Interview: 5-Star Tennessee 2017 Punter/Kicker Tucker Day Working to be Tops in the Nation

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

When it comes to being a 5-star talent in the kicking game, a player either has it or he doesn’t. Brentwood High School Class of 2017 punter/kicker Tucker Day definitely has “it.”

Day used his 6’2”, 197 pound, frame to get the Bruins out of trouble on offense consistently pinning the opposition down inside the 20-yard line and aided the team overall by nailing 50-yard field goals putting points up on the board. When the 2015 season had concluded, Day was named a Tennessee first team All-State punter after averaging 44.5 yards per kick getting off each kick somewhere between 1.3 to 1.4 seconds; which is a really strong time at the high school level.

All-State honors eluded Day as a field goal kicker although a case could be made. Day nailed 14 attempts that included three points from 49, 50, 51, and 52 yards out. Further showcasing a canon for a leg, he hit 26 of 28 kickoffs for touchbacks sailing nearly every single attempt through the uprights and/or out of the back of the end zone.

Day has taken on a different challenge going up against the best of the best in Chris Sailer Kicking Camps around the country. Sailer named Day a member of his Top 12 with various camp honors that includes 2015 Underclassmen Invitational Punt Champion, 2015 GA Fall Camp Punt Champion, 2016 Vegas XXVII Head to Head Punt Champion, 2016 Vegas XXVII Consistency Competition Champion, 2016 Vegas XXVII Punt Finalist, and 2016 GA Spring Camp Punt Champion.

Sailer has a difficult task on his hands with a lot of great Class of 2017 punters and kickers appearing at all of his camps. Hawaii’s Adam Stack is one of the best combination kickers in the nation as is Day. Currently Stack is ranked the No. 1 kicker and punter in the 2017 class. Day was the No. 1 punter, now No. 2, but seeks to get that title back in the offseason through various one-day college camps and Chris Sailer Kicking Camps.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with the kicking wonder to find out how his junior season went with Brentwood High School, learned about his offseason camp schedule, and received a recruiting news update.

Interview

Tucker, how did you get started playing football?

“My brother was a kicker for our middle school in 8th grade. I’ve always had a stronger leg than most of the kids in our school. My dad said go out and kick. Before that I played soccer and ice hockey. I was offered the starting job on the spot by our middle school coach. I started playing my 8th grade year and I enjoyed.”

What was your first year of varsity experience like?

“It was fun. We did not have a great team in the win-loss department but I really enjoyed it. The crowds are big and loud and they really get into it. It’s like no other experience. My first punt at the varsity level, I hit a 68-yarder without a bounce.”

That’s impressive. You really started coming into your own during your junior season. If you will, give me a rundown of how the 2015 season went.

“That was my first year on a successful winning football team (6-5). I came in as a starter, but a lot of stuff came into it. I was the No. 1 punter in the nation for Chris Sailer. Everyone was excited about that. My first game I hit some great punts. I had a great year stats wise. I hit all but two kicks through the end zone on kickoffs. I was really happy with my season. I was All-State and All-District as a punter and I put a bunch of field goals on the board.”

You’ve been on the field in some capacity punting, doing kickoffs, and field goals since your sophomore season. What are your strengths on the field as a punter?

“I don’t get nervous at all. My parents were actors, I have those genes. When they have a big star player on the other side coming to get me, that does not affect me. When I am on the field, the better the competition the better I play. Against Ravenwood (Brentwood – 15-1, state champs), that was my best game of the whole season. I pinned them in the 10- three times and twice inside the five. I was 2 for 2 on field goals, and I hit three out of four through the upright on kickoffs.”

From a technical standpoint, what are some of the things you do with your form that makes you such a consistent punter?

“I’m consistent on my drop, that’s pretty much the whole game. If you have a bad drop you can’t get a good kick. I drop every day. My speed from snap to kick is 1.3 to 1.4, for high school that is fast. With that speed you cannot get blocked by our opponent. With my leg swing, I do a dry run on the sidelines, a dry run is when you swing your leg into form. I do that before every punt. That gives me my swing. It works out every time.”

I know a lot of the success a punter can have is due to his snapper. Will your snapper be back next season?

“Yes. Chandler Moody is a very good snapper. Chandler and I have a great relationship. He puts it where I want it, he’s excellent.”

Chris Sailer has you ranked as a 4.5-star field goal kicker. What are some of the things that you do well as a field goal kicker to have earned that high of a ranking?

“All field goal kickers that are good are consistent from 35 yard to 45 yards. The great ones can hit them from 55. I have proven I can hit over 50. I have hit from 52, 51, and 50 yards in a game. In practice I hit a 70-yard kick in front of my coach. I wish I would have filmed that kick. Not all kids have that raw power to drive the ball high and far. I’d say it’s a God given gift. That is what distinguishes me as a punter and kicker from the others.”

What are your goals for the 2016 football season?

“No one ever wants to miss a field goal. I think with great effort I can master all of my abilities to push myself to be ready for the Division-I level. I want to be at my greatest ability to start as a freshman in college. I want to find a home with great academics and great football. I want to win state. I think we will have a really good team this year. I love to win, and I think we have a great shot at winning state.”

Have you received any offers from Division-I teams yet?

“A guy from Navy came to our school today to talk to me. I have a tentative offer from them based on how everything lines up with my academics. It should all line up fine. I have great academics but nothing is written on paper yet.”

Which schools are showing interest in you right now that could one day turn into an offer?

“Florida, Miami, Alabama, and Mississippi State. I was on the phone with Mississippi State and they were talking about how I am a special performer and that I can get a full-ride if I perform well at one of their camps.”

Are any other teams showing interest?

“Yeah. Clemson said I was the No. 1 punter in their board. UNC (North Carolina), Western Kentucky, Wisconsin, Toledo, and JSU (Jacksonville State) have pretty much all said if I come to their camp and perform well I could get an offer. They are all saying the same thing. They want to see if you’re the guy. I think I am that guy.”

The next question that begs to be asked, where all are you going for one-day college camps this summer?

(Laughs) “I’m going on a bunch. I’m going to Florida this summer in June. I’m going to Alabama, Miami, Georgia, Wisconsin, UNC, and Texas A&M but I’m not 100 percent sure on A&M. Mostly all of the schools that have been talking to me I’ll go to a camp there.”

Have you been on any unofficial visits so far?

“Yes. I’ve been to Clemson a few times, Florida, UNC a few times, and Vanderbilt.”

From the sounds of it, once you make the rounds this summer you could have a lot of offers on the table. If all of these offers come through, when will you verbally commit to a school?

“It all depends on who is offering and who is offering a full-ride. If it is a walk-on offer I will not commit. If a top school in the SEC, ACC, Pac-12, Big Ten, or Big 12 offers I would take it. Schools like that offer a lot of players. The school I have the best relationship with, I will take it. If I commit I will not have to worry about another kid taking that offer.”

What are the main things that will influence that decision? You just mentioned a full-ride offer and best relationship with the coaches. Is there anything else?

“My goal is to make it to the NFL. If that does not work out I want to be at a school with a great alumni program with great academics. I’m looking at real-estate. I’m also really good at science and mathematics. Schools with a nuclear engineering or nuclear physics programs is something I have been looking into as well. I’m looking for a great school and a great alumni program. I want to be helped out after my college career if needed to help provide for me when I am older.”

Along the lines of academics, how is everything going in the classroom for you?

“I have a 3.5 unweighted GPA and I scored a 29 on my ACT.”

Excellent. That qualifies you for any school you may want to attend.

“Yes.”

Are you playing any other sports when you are not on the football field?

“I play ice hockey and soccer.”

That’s interesting. Which of the two sports are you better at soccer or hockey?

“That’s a tough question. I’ve been playing AAA hockey since I was 10 years old. I thought I might go for hockey at one point. With soccer, most soccer players are fast and small, but I’m tall and fast. I love both. Right now I’d say I’m better – I don’t know.”

Tucker, thanks for your time today and good luck with all the upcoming one-day college camps.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: williamsonherald.com; No. 42 Tucker Day kicking a field goal.

Photo credit: williamsonherald.com; No. 42 Tucker Day punting.

Photo credit: twitter.com; Tucker Day visiting Florida.