Nearly every other position outshines kickers and punters, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t talented players to know. As Iowa’s Tory Taylor proved last season, they could occasionally be the player fans want to see most. So, who heads up the 2024 AAC K/P rankings?
AAC 2024 Kicker/Punter Rankings
10) Michael O’Shaughnessy, P, Charlotte 49ers
School record-breaking punter Grant Gonya is gone, and without a real successor on the roster, Charlotte sought out Michigan State’s Michael O’Shaughnessy. The sixth-year senior began his career at Ohio State, but after four years with no playing time, O’Shaughnessy joined the Spartans.
He split duties as the punter holder in seven games, resulting in 14 punts for 562 yards, with four inside the 20 and seven fair catches.
The 6’3″ and 210-pound Ohio native has the leg to boom punts all over the yard, and he’ll have the chance to prove it with the 49ers.
9) John Cannon, K, USF Bulls
After not seeing the field his first two seasons with the Bulls, John Cannon assumed the starting role in 2023. While he only made 11 of his 16 field goals, Cannon connected on all 52 of his extra points. Length strength may not be his forte, but he’s consistent within his range.
8) Andrew Conrad, K, East Carolina Pirates
Andrew Conrad has served as the Pirates’ primary placekicker in 19 games over the last two seasons. Over that span, he’s made 26 of 37 FGs and 46 of 47 XPs, including an ECU record 5 for 5 against FAU in 2023.
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Conrad is near automatic from less than 40 yards out, and while his accuracy wanes from a distance, the Pirates are confident enough to send him onto the field anyway.
7) Will Karoll, P, Tulane Green Wave
No. 9 may be Will Karoll’s floor on the 2024 AAC K/P rankings, as a 6’4″ and 200-pound Australian, he was bred for the position. He made honorable mention All-AAC as a true freshman last year, averaging 44.0 yards per attempt (tied for fourth in the conference) and booting 14 of his 43 punts 50+ yards downfield.
6) Jacob Barnes, K, Tulane Green Wave
AAC kickers don’t come much more experienced than Jacob Barnes, who went 54 of 68 over four seasons at Louisiana Tech. In fact, he left the Bulldogs as the career leader in FG percentage (79.4%).
Now, Tulane fans shouldn’t expect Barnes to attempt anything over 50 yards, as he’s only done so twice, making one.
5) Andrew Stokes, P, USF Bulls
Introducing the AAC’s 2023 leader in punts inside the 20 (24), USF’s Andrew Stokes. Not one of Stokes’ 56 punts went for a touchback, and 21 of them were called for a fair catch. At 5’6″ and 232 pounds, he’s one of the biggest punters you’ll see on Saturdays or Sundays.
The Australian earned the starting role as a true freshman in 2021, but an injury knocked him out early in 2022. Now another year removed — and a productive one at that — the Bulls are stoked to have Stokes back for one final go-round.
4) Logan Lupo, P, FAU Owls
Logan Lupo’s career began at the Power Four level with Louisville in 2020. However, after just 17 punts, Lupo opted to join the Owls, where he spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons on the bench.
The starting job was his in 2023, but he didn’t just put up a 44.0 average on 54 attempts; Lupo also made 5 of 8 field goals and all 22 of his extra points as he pulled double duty for the first eight games of the year.
3) Joshua Sloan, P, Memphis Tigers
Joshua Sloan is more than his luscious locks, as he received an All-CUSA honorable mention in 2024 and made the conference’s Academic Honor Roll for three consecutive years.
The former UTEP Miner finished second in the CUSA with a 44.2 YPA last year, and he brings 191 career attempts to Memphis, though the team hopes not to need his services too often.
2) Riley Riethman, P, Navy Midshipmen
Entering Year 4 as Navy’s starting punter, all eyes are on Riley Riethman. That’s not just a turn of phrase either, as he made the Shrine Bowl 1000 and Ray Guy Award watch lists.
In 2023, Riethman led the AAC with 20 punts of 50+ yards and an average of 44.8. The Midshipman took to the air often, attempting 20 more punts than any other player in the conference. The result was a first-team All-AAC nod, and if the Navy doesn’t right the offensive ship, we could see 80+ punts from Riethman once again.
1) Chase Allen, K, UTSA Roadrunners
Riethman is the best returning punter, but Chase Allen is the best returning kicker on the 2024 AAC K/P rankings. Allen ended the year with the No. 1 field-goal rate in the conference (86.7%) while also owning the longest make at 53 yards.
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Allen garnered second-team All-AAC recognition for his efforts and landed on the Lou Groza Award watch list this offseason. With longtime QB Frank Harris gone, the Roadrunners may need Allen to attempt more than just 15 FGs in 2024, and his 49 of 49 XP output could also see a tick down.
Nevertheless, he was the top kicker at the conference and could prove to be one of the best in the nation this year.
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