Jamie Gillian the Scottish Hammer and Cleveland Browns Punter

Looking For Exposure To NFL Teams?  Attend Coach Zauner's College Senior or Free Agent Combines in Gilbert, Arizona.  

In 2012 Johnny Hekker from Oregon State University and 4 time PRO Bowler attended this same combine to get NFL exposure and signed a Free Agent contract with the Rams after his Draft. 

Also, in 2013 Sam Martin was drafted by the Lions.  In 2013 Tress Way (Redskins), 2015 Matt Darr (Dolphins) and 2017 Rigoberto Sanchez (Colts) all signed Free Agent contracts after their drafts. Also, this years PRO Bowl kicker Aldrick Rosas (Giants) attended the 2016 College Senior Combine. 

Specialists that made NFL or CFL Rosters after attending CSC

Coach Zauner's Programs are designed to be 'A Specialist Path to PRO Football' ® I believe with Jamie's hard work and talent, he will achieve his goal of playing in the NFL like many of the names I mentioned above. 

This year Jamie Gillan (University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Punter), Matthew Orzech (Azusa Pacific Snapper) and Ian Berryman (Western Carolina University Punter) where three specialists from smaller Universities that got the NFL Exposure they wanted, needed and deserved.

Jamie Gillan at Coach Zauner's 2019 College Senior Combine

I first met Jamie Gillan at Coach Zauner's 2019 College Senior Combine which was held February 22-24 in Gilbert, Arizona.  Over the last couple of months of getting to know him even better, all I can say is "What A Nice Young Man and very talented punting specialist".

Every year I run two combines, the College Senior and Free Agent Combines for specialists to show case their skills and get exposure to NFL and CFL Teams.  Jamie had an excellent showing at my 10th Annual College Senior Combine. 

Jamie Gillan Wins Punting Competition at 2019 College Senior Combine

The format for the College Senior Combine is for the specialists to come and compete against the best graduating senior specialists NOT invited to the NFL Combine and to hopefully get Coach Zauner's recommendation as an 1A NFL Prospect.

Jamie definitely showed me that he had NFL potential and was ranked as a 1A NFL Prospect along with 13 other graduating seniors.  

Jamie Gillan Show His Ability to Also Kick Field Goal at College Senior Combine

I believe what helped Jamie and all the other NFL prospects recommended get maximum exposure to NFL Teams was their workout videos were hand delivered or given to all the NFL Special Teams Coordinators, Assistant Special Teams Coaches, Directors of PRO Personnel and NFL Scouts attending the Free Agent Combine March 10-12,  2019 also in Gilbert, Arizona. 

Not only was their workout videos given to the NFL Teams in attendance but I also talked about each specialists.  I mentioned that Jamie the (Scottish Hammer) was a real sleeper in the draft and if you didn't know about this young man you need to check out his combine video.  He had more 5+ second hang time punts over the three day event than any other punter ever attending any previous combines.

Jamie Gillan Kicking Off at 2019 College Senior Combine

A couple of NFL Special Teams Coordinators called me about several players but Jamie's name was mentioned a lot!  Prior to the NFL Draft several teams went to Arkansas and did private workouts with Jamie.

In 2018 Coach Zauner's College Senior and Free Agent Combines and ONE on ONE Lessons produced (8) Starters on NFL Rosters.

This year 82 Specialists attended Coach Zauner's 2019 College Senior Combine to show case their talents with an end result of getting Exposure to NFL and CFL Teams. To date from this years class (8) specialists have signed NFL contracts and (15) more have received invites to NFL Mini Camps.

Jamie Gillan and (7) Other Specialists Sign NFL Contracts after 2019 Draft

Below is a testimonial by the Jamie Gillan, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff punter after attending Coach Zauner's 2019 College Senior Combine. After the 2019 NFL Draft, Jamie signed a Free Agent Contract with the Cleveland Browns. 

I wish Jamie and all the other specialists that attended either my Free Agent or College Senior Combine the best of Luck in pursuing their dream to play in the NFL.

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Andre Szmyt Syracuse Freshman Kicker

Andre Szmyt Syracuse Freshman Kicker

Andre Szmyt Trains in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with Coach Zauner

Last weekend I was watching several College Football games on TV checking out many of my ONE on ONE Snapping, Punting and Kicking Students.

Syracuse was playing Clemson and it was a heck of a game.  Andre Szmyt's, Syracuse's freshman kicker,  had another stellar game, unfortunately Syracuse lost 27 - 23. 

After the game I called Andre to congratulate him for his 3 for 3 field goal game performance,  including a 51 yard field goal.  Andre is a very quite, humble but very confident young man and kicker.  I told him to go to the training room on Sunday and soak his head in a bucket of ice to make sure his head doesn't swell up or get too big. lol!

On Tuesday Andre was honored as the ACC's Specialists of the week after his performance at Clemson.  He was also one of three kickers that received the Lou Groza National Collegiate Place Kicker  "Stars of the Week" Award along with Bailey Hale (Louisiana Tech) and Jared Sackett (UTSA).

Needless to say, Syracuse is very lucky to have Andre Szmyt as their kicker. At the present time after five games Andre is 13 for 14 on field goals for the season which is leading the nation in field goals per game stats.

It's good to note that Andre is a walk-on kicker, that to date is still without a scholarship.  I hope Andre will be the first player put on a full scholarship when one becomes available.  Congrats to Andre and continued success. 

Syracuse football kicker Andre Szmyt has been honored as the ACC's specialist of the week after his performance at Clemson.

NOTE:

Last year in the 2017 season, Coach Zauner's Kicking Programs had two other walk-on kickers that did very well at their respective Universities. 

Since 2015 I have worked and trained Jace Christmann on his kicking and punting technique while playing at Houston Memorial High School. Jace walked on at Mississippi State in 2017.  Jace eventually started the 3rd game of the season vs LSU and ended the season as the SEC All-Freshman Team and 2018 Freshman All-American Kicker.  Not bad for a kicker that started 4th string in training camp. 

On the other hand, Matthew Gay (University of Utah) came to Arizona in April of 2017 for ONE on ONE Kicking Lessons and later walked on at Utah and not only won the kicking job but in December won the 2018 Lou Groza Award.  What a success story for a soccer player that never played high school or college football until his junior season as a walk-on at the University of Utah.  

ANDRE SZMYT MEETS COACH ZAUNER FOR KICKING LESSONS

I first met the Szmyt's family (Andre, Lala and Eric) about two years ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I received a phone call from Lala and Eric Szmyt about their son Andre (Vernon Hills High School) about some ONE on ONE Kicking Lessons.

As Andre warmed up I could tell this young man had kicking talent. Andre had gone to a couple other kicking coaches and camps and mentioned he didn't like what they were teaching him.  He didn't feel comfortable!

Coach Zauner teaches a 'Natural Style of Kicking and Punting' and Andre said he felt more comfortable kicking with those mechanics.  After high school Andre made a decision to walk-on at Syracuse.  He had a good but not great spring practice.  

This summer again, Andre was again in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for more ONE on ONE Lessons and also attended Coach Zauner's July PRO Development Camps for Snappers, Punters and Kickers Camp for College, Free Agent and Elite High School specialists. His goal was to be the starting kicker at Syracuse. 

Well it just goes to show that hard work pays off!  I must say that a big part of Andre's success is his parents (Lala and Eric Szmyt's) support and guidance. Without them researching kicking lessons on google I probably would never had the chance to coach such a fine young man.

Congrats To Andre For His Early Success This Season! I Also Wish Him and His Syracuse Orangemen Continued Success The Season.  

Check out this article about Andre from a Syracuse Daily Orange Writer. 

Andre Szmyt ‘came out of nowhere’ to become Syracuse’s starting kicker

Article by Matt Liberman Staff Writer of Daily Orange

When Andre Szmyt lined up for a 50-yard field goal last Saturday, his mind went blank. While cheers echoed around the Carrier Dome, Szmyt’s ears heard silence. He’s taken so many kicks at this point in his life, it’s simply muscle memory.

“Sometimes I don’t even remember the kick. I don’t hear anything when I’m out there,” Szmyt said. “(I’m) just staying consistent and trying to make all my kicks.”

Szmyt’s 50-yarder was part of a perfect 4-for-4 start to the season. Consistency is what has vaulted the preferred walk-on from a redshirt in 2017 to the starting kicker for Syracuse (2-0) this season. He replaces Cole Murphy, who played 48 games as SU’s No. 1 placekicker. In fall camp, Szmyt was the most accurate kicker on the team and has continued to make kicks in the team’s first two games this season, splitting the uprights on four field goals in four attempts and nailing every extra point.

“He never missed,” SU head coach Dino Babers said of Szmyt’s fall camp. “He kind of came out of nowhere.”

Although Szmyt’s father, Eric, grew up in Massachusetts as a Patriots fan, Szmyt’s mother, Lala, is a first-generation immigrant from St. Petersburg, Russia, where soccer is king. Szmyt’s great-great uncle on his mother’s side was the starting goaltender on the Soviet Union national team, Eric said. That was the only sport that Szmyt really grew up playing competitively, he said, controlling the top of the pitch as a striker.

“He had played soccer since he could remember … since he could walk,” Eric said. “He did all the travel teams and all that good stuff through most of high school.”

By the end of his junior year of high school, he thought he could go further as a kicker than playing soccer. But it was a transition that Lala didn’t understand. She knew soccer, not American football. She’d never watched it, Szmyt said, so she assumed that the switch would mean that he would be getting hit and tackled.

Szmyt and Eric eased Lala’s anxiety by explaining the role of the kicker and showing her videos.

“She was like, ‘OK. It’s kind of like soccer,’” Szmyt said.

At the end of that year, Szmyt and his friends on the football team went to the field to film him kick. The year before, Vernon Hills (Illinois) High School had some difficulty kicking, Eric said. Then their coaching staff saw a video of Szmyt drilling three consecutive 50-yarders, and he immediately had a spot on the team.

His senior season, Szmyt connected on 75 percent of his field goals, earning all-state honorable mention honors. Additionally, he earned a four-star rating from Kohl’s Professional Camps, the top training camp in the country for kickers, punters and long snappers

His performance at Vernon Hills and in camps earned him recognition from Division I schools around the country. Much of his senior year was spent talking to coaches, just a few months after he decided to give up soccer.

“It was pretty sudden,” Eric said. “It was obvious that he had the talent and ability to do this right from the get go.”

Less than a year and a half after deciding to play football, Szmyt found his place at Syracuse as a preferred walk-on, redshirting his freshman season. Heading into 2018, Sterling Hofrichter appeared to be the starter, and when Eric dropped Szmyt off at SU for fall camp, Szmyt hoped to compete for the kicking job, Eric said. Soon, he surpassed his competition.

“We keep numbers on all our kickers … his numbers were extremely high,” Babers said. “Based off of those numbers, we wanted to exercise some drills that we could do to see if he could handle the pressure, added pressure in practice and still kick with the same high percentage, which he did.”

Those numbers earned Szmyt the right to start against Western Michigan, which he didn’t even know he’d be doing until he saw the depth chart the week before. Two games later, he has yet to miss a kick, whether it be a field goal or an extra point. The 50-yard field goal he kicked against Wagner split the uprights with several yards to spare.

“I had no doubt that he had the leg to hit the 50-yarder, it was just a matter of whether it was going to be through the goal post or not,” Babers said. “It may not have been straight down the middle. But it wasn’t very far off from straight down the middle. Fantastic kick by him.”

Babers nearly sent Szmyt out for a 54-yard kick against Western Michigan, but Szmyt had been perfect on the day and Babers didn’t want to potentially spoil his debut with a miss. Babers said after the game he met Lala, who was “going crazy” with pride.

“It was like the excitement of him coming on the scene in high school all over again,” Eric said.

For Szmyt moving forward, the mindset remains the same as it was entering this season: just stay consistent.

“Staying focused, level-headed and not letting misses affect you,” Szmyt said. “Gotta do my job. I’ve been working all fall camp to get this opportunity, just have to take advantage.”

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Arizona Kicking Coach, Coach Zauner, The Power of Coaching

Gary Zauner or Coach Zauner

Arizona & Wisconsin Kicking Camps and ONE on ONE Lessons 

Renowned Football Kicking Coach: Coach Zauner was a very successful NFL and College Kicking Consultant prior to coaching Special Teams for 13 Years in the NFL with Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens and Arizona Cardinals.

Coach Zauner has coached kicking specialist's for 40 plus years at the NFL, college and high school level. Throughout Coach Zauner's career he has now coached, consulted and trained over 120+ Professional Kicking Specialists Including 25 PRO Bowlers.

"I believe the reason I have been a successful coach is because I have a Masters Degree in Education." Throughout my High School, College and NFL career the best coaches are usually the best teachers!

That is why I believe, if your a young kicker, punter or snapper and want to improve your ranking and rating at showcase events, than improve your technique.  Come see Coach Zauner in Fountain Hills, Arizona

Coach Zauner's Programs Are 'A Specialist's Path To PRO Football'®

This video was produced by Sports Illustrated. The POWER of COACHING VIDEO

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Jason Sanders Miami Dolphins New Kicker

Jason Sanders University of New Mexico and Miami Dolphins Kicker

Coach Zauner's College Senior and Free Agent Combine are
'A Specialist's Path To PRO Football"®
"Congrats To New Miami Dolphins Kicker, Jason Sanders"

This year Jason Sanders and Corey Bojorquez both from the University of New Mexico, Matthew McCrane (Kansas State), Trent Sieg (Colorado State),  along with Brett Maher (U. of Nebraska) and Hunter Bradley (Mississippi State) all made 2018 NFL Final Rosters from Coach Zauner's Programs. 

Coach Zauner's Programs consist of not only the College Senior and Free Agent Combines but also ONE on ONE Lessons and PRO Development Camps.  Brett Maher attended three of Coach Zauner's Free Agent Combines and Hunter Bradley has taken ONE on ONE Snapping Lessons and attended my Snappers ONLY 'Vital Man' Snapping Camps both in Arizona and Wisconsin.  Congrats to all these specialists for making NFL final rosters this year. 

In February, Jason attended Coach Zauner's 2018 College Senior Combine in Gilbert, Arizona with (70) other college senior specialists.

Jason competed for two days with (22) other College Senior Kicking Specialists.  During the Combine all the snappers, punters and kickers are evaluated with respect to their NFL potential. Kickers are evaluated and tested in several areas, field goal form, technique, accuracy and consistency and kickoff potential. 

 As I tell all the specialists attending my combines, winning a contest doesn't mean you have NFL potential it just means you won a field goal or kickoff contest and congratulations. My bottom line and goal is to find NFL prospects and give their names to NFL teams so these specialists that might be overlooked get exposure to NFL teams.

Jason didn't win any of the combine contests but showed me NFL potential and thats all that counts. He along with (4) other kickers, (8) punters and (7) snappers were recommended to NFL teams as having NFL potential.  He was put into Group 1 as an NFL Prospect!

Coach Zauner's College Senior Combine in the past (9) years has produced Exposure and Results for many College Seniors.  Coach Zauner's 40 plus years of coaching, training and "Eye" for special teams talent and my recommendation to NFL& CFL teams has resulted with (79) specialists signing NFL contracts, and many more have been invited to mini-camps. To date (29) of these specialists have made NFL rosters and (8) CFL rosters. 

As a side note.  I coached at the University of New Mexico in 1986 and 87 and still follow Lobo Football every year.  I was very aware of both of these Lobo Specialists by some of my friends still working at the University.

Congrats to both University of New Mexico Lobos, Corey Bojorquez and Jason Sanders for their hard work and dedication and making 2018 NFL Rosters.  Go Lobos!

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Brett Maher Dallas Cowboys Kicker

Coach Zauner's College Senior and Free Agent Specialist's Combines
Produce NFL and CFL Exposure & Results for Specialists and Teams

Brett Maher At Coach Zauner's 2018 Free Agent Combine 

Congrats to Brett Maher (U. of Nebraska) for signing and making the Dallas Cowboys Roster.  For the past three years (2016, 2017 and 2018),  Brett has attended Coach Zauner's Free Agent Combine held in March every year in Gilbert, Arizona at Campo Verde High School. 

This Combine was created back in 2009 as Coach Zauner's vision or  "Field of Dreams" for Kicking, Punting and Snapping Specialists.

Every year this showcase event draws an average of 26 NFL and 4 CFL Teams.  Special Teams Coordinators, Assistant Special Teams Coaches, Directors of PRO Personnel and NFL Scouts attend this combine to evaluate the kicking, punting and snapping specialists in attendance.

Henry Sroka - Dallas Cowboys Director of PRO Personnel Takes Note

Brett Maher at 2017 Free Agent Combine

Brett who had just finished playing in the CFL for the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016 season attended the 2017 Free Agent Combine.  Brett had an awesome day competing against (35) other free agent kickers and won the field goal competition.  After the combine Brett signed with the Cleveland Browns.  After being released he signed back with the Ottawa Redblacks in the CFL. 

Brett Mahers Wins Field Goal Competition at 2017 Free Agent Combine

89 Specialists Qualify For the 2018 Free Agent Combine

Every year Dallas Cowboys Director of PRO Personnel, Henry Sroka has been in attendance. I have know Henry for over 25 years and he is one of the few PRO Scouts that loves to evaluate kicking specialists.  

Rich Bisaccia (Oakland Raiders) and Henry Sroka (Dallas Cowboys) Evaluate Specialists

This year once again Brett attended the 2018 Free Agent Combine.   This combine had 135 specialists register.   However, only 89 specialists qualified.  There were (38) kickers that performed in front of the NFL & CFL Teams in attendance. 

Brett Maher at Coach Zauner's 2018 Free Agent Combine

This year after the Free Agent Combine the Dallas Cowboys brought in several specialists.  The Cowboys eventually signed two specialists, Scott Daly (Notre Dame Snapper) and Brett Maher (U. of Nebraska & Veteran CFL player).   

Brett competed with Dan Bailey (Veteran NFL Kicker) and won the job after four preseason games.  Congrats to Brett for all his hard work and dedication to fulfill his dream of playing in the NFL.  

Now, Coach Zauner's Free Agent Combine has been a "Field of Dreams" for Dallas Cowboys Kicker, Brett Maher.  Congrats and Best of Luck this season!

Brett Maher - Dallas Cowboys Kicker

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Aldrick Rosas New York Giants Kicker

Aldrick Rosas New York Giants Kicker

Aldrick Rosas 2016 College Senior Combine

I first met Aldrick Rosas at my January 22-24, 2016 Specialists PRO Development Camp here in Fountain Hills, Arizona.  My first reaction was what a leg!

He was kicking the ball higher and further than any of the other kickers attending this camp.  During the next four practices, the only thing I was trying to tell him is he needed to work on being more consistent on his field goals.  His misses were in my opinion too big. 

When it came to kickoffs there was no question he had a big leg.  His kickoff hang times were excellent.   He registered a bunch of 4.2 to 4.5 second hang time kickoffs.

Previously to meeting him at the January camp we had talked by phone about him contacting the NFL office and registering to enter the 2016 NFL Draft.  Being just a sophomore he needed to register for the NFL Draft.  

Despite submitting his letter to enter the Draft and being accepted, he was going to be a real sleeper.  As I told him, his exposure at this point was going to be very limited.  With only two years of kicking in college not many NFL Teams were going to know much about him.

So, my recommendation was to come to Coach Zauner's 2016 College Senior Combine and show everyone how he would measure up to the rest of the draft eligible college senior kickers.  

My evaluation was, here is a young man with a lot of NFL Potential.  Two weeks after my College Senior Combine I host Coach Zauner's Free Agent Specialists Combine.  This Free Agent Combine is attended every year in March, by many of the NFL Special Teams Coordinators and PRO Personnel Directors.  

Aldrick was one of the specialists I recommended to the NFL coaches as a player with extreme amount of potential but needed some coaching.  Like most kickers with big legs he was going to need to learn to be more consistent field goal kickers.

It was pretty much the same thing I told Brandon McManus (Temple University) his senior year when he came out for the 2013 NFL Draft.  Brandon also attended a PRO Development Camp for Specialists but his was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in July of 2012.  I also had an opportunity to work with Brandon at the 2013 NFLPA Bowl.  

Brandon was also a kicker with a big leg that also needed some coaching and refinement. For two years Brandon was signed and released by NFL Teams.  Eventually, he made it with the Denver Broncos and is still kicking there to date.

During the three day College Senior Combine Aldrick competed with some other big legged kickers. On Sunday Aldrick and Devon Bell (Mississippi State) won the Combines Kickoff Contest. 

I told Aldrick his story was going to be very similar to Brandon McManus.  He just needed for some NFL coach or team to take a chance on him and try to develop his skills.  After the 2016 NFL Draft he was signed by the Tennessee Titans.

Steve Hoffman the Titans Assistant Special Teams and kicking coach did an excellent job working with Aldrick on his technique.  Despite being release he made some excellent strides to improve his technique and consistency.

In 2017 the Giants signed Aldrick to a futures contract.   In 2017 Aldrick made the final roster with the New York Giants and is still kicking for the Giants.  Congrats to Aldrick for his hard work and dedication to kicking.   His path to the NFL was not a normal or easy path. 

I believe that the Exposure Aldrick got coming to the 2016 College Senior Combine was priceless.

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