Tag: Erik Schmidt

Badgers class of 2025 commit earns Kevin Stemke Award for top Wisconsin specialist

Badgers class of 2025 commit earns Kevin Stemke Award for top Wisconsin specialist

Wisconsin class of 2025 commit Erik Schmidt was named the 2024 recipient of the Kevin Stemke Award on Wednesday.

The award is presented annually to the top Wisconsin high school senior specialist — kicker or punter. Schmidt joins fellow in-state 2025 recruit Cooper Catalano to receive an honor from the Wisconsin Sports Network Senior Football Awards — Catalano who notably set the state record for tackles at the high school level in September.

Schmidt is widely considered one of the nation’s best kickers in the class, and is ranked as a five-star by Kohl’s. The outlet has Schmidt as the No. 1 punter in the nation and No. 8 kicker, per the Wisconsin Sports Network.

This season, Schmidt has converted 9-of-12 field goals and all 57 extra-point attempts. He also averaged over 45 yards per punt. Most notably, the Marquette University High School attendee drilled a 55-yard field goal in the 2024 playoffs.

The 6-foot-1 prospect committed to Wisconsin in late June over walk-on opportunities at Notre Dame, Boston College and Michigan. He projects to join a specialist group currently headlined by kicker Nathanial Vakos and punter Atticus Bertrams.

Based off his recruiting profile, he won’t take long to contribute for Luke Fickell’s program.

Wisconsin 2025 commit earns First-Team MaxPreps All-America honors

Wisconsin 2025 commit earns First-Team MaxPreps All-America honors

Wisconsin football 2025 commit Erik Schmidt earned First-Team MaxPreps All-America honors on Monday.

A total of 56 high school athletes were selected for the 2024 squad. Schmidt, a product of Marquette University High School, was the only Wisconsin native to crack the list. He made it as MaxPreps’ first-team punter.

Schmidt committed to UW back in June after pledging to join Luke Fickell’s program as an in-state preferred walk-on. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder elected to join Wisconsin over walk-on opportunities at Notre Dame, Boston College and Michigan.

The top-ranked recruit was also named the No. 1 punter for the class of 2025 by Kohl’s Kicking Camps, the nation’s most respected resource for training camps and evaluation of high school kickers, punters and other specialists.

Schmidt also holds the No. 8 position among kickers in his cohort.

Wisconsin’s current special teams unit features kicker Nathanial Vakos and punter Atticus Bertrams.

With Schmidt entering his final season as a high schooler, the recognition could provide the talented specialist a boost before he departs for Madison. He will surely see ample playing time with another year of repetitions under his belt when he arrives to campus.

BREAKING: Wisconsin adds commitment from class of 2025 five-star specialist Erik Schmidt

Wisconsin adds commitment from five-star specialist Erik Schmidt

Wisconsin landed a commitment from class of 2025 specialist Erik Schmidt on Wednesday. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native will join the program as an in-state preferred walk-on.

Schmidt chooses the Badgers over walk-on interest from Notre Dame, Boston College and Michigan, plus over a scholarship offer from Missouri. Wisconsin’s current starting kicker Nathanial Vakos and punter Atticus Bertrams are both under scholarship, so it’s reasonable to assume Schmidt’s status could change if he wins a starting job in the coming years.

Related: Wisconsin’s class of 2025 slips in national ranking after string of bad news

The top-ranked specialist will join the Badgers after Kohl’s Kicking Camps listed him as a five-star specialist, specifically as the No. 8 kicker and No. 1 punter in the class of 2025.

Schmidt attended an official visit to Wisconsin on June 14, marking yet another official visit win for the program.

This commitment, albeit from a specialist, is a positive sign for the Badgers after the last seven days saw four-star CB Rukeem Stroud flip his commitment to UCF, top CB target Tre Poteat commit to Tennessee and top edge rusher target Jayden Woods commit to Penn State.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 15 in the nation with 21 players committed.

Focus now turns to the upcoming commitment announcements from top remaining targets four-star DL Kade Pietrzak, four-star RB Byron Louis and four-star iOL Hardy Watts.

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Wisconsin in-state target named No. 1 punter in class of 2025

Wisconsin in-state target named No. 1 punter in class of 2025

Wisconsin football in-state class of 2025 target Erik Schmidt was named the No. 1 punter in the class by Kohl’s Kicking on Sunday — the industry’s leading developer of punters, kickers and other specialists.

Schmidt currently holds a walk-on offer from Wisconsin and scholarship offers from Notre Dame and Missouri.

Related: Where every member of Wisconsin’s record-breaking recruiting class of 2021 is now

The Milwaukee, Wisconsin native is unranked by 247Sports. Kohl’s has him as a five-star specialist and the No. 8 kicker and No. 1 punter in the class of 2025.

Schmidt is scheduled for an official visit to Wisconsin on the weekend of June 14. 247Sports does not list any other scheduled official visits.

Wisconsin enters 2024 with kicker Nathanial Vakos and punter Atticus Bertrams both returning from last season. The Badgers can pitch Schmidt with a potential starting role after those two depart.

It should also be noted that both starting specialists are on scholarship for the 2024 season. Schmidt would likely earn a scholarship by the time he steps into a starting role.

Wisconsin’s class of 2025 currently ranks No. 19 in the nation with 11 players committed. The group is sure to grow in the coming weeks when official visits ramp up.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

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Badgers offer kicker/punter from Milwaukee

Wisconsin offered Erik Schmidt, a class of 2025 kicker/punter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday.

Wisconsin offered Erik Schmidt, a class of 2025 kicker/punter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Thursday. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound athlete still has two more years of school and football at Marquette University before he’d potentially make the leap to the collegiate level.

Schmidt has now received three Division 1 offers, with Michigan and Notre Dame joining the Badgers in offering him already. Considering he’s from Wisconsin, the kicker could decide to head to his home state program in 2025.

Moving forward, Erik Schmidt is considered one of the best kick specialists in the country and if obliged, some of his highlights can be watched here.

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