Class of 2013 College Commitments and Honor Roll

Special Teams Football Academy students find places to play collegiate football.

Below is a list of many of our senior high school specialists and their collegiate commitments as well as various honors some of our younger specialists and NFL Free Agent athletes have received.  A student to us, is someone we have helped develop through multiple training lessons, camps or in the college recruiting process.  We will be updating this list as announcements are made.

  

Class of 2013 College Commitments and Honor Roll

• Alexi Johnson- Shakopee HS (MN)- K- St Johns University
• Austin Moon- Moorhead HS (MN)- P- St Cloud State University- Track and chance to walk on as Punter
• Chris Gravley- SD- K-  NDCSU (North Dakota College of Science University)
• Danny Laudet- Stillwater HS (MN)- University of Minnesota Gophers (Twin Cities)
• Derek Witte- Verona HS (WI)- St Cloud State University
• Donnie Mavencamp- Maple Lake HS (MN)- P- University of Minnesota- Morris
• Eli Wettstein- De Pere HS (WI)- Minnesota State University Moorhead
• Joe Tjosvold- Tartan HS (MN)- K- South Dakota State University
• Jake Elliot- Lyons Township (IL)- K- Memphis University
• Ruan Albuquerque- Wayzata HS (MN)/Brazil- K- USA vs the World- Kicker Nominee (For the World Team)
• Ryan Anderson- Champlin Park HS (MN)- K- St Thomas University
• Tucker Lorentzen- Champlin Park HS (MN)- K-St Johns University

Updates Coming

• Donnie Manke- Lodi HS (WI)- K/P
• Gary Flack- Highland Community College- K
• Jimmy Allen- JUCU- RCTC- K/P
• Michael Loncar- Hudson HS (WI)- P
• Michael McGrath- Legend HS (CO)- K
• Trevor Naslund- Champlin Park (MN)- P

Notable Seniors

• Vinnie Lettieri- Minnetonka HS (MN)-K- All State 2011 Kicker- Junior Hockey/U of MN Gophers
• Wyatt Schmidt- St Thomas Academy-K/P Top Kicker in MN/ National Kicker of the Year - Junior Hockey

Notable Juniors

• Connor Bolduc (Mahtomedi)- P and Reid Taubenheim (Farmington)-K/P - are receiving letters of interests from numerous Div 1 & 2 football programs as well as getting invites to Junior Days too.  Notable Programs- Connor- LSU, and various IVY League Schools, Minnesota and Reid- University of Miami, Duke, Maryland, Minnesota.

Notable Sophomores

• Patrick LeCorre (Edina)- K/P- receiving letters of interests from various Div 1 and 2 football programs.

NFL Free Agents

• Jordan Wettstein- University of Minnesota- Kicker- Signed with the Green Bay Blizzard- Arena Football Team.  IFL Special Teams Player of the Week.  2012 Highlight Film. College Draft Eligible/Free Agent Kicking Tryouts.  5 star Kicker according to Husted Kicking Pro Camp.

• Jimmie Mattson- St Johns University- Kicker- 2012 Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award Finalists & 2012 Football All-American. College Draft Eligible/Free Agent Kicking Tryouts

• Nicholas Clemens- St Scholastica University- Long Snapper- Various Arena League Tryouts

• John Ostertag- Minnesota Spartans Semi Professional Team- Kicker/Punter. Invited to NFL Regional Scout Combine 2013

• Havard Rugland- Signs with Detroit Lions!- Norway- Kicker- Most known for his Kickalicious Video. Getting NFL Scout Attention. Tryouts with New York Jets, Detroit Lions, and Cleveland Browns. College Draft Eligible/Free Agent Kicking Tryouts. 5 star Kicker according to Husted Kicking Pro Camp.  Harvard received a few Virtual Kicking Lesson from Coach Husby when he first started kicking 2011.  

Southern Specialists Camp Update
Special Teams Football Academy and Team Jackson Kicking teamed up to run the Southern Specialists Camp in January 2013.  It was a big success with 43 specialists from 7 different states. Besides instruction and competition, the camp offered exposure for Junior and Senior kickers. The performances of these specialists and their camp videos created from the camp lead to numerous Scholarship and Walk On Opportunities.

Below is a list of Camp Attendees:

• Alex Lindsay (K/P) – Signed on Full Scholarship to Faulkner University 
• Devin Holdeman (LS) – Signed on Academic Scholarship to Trinity International University 
• Blake Steinwinder (K/P) – Signed on Full Scholarship to Pearl River (Soccer) 
• Stephen Brauchle (JUCO K/P) – Signed Full Scholarship to D1 University of Louisiana Lafayette 
• Izzy Hernandez (K/P) – Committed on Academic Scholarship to Maryville College 
• Brandon Roberts (K/P) – Committed to a Preferred Walk On to Southern Miss 
• Luke Jackson (K/P) – Offered Full Scholarships by Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Delta St – Offered Preferred Walk On Invites by Georgia Tech, Missouri, Arkansas and NCST 
• Brandon Anderson (K) – Committed to Bethel College on academic scholarship 
• Will Cowart (L/P) – Offered Academic Scholarship by LaGrange College 
• Marshall Aspinwall (K/P) – Offered Academic Scholarship by Assumption College 
• Landon Beamon (K/P) – Offered Academic Scholarship by Illinois College and Preferred Walk On Invite Georgia Southern 
• Steven Macias (K/P) – Offered Academic Scholarship offers by Dakota State and Mayville State 
• Drew Boudreaux (LS) – Offered Walk On Invite by Mississippi State 
• Trey Collins (K/P) – Offered Academic Scholarship to Huntingdon College

**All Specialists may have also received training from other coaches.**

Other Honors From the 2012 Football Season

• Connor Buldoc- Mahtomedi HS (MN)- Junior- P- Received Letters of Interest from over 30 different Div 1 schools. and Junior Day invites from U of MN and LSU, among others.
• Patrick LeCorre (Edina), Clay Elmore (Wayzata) and Jon Coppens (Holy Family) earn starting kicking spot as sophomores for high powered football programs.

• Wyatt Schmidt- St Thomas Academy- Earns National Kicker of the Year Award as well as Minnesota 1st Team All State, All Metro and All Conference honors.

• 6 Special Teams Football Academy Students earn MN All State Honors- Wyatt Schmidt (St Thomas Academy)- 1st Team, Bill Leitch (Mankato West)- 2nd Team, and Patrick LeCorre (Edina), Reid Taubenheim (Farmington), Eric Tusa (Prior Lake) and Danny Laudet (Stillwater)- Honorable Mention

• Kickalicious- STFA Student, Harvard Rugland received Virtual Training from Coach Husby, and now is getting attention at the Professional Football Level!

• Congrats to both Wyatt Schmidt (St Thomas Academy) and Eric Tusa (Prior Lake) who each earned 1st and 2nd team All Metro Kicker Honors (respectively). Both attended our Preseason Instructional Camp at the end of the Summer 2012. Looks like that end of the summer training paid off!

• 15 of their kickers rank in Minnesota's Top 30 kickers in the state in Total Points Scored. Read More!

• 20 STFBA Students Reach Section Championship Game. Read More

The list will be updated as we receive official updates (Updated 04/12/13).

My commitment to YOU and my students is that I will strive to bring out every once of talent out of your child and work tirelessly to help them get the collegiate exposure they need to find a college to play for.

Congrats to everyone!  We are proud of you!

 --  
Coach Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy
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651-353-2660

Jordan Wettstein Shines at Kicking Pro Camp

Special Teams Football Academy student and assistant kicking coach, Jordan Wettstein, shines at Kicking Pro Camp!

From March 9th-13th, Jordan Wettstein attended the Husted Kicking Pro Camp for Draft Eligible and Pro Free Agent Kickers, Punters and Long Snappers.  Jordan went into the camp hoping to turn some heads, and turn some heads HE DID.

Husted Kicking offers a college-Pro Kicking Camp,for Draft Eligible Seniors and Pro Day for Free Agents. Being able to play at the Pro Level requires training and opportunity.  Run by Michael Husted and a coaching staff full of former NFL experience, they strive to bring valuable expert instruction and NFL experience to everyone that attends.  

According to Jordan, "I was very excited to attend the pro camp in Florida with Michael Husted.  It was a four day camp that consisted of charting 10 field goals and five kickoffs each day for four days.  I was happy with what I did the couple days I was down there.  It was a great way to get your name out there and get exposure to the other kickers that are in your same shoes.  I took each day as it's own and tried to get better every day.  I was able to get great feedback and advice from both Mr. Husted and Mike Hollis on both my field goals and kickoffs.  The camp was run very professionally and was extremely organized for how many guys were there.  I was very impressed with the overall direction, insight, and help before the camp started and after it got done.  These guys really have their stuff together."

For college specialists such as Wettstein and other Draft Eligible specialists, the camp offers:  a kicking camp event that serves as an official alternate NFL combine for those who were not invited to the NFL’s combine in Indianapolis;  An opportunity to get instruction, evaluation and current video for all professional leagues and teams to review online; A chance to see what the pool of talent for specialists looks like since their camp combines draft eligible seniors and current free agents as well as a Ranking and Evaluation Presentation to all NFL, UFL and CFL teams.

"As far as my field goals were concerned, I felt confident in what I did.  I never thought my leg was as strong as it was until I got some of the numbers back on my kickoffs.  What has really helped me is all the training I have been doing at a place called the Athletic Republic at Aurora Hospital in Green Bay, WI.  I have a specific kicking program that was put together for me to strengthen different muscle groups involved in kicking.  Chris Husby, from Special Teams Football Academy in Minneapolis, MN, is a great friend of mine with whom I help with various kicking camps in Minnesota, has been a terrific help in all the guidance he has given me and direction throughout this entire process.  Thanks Chris!," Jordan proclaimed.

Jordan kicked 4 times over 4 days and his performances shined.

On Field Goals he made 8, 9, 9 and 7 of 10 FGs on each of the 4 days.  Where Jordan stood out most and set himself apart from many of the other kickers were on his Kick offs.  Jordan posted Kick off Hang Time Averages of 4.30, 4.05, 4.04 and 4.13 sec averages respectively on the 4 charts, and a distance of 65 (-.20) yards, 68 (-3.60) yards, 78/79 (-13.80)  yards, and 73 (-8.60) yards respectively.

In fact, Jordan posted the BEST Kickoff Distance Average among of all Pro and Draft Eligible kickoff specialists according to the NCS Pro Chart Tracker, as well as 3 of the top 6 Kickoff Hang time averages!

 "Jordan has a very powerful leg. He gets amazing height on field goals and kick offs. Had a 4.49 hang on one kickoff and averaged over 4.0 seconds all four days of the camp. Showed good consistency during the camp and needs to have a look." - Michael Husted comments on Jordan's abilities.

His performance earned him a 5 out of 5 star rating according to Michael Husted, Head Evaluator of Husted Kicking Pro Camps.  See Jordan's Kicking Charts here.

According to Coach Chris Husby of Special Teams Football Academy, "I’ve been able to see Jordan kick on numerous occasions.  Jordan is as close as you can get to a complete package kicker.  He’s got a very strong leg and gets great trajectory on his kickoffs and field goals.  He has the ability to kick a high percentage of his kickoffs to the mid/back of the end zone. He has only kicked for 3 years, so therefore he is very coachable and easy to mold for an NFL coach.  Jordan still has room to improve on his kicking and is very dedicated to become the best kicker in his draft class. He has a great attitude, is a hard worker, and has a willingness to learn and excel.  He is everything you are looking for in a specialist.  I highly recommend any team take a look at Jordan Wettstein as a prospective kicker.”

Jordan Wettstein University of Minnesota Pro Day Video

We are very excited to see what future opportunities come Jordan's way as he pursues the NFL.

Good luck!

--  

Coach Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy
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CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660

 

Detroit Lions sign ‘Kickalicious’ Norwegian kicker Havard Rugland

In some exciting news today in a somewhat rare, unique and awesome story.  The Detroit Lions sign ‘Kickalicious’ Norwegian kicker Havard Rugland. Havard is best known for his YouTube viral video ‘Kickalicious’that now has over 2 million views.

Over 2 years ago, I came across Havard's first kicking video that he created.  I introduced myself and offered any help I could if he needed a kicking coach over there.  We connected soon after and started talking about how he was picking up kicking to give it a try and see if he'd be any good at it.  It was apparent he had a great leg, but had the steps that a typical soccer player would have when first learning to kick a football.  I gave a few virtual lessons on basic kicking mechanics to try to help him get going.  See his 2nd video.  Then the following year we talked about the idea of trying to play collegiate football or seeing if there was a chance for the NFL and if a team would take a chance on him.

At some point soon after he connected with Top Kicking Coach and one of my mentors Michael Husted, who runs National Camp Series and Husted Kicking to come over to the US and train.  Things progressed and Havard got better under Husted's guidance.  Havard was soon invited for kicking tryouts for the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions.

A Husted Kicking Training Photo

Then on April 11, he signed with the Detriot Lions to compete with David Akers.

Congrats Havard, I hope you make the final roster and we can see you kick against my Minnesota Vikings!

Here are a number of News articles on his signing!

• Lions sign left-footed kicker Havard Rugland “Kickalicious”

• Lions sign YouTube kicking sensation Havard Rugland (with video)

• Lions sign Norwegian kicker Havard Rugland

• Havard ‘Kickalicious’ Rugland signs with the Detroit Lions

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