Coach Zauner's College Senior Specialists Combine and Free Agent Specialists Combines have given many talented kicking specialists exposure to all three Professional Football Leagues; NFL, CFL and UFL.
NFL, CFL,UFL Special Teams Coaches & Scouts Evaluate
Free Agent Specialists Combine March 27, 2010
Kicking Specialists: Playing in the Canadian Football League in 2010:
Rob Maver former University of Guelph and current Calgary Stampeder kicker has the trifecta in Coach Zauner's programs. He has taken One on One Kicking and Punting Lessons, attended my PRO Development Camp and College Senior Specialists Combine.
I first met Rob two years ago. He was a young man on a mission that wanted to play either in the NFL or CFL. Rob was one of the top combination kicking specialists in the Canadian University Football Leagues. Rob contacted me about working to improve his kicking and punting technique with the goal to be the best he could be and take his game to the next level.
Rob saved his hard earned money to take lessons and attend kicking camps and Combines to invest in his future and improve his technique. His investment paid off when he was the fifth overall draft pick in the 2010 Canadian Draft and is kicking and having an excellent rookie season for the Calgary Stampeders.
Rob Maver at 2010 College Senior Specialists Combine
Eddie Johnson former Idaho State University kicking specialist was drafted in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. He has been in several NFL camps through the past years. He was at the cross roads in his career and was looking to improve his technique and take his game to the next level.
He came to Scottsdale, Arizona two years ago for some One on One Punting and Kicking Lessons and then attended my 2009 Free Agent Specialists Combine. After the 2009 combine he went and played the 2009 season with the Toronto Argonauts. This year he once again attended my 2010 Free Agent Specialists Combine (photo below) and is currently playing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Eddie Johnson at 2009 & 2010 Free Agent Specialists Combines
In the summer of 2009 former University of Florida kicking specialist Eric Wilbur contacted me about taking some One on One Punting Lessons. Eric had been to a couple of other Combines and had signed free agent contracts or had workouts with a couple of NFL teams but was always released.
Eric felt that he needed to improve his punting technique and take his game to the next level by improving his consistency. During our One on One Punting Lessons in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2009 I believe he found a way to improve.
He worked that season and the next spring and attended my 2010 Free Agent Specialists Combine. Eric had a good camp but was not signed by any NFL or UFL teams. We talked in July and all he wanted was an opportunity to play.
In August he got a chance and signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL. Today he is doing extremely well for the Tiger-Cats. Click to read this article about Eric's contribution to the CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Eric Wilbur at 2010 Free Agent Specialists Combine
Former LSU kicker, Colt David had an outstanding college kicking career but because he did not kickoff was down graded by NFL scouts.
I believe College Head Football Coaches feel their doing a kicker a favor by just letting them concentrate on kicking field goals or they say, let a younger kicker with a big leg kickoff to help their upper class or senior kicker save his leg. However, in Colt David's case they really hurt his chances to be evaluated accurately by NFL Special Teams Coaches and Scouts.
I know this for a fact. After Colt came to Phoenix, Arizona for some One on One Kicking Lessons I posted Colt's excellent workout video on my website; coachzaner.com. To me Colt has the potential to be a professional kicker. However, as I talked to teams about several prospects when I mentioned Colts name their main concern was the strength of his leg. They had never seen him kickoff in college and had concerns.
I have talked to Colt for the last year and he has been very frustrated with the system. Like with all young kicking specialists it takes time to not only improve but get the exposure they want. The next step is when you get a chance like Colt did to get into my 2010 Free Agent Specialists Combine you need to perform. Colt had a good showing. The one thing he did was to show the four Canadian teams in attendance that he could also punt.
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