Northwest's McCarter Named To 2017 Fred Mitchell Award Kickoff Watch List

Photo courtesy of Northwest Community College

Sophomore placekicker Drake McCarter of Northwest Mississippi Community College has been tabbed as one of 36 players nationwide on the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award Kickoff Watch List.

The Fred Mitchell Award is given annually to the nation’s top collegiate placekicker among more than 750 FCS, NCAA Division II, III, NAIA and NJCAA football teams. The award is named for the record-setting placekicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer, author, philanthropist and Chicago Tribune sports columnist.
“I am looking forward to the 2017 college football season with much anticipation as another group of outstanding candidates for our annual national kicking award display their talents on and off the field,” Mitchell said. “We have had a number of previous winners and Top 10 finalists kick in the NFL and the Canadian Football League. More importantly, members of our esteemed selection committee are proud of the community-minded young men that are recognized and continue to make positive contributions throughout the country.”
The Award’s Selection Committee Chairman Rob Perry added, “the quality of person that the Fred Mitchell Award continues to attract and celebrate remains high. We’re all very excited to see the on and off-field accomplishments of the fine young men on this list throughout the 2017 season and beyond.”
McCarter, a product of Saltillo, was a Second Team All-MACJC kicker and First Team All-MACJC punter as a freshman. He led the No. 6-ranked Rangers in scoring with 88 points from 16 of 27 field goals and 40 of 45 PATs and also averaged 38.5 yards/punt with 25 inside-the-20. For his efforts, McCarter was selected the MACJC Special Teams Player of the Week a conference-best four times.
Off the field, McCarter reads to 1st-2nd graders at Saltillo Elementary School twice a month, volunteers in the community and helps with church events at Macedonia Baptist Church.
The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community. Details are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com.
The breakdown of the 36 placekickers is as follows: seven FCS, 12 Division II, 11 Division III, two NAIA and four NJCAA nominees. The placekickers play at schools located in 23 different states, 14 of them seniors, 10 juniors, 11 sophomores and one freshman.
Fred Mitchell Award Kickoff Watch List
Nino Alibegic, So., Independence Community College
Cole Antley, Jr., Ouachita Baptist
Tristan Bailey, Fr., Coffeyville Community College
Bradly Bates, Sr., Campbellsville University
Alex Beekman, Sr., Pacific University
Jordan Bennett, Jr., West Alabama
Matt Blair, So., California
Will Brazill, Sr., California (Penn.)
Lane Clark, Sr., Tennessee State
Liam Crotty, Sr., North Central College
Darren Ford, Sr., Hope College
Wyatt Ford, Jr., Ferris State University
Matthew Haite, So., Stonehill College
Nathan Hierlihy, Jr., University of Redlands
Christian Kapp, Sr., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Tyler Knighton, Sr., Rowan University
Cooper Lee, So., Coffeyville Community College
Nick Madonia, So., Tennessee Tech
Abdul Mahdi, Sr., Saint Xavier University
David Marvin, Jr., Wofford College
Drake McCarter, So., Northwest Mississippi Comm. College
Jerry Nunez, So., Indiana State
Drew Pearson, So., Wisconsin-Stout
Shea Rodgers, Jr., Newberry
Elijah Ruiz, So., Stephen F. Austin
Eric Sachse, Jr., Trinity College (Conn.)
Jonas Schenderlein, So., Concordia University
Brad Schickel, Sr., University of Indianapolis
Perry Schmiedeler, Jr., Washburn University
Juan Serna, Sr., Fort Valley State
Nathan Shaw, Sr., Northern State
Sean Slattery, Jr., Illinois State
Jamie Sullivan, Sr., Johns Hopkins
Cole Tracy, Sr., Assumption College
Eli Wettstein, Jr., Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Tanner Wright, So., McMurry University

Courtesy of Kevin Maloney Northwest Community College
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