Vote: Who was top kicker in Texas high school football in 2023?
The 2023 Texas high school football season is in the rear view, and we're taking a look at the most impactful players across the Lone Star State last fall.
After unveiling our All-East Texas, All-West Texas, All-South Texas, All-North Texas, All-Southeast Texas and All-Central Texas teams and awards, we released our All-Texas high school football team, honoring the best of the best.
After examining some of the best individual seasons at the quarterback, running back, wide receivers, defensive backs, linebacker and defensive line, offensive line, we're taking a look at the top kickers in Texas.
So, who was the best kicker in 2023? We identified 12 standouts who rose above the rest. Now, want to hear from you.
Scroll down and reach up on 12 names to consider and cast your vote in the reader poll below. Voting ends on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 11:59 p.m. central time.
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TOP 12 KICKERS IN TEXAS IN 2023
Names are in alphabetic order.
Port Neches Groves kicker Gio Ocegura (left) was named offensive MVP of the 5A Division II state title game at AT&T Stadium in December.
Alex Abbott, Montgomery Lake Creek, sr.
Hit 11 field goals, went a perfect 71-for-71 on PATs with a long of 48 yards. All-Southeast Texas second team selection.
Clayton Amaya, Smithson Valley, sr.
The Arkansas State commit solidified himself as one of the top legs in the area, helping lead the Rangers to the state championship game. Amaya set the record for longest field goal made in the title game with a 49-yard field goal. Earlier this season, he notched a 56-yard field goal. All-Central Texas first team selection.
Spencer Barnett, Austin-Westlake, sr.
Logged 43 of 45 extra points made and 10 made field goals with a whopping 59-yard long for the nationally ranked Chaparrals. He's a five-star kicker, per Kohl's Academy, and an All-Central Texas second team selection.
Diego Chavarria, Stephenville, sr.
Chavarria was nearly perfect on field goal attempts for the 11-3 Yellow Jackets, going 13-of-14 with a long of 45 yards. He is the District 5-4A Division I Special Teams Most Valuable Player. Chavarria is also uncommitted. All-West Texas first team selection.
JJ Contreras, Los Fresnos, sr.
A quarterback when he came into high school, he made the permanent switch to kicker as a sophomore and didn’t look back. The move has paid dividends, becoming one of the top kickers in South Texas. This year, Contreras converted all 44 of his extra points, while also going 7-of-11 on field goal attempts with a long of 46. He averaged 49.7 yards per kick on kickoffs as well, with eight ending in touchbacks. All-South Texas first team selection.
Diego Frausto, El Paso Del Valle, Jr.
Finished the season 10-for-11 on field goals with a long of 42. All-West Texas second team selection. All-South Texas second team selection.
Brandon Hernandez, Ingleside, sr.
Tallied 79 of 84 PAT attempts and hit 6 of 7 field goals with a long of 43 yards in 13 games.
Carlos Hernandez, Center, sr.
Went 7-of-7 on field goals on the season with a long of 41 yards, helping Center to a 7-4 season that ended in the 4A Division II bi-district round. All-East Texas second team selection.
Roman Hernandez, Fort Worth Chisholm Trail, jr.
Finished 7-for-8 field goals, 39-for-39 on PATs with a long of 48 yards. All-North Texas second team selection.
Kyle Lemmerman, Southlake Carroll, sr.
He was almost automatic this year for the Dragons when kicking. The TCU signee made 8 field goals and booted a 50-yarder in a Class 6A Division I semifinals. All-North Texas first team selection.
Gio Oceguera, Port Neches-Groves, sr.
How good was he? Well, he made four field goals in the Class 5A Division I finals and set a UIL record — and was the game MVP as well. For the year, the senior made 15 field goals. All-Southeast Texas first team selection.
Brayden Pate, Gilmer, jr.
Pate was a reliable weapon for the state champion Buckeyes, connecting on all 12 of his field goal attempts. He had a long of 36 yards. Pate was 95-of-103 on PAT attempts. He was perfect on both in Gilmer’s huge regional final upset of Carthage, going 5-of-5 on extra points and 4-of-4 on field goals. All-East Texas first team selection.
-- SBLive Texas staff
