Alexi over the last 2 years.  As he goes through the steps to find the college that fit him best, I have no doubt in my mind that Alexi will succeed as a kicker and make a difference for that football program.  Good luck.

-Coach Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy  
Join our Facebook Fan Page!  
CoachHusby@gmail.com 
651-353-2660

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Featured in CBS News Sports Segment

In November, Special Teams Football Academy and Coach Chris Husby was Featured in the Sports Segment of the Minnesota based CBS News- WCCO (Channel 4).

Sports anchor John Lauritsen met up with Coach Chris Husby and a few of the metro area's best kickers: Patrick, LeCorre, Danny Laudet, Jon Coppens and Alexi Johnson to find out more about Special Teams Football Academy and how they are helping train the kickers, punters and snappers to be some of the best in the state.

It was a fun and great opportunity to meet John and was an exciting highlight for the kicking academy and a nice way to cap off a busy and prosperous year.


To read the article and see the news segment kick below.**
Read Article and See Video Here.





**The news segment was produced and created by CBS.  CBS Owns Copyright.  Coach Husby also purchased the video from the holding company. Video is intended to share in the excitement of the news coverage with friends and family.  For more information on Minnesota news and sports, check out www.WCCO.com



Recruiting Tips 2012

We get a lot of questions about the high school recruiting process and there is so much information out there.  I've found that NCSA offers some great tips on the college recruiting process.  They put out a number of great YouTube videos as teaching points.   Below is a list of great resources that can help you learn more about the college recruiting process.  I'll post the subject line to the video, and if you want to read/watch it, just click on the title.




I will say that these are general comments for football players of all positions.  But the recruiting process for kickers, punters and snappers is a little different and at times done a little bit later in the year.  Sometimes specialists aren't always high on the priority list to snatch up first like a 5 start QB or RB is.  But some big time Division 1 programs do recruit the top kickers in the nation as Juniors.  But I think it is still important to be active in the recruiting process as early as you can and try to get on college coaches radars.

This will also be a growing list of Recruiting information:

    7.   How do coaches use Junior Days?  **Excellent video for anyone


    I hope these videos were helpful.  Let me know which of these videos were the MOST helpful or if they need to add to this list..

    -Coach Chris Husby
    Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
    Special Teams Football Academy  
    Join our Facebook Fan Page!  
    CoachHusby@gmail.com 
    651-353-2660

     

    Wednesday, December 5, 2012

    State Championship- Special Teams Player of the Week

    The Minnesota State Championship wrapped up with a number of close games.  Minnesota has 7 classes and none had a hotter finish than the game between Caledonia and Moose Lake-Willow River of Class 2A.  Going into the 4th quarter with Caledonia down 15-22, they fought back scoring a touchdown bringing the score to tie the game at 22-22.  Then like many exciting games, it came down to a last chance field goal to win it.  And for this reason, we have named Levi Schmitz our special teams player of week.  Levi lines up for a 24 yard field goal with 1 second left and drills it!  Caledonia wins 25-22.  Helping Caledonia 3 peat as State Champions.  Levi finishes the game with 1 PAT and 2 Field Goals of 37 and 25 yards for 7 points.  Congratulations Levi!


    Minnesota State High School League


    Honorable Mention Performances

    1. Jackson Richards- Totino Grace- 7 for 7 PATs- 7 points
    2. Marcus Hahn- Hutchinson-  7 for 10 PATs- 7 points
    3. Felix Harseim- Blue Earth- 3 for 4 PATs and 1 Field Goal (36 yards)- 6 points

    -Coach Chris Husby
    Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
    Special Teams Football Academy  
    Join our Facebook Fan Page!  
    CoachHusby@gmail.com 
    651-353-2660

    Patrick LeCorre Breaks Kicking Records

    Congrats to one of our student kickers, Patrick LeCorre of Edina High School, he tied for 3rd in the State of MN Record books for Most Made Field Goals in a Regular Season with 13, and ranks 7th in the state already with Career Fields Made with 14.  What's even more interesting is the fact that Patrick is also only a Sophomore! Patrick finished his season making 13 field goals and going 23 for 25 on PATs.  Five of his 13 field goals were 40 yards or longer!  He even broke the school record at Edina with 13 Field Goals in a season. 

    A Patrick Le Corre Field Goal

    Here is the link to see the Special Teams Minnesota State Records.  Patrick finished the year as the 2nd leading scorer in the state.  He also ranked in the Top 25 for field goals made in the nation according to Maxpreps.com.  Patrick earned All Conference, and All State Honorable Mention Honors, as well as was named "Special Teams Player of the Year" for the 2nd year in a row on this Edina Team. Patrick was also named to the "2012 All-Pioneer Press HS Team" honorable mention list as a kicker.

    Patrick held most of the Kickoff duties as well and finished with 5 touch backs on 38 kickoffs.  "Patrick is a special kicker with a bright future.  He's a huge contributor to his team already at a young age.  He's going to get so many varsity game kicking experiences by the end of this high school career, it would make any Division 1 coach excited.  He should be on the short list for many college programs," say his kicking coach Chris Husby

    Patrick has worked very hard this last off season on his kicking game and has also performed very well at kicking evaluation camps.

    • Patrick earned a spot on the Top Tier All American Watch List for Kickers. 
    • Patrick is ranked as the top All Around Minnesota Sophomore in according to National Camp Series evaluation of Kickers and Punters.
    • In August 2012, he was named to the "2012 Minnesota Bombers Class" as one of the six top kickers in the state of Minnesota to Watch, according to Special Teams Football Academy.

    Minnesota Bomber's 2012 Class


     To top off a great individual year for Patrick, his football team, the Edina Hornets, finished ranked #1 in the state of MN in Class 6A, and qualified for the State Tournament.

    We are really proud of Patrick's accomplishments this year, and are excited to see how the rest of his kicking career turns out in the next few years.
    Great Fan Support!
     
    -Coach Chris Husby
    Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
    Special Teams Football Academy  
    Join our Facebook Fan Page!  
    CoachHusby@gmail.com 
    651-353-2660