Notre Dame Kicking Game Looks To Improve This Season With Justin Yoon, Tyler Newsome

As the Fighting Irish near fall camp, let’s preview an unsung position group that doesn’t get much publicity, but will play a critical role in whatever success Notre Dame has this season – the kickers. It appears Tyler Newsome will be the punter and Justin Yoon will be the kicker.

Notre Dame needs to replace Kyle Brindza who was the team’s kicker for the last three years. Tyler Newsome is a 6’3”, 200 lbs. red shirt freshman from Carrollton, Georgia. He has an interesting background. At Carrollton High School he was not only the punter, but was also the kicker.

His statistics were impressive. His Senior year he was 78 for 78 on PAT’s and was five for five on field goal attempts. He was 52 of 53 as Junior on PAT’s and nine of 11 on field goal attempts. Also, he was 76 of 100 on kickoffs for touchbacks his Senior season. He punted 20 times his senior season for a 38-yard average. His kicking and punting prowess gained state-wide attention as he was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-state team after his Senior season. He finished his high school career by being invited to the Sempter Fiedelis All American game.

Newsome has stated that his freshman season at Notre Dame was a tremendous learning experience. He worked with Kyle Brindza not only on punting, but also on field goal kicking and kickoffs. According to the South Bend Tribune, as a freshman at Notre Dame, Newsome was averaging about 37 yards a punt. He now averages about 43 yards a punt with over a 4.0 second tag time. Brindza worked on Newsome’s techniques and probably most importantly, Newsome learned about the mental challenges that Brindza went through the last half of last season.

Justin Yoon – This rising freshman is 5’11”, 185 lbs. and attended Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts. He was acknowledged as the best high school kicker last year. He was nine of 11 on field goal attempts as a a Junior. He had an injured back his Senior season, but still connected on four of six field goal attempts including a 52 yarder. 80% of his kickoffs went for touchbacks. If he can keep that same percentage on his kickoffs at Notre Dame, he will, of course, minimize the number of opposition kick off returns and give the defense better field position.

Yoon appeared in the Under Armour All American Bowl and kicked three field goals including a 47 yarder. Besides various media outlets rating Yoon the best high school kicker last year, Notre Dame also had him rated the same. The coaching staff has been impressed with Yoon’s coolness under pressure, his calm demeanor and his work ethic.

Kyle Brindza had a tremendous run at Notre Dame with a 75% success rate on field goals in 2012 and 2013. His success rate dropped to 55% last year. However, part of the problem was the holder either dropping the snap or not setting it up correctly. Hopefully Yoon can achieve that 75% success rate this coming season that Brindza had his first two years.

Notre Dame appears to be in great shape in the kicking game. In Justin Yoon, the Irish have the top kicker out of high school. Tyler Newsome, slated to be the punter, also has experience in kicking. If the Fighting Irish can correct snapping and holding problems, the kicking game should be in good shape.

The great unknown will be how does Justin Yoon react to pressure situations in front of 80,000 fans. We’ll find out the answer in a few months.

Next: Is The Current Squad More Talented Than The 1993 or 1989 Teams?