Oklahoma high school football: Here are the top specialists for the 2023 season

List includes two Oklahoma commits and players on state title contenders

The third phase of the game can be the most important phase of the game. 

Here, we take a look at some of the best kickers, punters and kick returners from across the state.

Oklahoma's Top Players To Watch in 2023

Quarterbacks | Running Backs | Receivers/Tight Ends | Offensive Linemen | Defensive Linemen | Linebackers | Defensive Backs 

Liam Evans, 5-8, 155, Sr., Moore 

Evans is the top-ranked kicker in the state and as a senior, has committed to the University of Oklahoma. In the second game of the year, he broke a school record by kicking a 51-yard field goal. On 26 kickoffs, Evans has 20 touchbacks.

Troy Nguyen, 6-2, 190, Sr., Bixby

With 26 kickoffs to his name, Nguyen has 19 touchbacks and is averaging right at 45 yards per kick. The senior also made 22 of his first 23 extra-point attempts. He also kicked a go-ahead field goal in the second half of the Spartans' win at Jenks in their regular-season finale to clinch a 10-0 record entering postseason play.

Ty Ackerman, 6-0, 175, Jr., Edmond Memorial

Ackerman made 23 of his first 25 PAT attempts so far this year and had only missed four for his career up to that point. He also made two field goals through September, his long coming from 25 yards out.

Noah Hill, 5-7, 140, So., Owasso

Only a sophomore, Hill made his presence felt in the special teams department early in the season. He had one punt return for a touchdown and averaged 21 yards per kick return on 12 attempts.

Ethan Spiwak, 6-4, 160, Jr., Midwest City Carl Albert

For Spiwak’s career, he was 80-of-89 when kicking extra points and had yet to miss a field goal, going 13-of-13, his longest being 38 yards. Spiwak also averaged 52 yards per kick return on four attempts so far this year. His longest return is 57 yards.

Trystan Haynes, 6-2, 170, Jr., Midwest City Carl Albert

Through five games, Haynes has had six kickoff returns and was averaging 42 yards per return. His longest one of the year was from 90 yards out and that one was a touchdown, giving the defending 5A champion Titans one of the best overall special teams units in the state.

LaDainian Fields, 6-1, 180, Sr., Del City

The do-it-all athlete for Del City has done a great job returning punts so far this season, averaging nearly 40 yards per return. A TCU commit, Fields also had one kick return that went for 31 yards.

Nick Jett, 5-9, 140, Jr., Weatherford

As a junior, Jett already has more than 800 yards of total offense on the season, but he is most dangerous in the return game. On 10 kickoffs, he is averaging 30 yards a return and has 84 yards on six punt returns.

Toby Batchelder, 5-11, 130, Sr., Newcastle

For Batchelder’s career, he is 71-78 when kicking extra points and 8-11 from field goal range with a long of 40. He has eight touchbacks on 20 kickoffs.

Ruslan Calderon, 5-11, 150, Jr., Bethany

Calderon is a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals so far this year, with a long of 35 so far this year. He is averaging one touchback for every seven kicks and 40 yards per punt, with one landing inside the 20-yard line.

Brian Lopez, 5-2, 125, Jr., Stigler

Thus far on the year, Lopez is 10-of-11 when kicking field goals. He is averaging 33 yards per kickoff and the junior is 68-of-84 when kicking extra points.

Ethan McBee, 6-0, 157, Sr., Poteau

As a senior, McBee has kicked for more than 9,000 total yards for his career. He is 14-of-19 when kicking field goals, with his long being from 47 yards, and he is 164-of-168 when kicking extra points.

Brian Castor, 5-6, 145, Jr., Sallisaw

As a junior, Castor has 18 kickoffs with a long of 57. He is averaging 44 yards a kick. He has also made a 30-yard field goal.

Tanner Casey, 5-8, 150, Jr., Catoosa

Casey has done a little bit of everything in the return game for his team so far this season. He has 98 yards on four kick returns and two punt returns with an average of 28 yards per return.

Dylan Davidson, 6-2, 160, Sr., Perkins-Tryon

Davidson has done a great job pinning opponents deep in their own territory this year, with eight punts landing inside the 20-yard line and an average of just over 41 yards a punt. Davidson also has had nine touchbacks on 17 kickoffs.

Masyn Wright, 5-11, 180, So., Vian

The punter is averaging 40 yards a punt with a long of 56 yards. The sophomore also has a kickoff inside the 5-yard line and has made a 35-yard field goal.

Elijah Thomas, 6-0, 170, Jr., Checotah

A junior who has committed to play receiver at Oklahoma, Thomas has only been able to get his hands on two punt returns through September, but was averaging 55 yards a return. On kickoffs, he was averaging 33 yards a return on four attempts.

Pasquale Bitondi, 6-1, 215, Sr., Mangum

Through 26 kickoffs so far this year, Bitondi is averaging 57 yards per kick. He has 16 touchbacks and is 19-of-19 when kicking extra points.

Cash Schiller, 5-9, 235, Jr., Hilldale

The junior has a booming leg, as he has kicked it out of the back of the end zone several times and has averaged 34.5 yards per punt attempt. Schiller is also 7-of-10 on field goals this year, with his longest coming from 51 yards out.

Caden Lesnau, 5-11, 158, Sr., McAlester

Also the team's quarterback, the Buffalo senior was dangerous at every position on the field, including when punting to his opponents. On 10 punts this year, Lesnau averaged 36 yards per punt. He has had a long of 59 yards and pinned his opponent inside the 20 once.

Shane Douthit, 5-10, 160, Sr., Miami

Douthit is averaging 47 yards per kick and has gone 7-of-10 when kicking extra points. He has also made at least one field goal this season.

Sam Lillard, 6-1, 160, Jr., Miami

As the starting quarterback, Lillard doesn’t want to put his team in a punting situation, but any time Lillard does, he comes up with a booming kick. Lillard leads the state, averaging 48 yards a punt.

Austin Boren, 6-0, 180, So., Verdigris

Thankfully for the Verdigris offense, Boren hasn’t had to punt the ball that much, but a 40-yard average has flipped the field any time he has been forced to punt the ball away. His long on the year is 59 yards.

Mikas Conard, 5-11, 160, Jr., Porter

As a kick returner, Conard has done a great job through four games this season, averaging 35 yards per kick return on six attempts.

Kysen Fincher, 5-11, 150, Jr., Ringling

Only a junior for a solid Ringling team, Fincher has been an important cog in the special teams unit early in the season. Through only three games played, Fincher had six kick returns and averaged 39.5 yards per return.

Photo of Moore's Liam Evans from his Hudl page

-- Ty Loftis | @SBLiveOK