Cali kicker having huge season

Arguably the toughest position to get recruited at has to be kicker or punter. One player that has shown Div I ability is Corona (Calif.) standout Daniel Padilla and colleges are beginning to take notice.

According to his coach at Corona, Padilla always had plenty of leg strength but now he's so much stronger at the mental side of the position.

"It's very hard to get recruited as a kicker but Daniel is the real deal," Panther coach John Brandom said. "He's 6-1, 200 pounds so he's a big guy for a kicker and has an incredible leg. I think every kickoff except maybe two or three have been in the end zone for touchbacks and he has put two through the uprights.

"On field goals, he's 10-11 with two from beyond 50 yards and a long of 52. He's 40-40 on extra points and does our punting but will likely do just field goals and kickoffs in college. The big difference for Daniel is he has been working since the summer with Nathan Villegas who kicked at Oregon and was a Groza finalist back in '98.

"Nathan is from here and had to go the JC route so that tells you how hard it is to get a scholarship as a kicker. He has really helped Daniel refine a lot of things as well and mentally prepare himself. There is an old saying that kicking is all mental and I can see why because Daniel is a completely different kicker this year with Nathan working on the mental stuff with him.

"No one has offered yet but he has been hearing a lot from Arizona State, Oregon, San Diego State and UNLV. They all like him and are looking at his film so hopefully someone steps up and offers. He's ready to step in right away and kick. He even kicks off with a one inch tee instead of a two inch one just to better prepare himself for college so he's ready to go."