Meet the Freshmen: K Harrison Butker

Meet the Freshmen: K Harrison Butker

Our "Meet the Freshmen" series continues today with the guy who could single-handedly have the most impact out of anyone in his signing class -- and it's the last guy you might expect would.

The seventh commitment of Georgia Tech's 2013 class was, of all positions, a kicker. Conventionally, schools do not spend a scholarship on the kicker position, based on the fact that good kickers seem to be relatively easy to find and/or replace within a student body.

However, after the 2011 campaign Coach Johnson acknowledged that our kicking situation wasn't in a good place and wasn't going to get better without spending a scholarship on it.

Thus, we went out and got a guy who could single-handedly have the most impact on Tech's fortunes out of anyone in his signing class.

Harrison Butker stands at 6'3", and weighs 170lbs -- a very tall, slim frame for a kicker. Butker also played soccer in high school (naturally), which may help to explain his slim physique.

His film shows that he has a ton of leg, hitting field goals with relative ease from distances as far as 51 yards. You'll also notice that kicking off from the 40, many of his kicks went out of the back of the end zone. Both of these measures should translate well to the college level.

There are two other things that should be noted about his field goal kicking. First, Butker has almost no time to get his kicks off thanks to terrible protection -- yet he still can get plenty of power behind them.

The reason is point number two -- Butker is a natural two-step kicker (as opposed to some kickers, who use three steps). This is a much tougher ability to learn and adapt, but allows much less opportunity for error in a kicker's wind-up (33% less, as it turns out) and allows him to get a kick off much quicker.

At the end of the day, Butker hasn't gotten to Tech and had a chance to compete with

David Scully, but considering the last two years after Scott Blair left, it's going to be tough to imagine the freshman not getting the nod this fall (barring injury, of course), and starting all four years that he's on campus.

Butker's unique skills and background in soccer make him an exciting prospect for Georgia Tech's football team.

His ability to consistently kick field goals from long distances and send kickoffs out of the end zone demonstrates his potential to make an immediate impact on the team's performance.

Additionally, his natural two-step kicking technique sets him apart from other kickers and gives him an advantage in terms of speed and accuracy.

The kicking game is often overlooked, but it can be a game-changer in close matchups. Having a reliable kicker like Butker could give Georgia Tech an edge in crucial situations.

His athleticism and talent make him a valuable addition to the team, and his presence is sure to improve the overall performance of the special teams unit.

As he prepares to make his mark on the collegiate football stage, all eyes will be on Harrison Butker as he aims to solidify his position as Georgia Tech's starting kicker. With his impressive skill set and determination, there's no doubt that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level of college football.

So, do you think Butker has what it takes to start this fall? Does he give you hope for our kicking situation? Let us know your thoughts as we eagerly anticipate the upcoming season and the impact that Butker could have on Georgia Tech's football program.