2017 Tennessee Kicker/Punter Tucker Day Living up to Preseason 5-Star Hype

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

One can never under value the importance of a strong kicking game at any level on the gridiron. Brentwood High School in the Nashville area has the rare treat of having a five-star field goal kicker and punter all rolled into one with Tucker Day.

Day got his ranking showing what he could do on the field against Tennessee competition and on the Chris Sailer camp circuit. The 6-2, 197 pound, talent notched punt champion at seemingly every camp he attended and slowly turned his punting leg into an offensive weapon as a five-star field goal kicker. The transition was complete when Day made a spot in Sailer’s famed “Top 12” over the summer.

The push forward to elite status as a 2017 recruit showed during the 2015 season when Day averaged 44.5 yards per punt earning first team All-State honors. He killed it on kickoffs getting 26 of 28 kicks touched back and hit 14 of 20 field goals that included connections from 52, 51, 50, and 49 yards.

The 2016 season has picked up where Day left off, terrorizing the opposition. So far he has hit 7 of 9 field goal attempts with a long of 47 and has put 24 of 25 kickoffs into the end zone, or through the back of it. His punting has been sharp. The average is misleading at 39.5 yards per attempt with most of his attempts coming on a short field. What is impressive is his directional kicking and pinning teams down inside the 20-yard line seven times. Just for good measure on the canon for a leg, his longest punt this year was a 70-yarder from the line of scrimmage, 84-yards from the spot of the punt.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I caught up with Day minutes after he received another Division-I scholarship offer, this one from San Diego State, to get an update on his season so far and where his recruitment is heading as we get deeper into the 2016 season.

Interview

Tucker, are you happy with your personal performance on the field so far this year?

“Yeah, for the most part. I’ve had a solid year so far with some big punts for my team. I made some clutch field goals that gave us momentum for the rest of our games. I have responded to adversity well this year. I’m pretty happy with how I am doing. I’m at a good point and will keep getting better and better as the season goes on.”

What are some of the parts of your game you are working to improve?

“I’m really trying to get better on directional punting. In Tennessee high school football, we go against a lot of great return men. There are a lot of great athletes within the state. I’ve been working on hitting my punts around the 15 to the left and right. Once I get that down, my punting will be even more effective on the field.”

What has been the biggest challenge for you so far this year?

“I’d say with punting, adjusting to a two-step punt. Some of the biggest punts I have had this year have come off a two-step punt. I had a 70-yard punt from scrimmage that pinned a team down inside the 5. With the new two-step punt, I have to me a lot cleaner with my form. If I mess up it will shank the punt. A two-step punt is a lot quicker and better for the college game.”

What distances have you hit from this year with your field goals?

“My long is 47-yards. I have several in the 40’s, a 45, 43, 42 and I’ve had a 39, 36, and a 28.”

Are there any games coming up on the schedule you are excited to play a little more than the others?

“Yeah. Every game is really important, but we have a big rival game against Centennial coming up (Oct. 14). I’ve not beaten them since I have been at Brentwood. Hopefully we will come out on top this time.”

Let’s transition into recruiting. Which schools do you have offers from right now?

“I have offers from Army, Navy, and Colorado State. I just got off the phone with San Diego State and they offered me.”

Congratulations.

“Thank you.”

Which schools are showing recruiting interest in you right now but have not offered you yet?

“I have been heavily talking to Mississippi State. I’ve also been talking to Tennessee, Clemson, Texas Tech, Cincinnati, and Penn State.”

Have you taken any unofficial or official visits yet?

“This year I have taken unofficial visits to Mississippi State and Tennessee. Last year I went to Clemson and UNC (North Carolina).”

How did your visit to Mississippi State go?

“It was great. They treated us well. I sat with the coaches and talked to Coach (Dan) Mullen (head coach). They said they want me there. They feel like I could make a difference at Mississippi State. Their punter this season is a senior.”

What about your visit to Tennessee, how did that go?

“Coach (Butch) Jones and Coach (Larry) Scott (special teams coach), they made me feel at home. It was great being there at the big Tennessee school. I visited for their game against Ohio (Sept. 17). The coaches were really cool. The players had a lot of swag and they had great food. The game was awesome too. That was the biggest game I have been to, and that was not even a big rivalry game.”

Remind me, what is your GPA?

“My GPA unweighted is 3.2 and 3.65 weighted.”

What did you get on your ACT?

“I got a 29.”

Are there any college football games you are excited to watch this weekend?

“There are but I am going to a church retreat this weekend. We are not allowed any technology for the weekend. The games coming up I am excited to see are the Alabama verse Tennessee, Mississippi State against Ole Miss, and Ohio State against Penn State games. I want to try to make it to all of those games.”

Tucker, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of our season.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credit: brentwoodbruins.scorebird.com; No. 42 Tucker Day.

Photo credit: Day family; Tucker Day (left) at Tennessee.

Photo credit: williamsonherald.com; No. 42 Tucker Day kicks for Brentwood.