American Heritage-Delray football reaping benefits from top kicker prospect Jake Weinberg
BOYNTON BEACH – Jake Weinberg is as dominant as they come at the kicker position.
In a world where special teams is often overshadowed by the other two phases of football, Weinberg is the driving force behind American Heritage.
And here’s the kicker – he’s the team’s punter, too.
Between mechanics and mindset, Weinberg has become a star in big moments, with both a taste for the spotlight and an eye for the space between the goalposts.
“First, it’s his mechanics,” American Heritage kicking coach Dan Levine said. “He’s one of the smoothest kickers you’ve ever seen. And then as far as his poise, his mental toughness is well beyond his years.”
Touted as one of the premier kickers in the nation, Weinberg has committed to Florida State, and the Seminoles will be getting a young man poised to lead their special teams unit from the get-go.
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“I wanted to play for a school that believed in me a lot, and Florida State was the first school to offer me a big-time scholarship,” Weinberg said. “The bond that I have with the coaches and players set everything apart. Florida State is on the right track under coach Norvell. I believe in him a lot.”
Stallions head coach Brandon Rooze knows that while Weinberg is honored to play for a Division I program, FSU has to be equally happy to be locking in the Stallions’ highly-recruited player.
“He’s the No. 1 kicker in the country for a reason,” Rooze said. “The things that he can do – I mean we’re lining up in practice and he’s kicking 60-yard field goals, and he’s got it.”
Weinberg’s longest field goal of his high-school career came last year in a game against St. Andrews when he nailed a 57-yarder – and he’s self-reported that he can hit up to 68 yards in practice.
“We’re watching Thursday night football and Harrison Butker hits a 60-yarder and I’m like “oh my God, that’s a long field goal,” and then I look back and I’m like, ‘Oh yeah, we just did that on Wednesday with our kid,’” Rooze said.
Rooze further expressed Weinberg’s affinity for “big-pressure moments,” acknowledging that much of Heritage’s special teams capability plays through him – apart from being the top kicker, he’s averaging 43.2 yards per punt with a long of 69 yards this season.
He’s accounted for second-most points scored on the team this year, with his 34 points falling just shy of the 36 points contributed by receiver Micheal Manna.
And while Weinberg is ready to do that and more at the next level, his focus is in the here and now as he tries to help the Stallions fight for a playoff berth.
“Obviously, I want to hit a far field goal but I just want to help the team out as best I can and just take it step by step,” Weinberg said. “I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself. I’ve got three more games and I want to see how I can help out this team.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Florida State kicker commit Jake Weinberg making impact with American Heritage
