The Tennessean ranked the top 20 Nashville area kickers and punters returning for the 2026 TSSAA football season.
Now, you get to choose the best.
Vote for the Ponce Law 2026 Preseason Top Kicker. Voting will close Aug. 6 at noon.
Rankings are based on 2025 statistics, strength of schedule, observations, recruiting interest, and coach feedback. Players are listed by their grade for the 2025-26 school year.
Owen Davies, Brentwood Academy, Jr.: Davies sat out last season due to TSSAA transfer rules, but the Notre Dame football commitment will make a splash. He’s ranked as Kohl’s Kicking’s No. 2 kicker nationally in the 2028 class.
Reeves Claxton, Christ Presbyterian Academy, Sr.: Claxton averaged 36.3 yards per punt on 28 attempts with a long of 53 yards. He pinned three inside the 20.
Owen Richards, Clarksville, Jr.: Richards was 20-of-21 on PATs and 1-of-4 on field goals with a long of 23 yards.
Peter Hagey, Father Ryan, Sr.: Hagey, an MTSU commitment and Under Armour All-American selection, averaged 39.3 yards per punt on 60 attempts with a long of 49. He recorded touchbacks on 21-of-24 kickoffs and made four field goals with a long of 48.
Jesse Duncan, Franklin Road Academy, Jr.: Duncan was 58-of-61 on PATs and 3-of-4 on field goals with a long of 33 yards. He had eight touchbacks on 77 kickoffs.
Isai Garcia, Forrest, Sr.: Garcia, who has an offer from Carson Newman, was 48-of-53 on PATs and 4-of-5 on field goals with a long of 34 yards.
Austin Ashabranner, Gallatin, Sr.: Ashabranner recorded 37 touchbacks on kickoffs in 52 attempts. He also averaged 37.5 yards per punt with a long of 60, including eight pinned inside the 20-yard line. He was 27-of-32 on PATs and 5-of-6 on field goals with a long of 48 yards.
Hudson Marsh, Kirkwood, Jr.: Marsh averaged 38.2 yards per punt and was 41-of-46 on PATs. He was 7-of-8 on field goals with a long of 34 yards.
Henry Sharp, Lewis County, Jr.: Sharp was 34-of-46 on PATs and 4-of-6 on field goals with a long of 46 yards.
Tyler Guinness, Lipscomb Academy, Jr.: Guinness, a punting specialist, averaged 38.5 yards on 43 punts with a long of 55 yards, pinning 12 inside the 20.
Tyson Robbins, Lipscomb Academy, Jr.: Robbins, who is ranked as a 4.5-star kicker by Kohl’s, didn’t see significant reps while backing up Baba at Page but is expected to make an impact for the Mustangs.
Tate Merbitz, Mt. Juliet, Sr.: Merbitz was 11-of-15 on field goals with a long of 51 yards, while averaging 42 yards per punt.
Jonathan Baba, Page, Sr.: Baba was 49-of-52 on PATs and 12-of-13 on field goals with a long of 41 yards. He also had 57 touchbacks on 74 kickoff attempts and pinned four punts inside the 10.
Austin Stephen, Pope John Paul II, Jr.: Stephen averaged 42.7 yards per punt with five pinned inside the 20. He was 3-of-5 on field goals with a long of 42.
Braxton Benally, Riverdale, Sr.: The Blackman transfer averaged 41.2 yards per punt and pinned 12 inside the 10.
Gavin Hastings, Station Camp, Sr.: Hastings had an 80% touchback rate on kickoffs, averaged 39.4 yards per punt with a net return average of 0 and was 8-of-15 on field goals. He was 43-of-44 on PATs.
Tyler Palmateer covers high school sports for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
He also contributes to The Tennessean's high school sports newsletter, The Bootleg. Subscribe to The Bootleg here.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vote for Ponce Law's Preseason Top Kicker for 2026 TSSAA football season
