Georgia Tech’s kicking game has had the luxury of not having questions for the past few seasons. Kicker Harrison Butker was on the job for the past four and punter Ryan Rodwell for the past three, although Rodwell was replaced for one start last season. That changed, obviously, with the graduation of both players after the 2016 season. Into their place come two freshmen, kicker Brenton King and punter Pressley Harvin.
“That’s a concern,” coach Paul Johnson said at the ACC Kickoff last month in Charlotte. N.C. “We think we’ve recruited guys that can help fill those needs, but until you see it on the field, you don’t know.”
The questions won’t be answered until the season opener against Tennessee Sept. 4 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and perhaps not fully until well after that.
Kicker
First team after spring: Shawn Davis, sophomore.
Notable reserves: Bennett Barton, senior.
On the way up: Brenton King, freshman.
Punter
First team after spring: None.
Notable reserves: Shea Underwood, redshirt freshman.
On the way up: Pressley Harvin, freshman.
Long snapper
First team after spring: Casey Wilson, junior.
Notable reserve: Lucas Patelles, redshirt freshman.
On the way up: Jerrod Abee, freshman.
Analysis
Pressley Harvin is a particularly intriguing freshman, as he was one of the top punting prospects in the country. Harvin was rated the No. 1 punter at the invitation-only Kohl’s Kicking Camps after his freshman and sophomore years, the first times a punter who wasn’t a rising senior had ever won the competition or won it back to back. With linebacker size and a rocket leg, Harvin could be a field-flipping weapon for the Jackets for the next four years.
Freshman punter forges to Georgia Tech
Brenton King will compete with Shawn Davis, who had a strong showing in the spring game. King was rated No. 19 nationally by 247 Sports. He committed to Old Dominion before a Tech decommitment opened up a spot for him with the Jackets.
Assuming he wins the job, his job will be critical, both on kickoffs and field goals. Tech has had 16 games in the past three years decided by a touchdown or less. It won’t be a surprise if one or more games comes down to a fourth-quarter field-goal attempt.
Casey Wilson has handled long-snapping duties since his redshirt freshman season in 2015. He has the hallmark of any successful long snapper – he is rarely brought up.
Factoid: Tech had another punter on the roster in the spring, walk-on Grant Aasen, but he left Tech with his degree and a season of eligibility remaining to attend seminary with the intention of becoming a priest.
Statistic: Tech averaged 3.7 punts per game last season, tied for 119th in FBS.
Prediction: Harvin, King and Wilson will be the starting specialists.
This preview concludes the series looking at Tech’s position groups.
The series:
Part 1: Wide receiver
Part 2: Offensive line
Part 3: A-back
Part 4: B-back
Part 5: Quarterback
Part 6: Defensive line
Part 7: Linebacker
Part 8: Secondary
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