South Carolina football's top 10 all-time kickers and punters

With spring practice over for South Carolina and summer moving along, Gamecock fans now have less than two months before their favorite team takes the field for a game. To help bridge the gap (along with all of the recruiting coverage and summer updates you can read on GamecockCentral.com), GamecockCentral will be running a top-10 players by position series.

First, we took a look at the all-time great USC running backs.

Then, we voted on the best Carolina wide receivers in program history.

Following that up, we examined the top Gamecock tight ends.

Next, it was all about determining the top offensive linemen ever to block in Columbia.

The final offensive position we looked at was the quarterback spot.

Then, we moved on to the defensive side of the ball, specifically the best defensive tackles in team history.

Following that, defensive ends/EDGEs were the topic of discussion.

After finishing the front, we shifted away from the defensive line and checked in on the linebacker position.

Then, a loaded cornerback group had our attention.

Last week, we voted on the top 10 safeties in South Carolina football history.

Now, this week, our attention moves away from offense and defense for the first time. Moving to the third phase of the game, special teams, we will examine the best kickers and punters ever to play in Columbia.

Chris Clark, Wes Mitchell, and I have put together our own top 10 lists. Many of the Gamecock Faithful on The Insiders Forum also have taken part in a two-part voting run this week.

Not every player who has kicked or punted at South Carolina could make the top 10 lists. Good legs like Reed Morton, Chris Norman, Scott Hagler, Tyeler Dean, and Jay Feltz all were part of the discussion but fell just short in the voting.

The results are below, including a note on each player mentioned:

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Chris Clark

1. Kai Kroeger
2. Elliott Fry
3. Collin Mackie
4. Parker White
5. Ryan Succop
6. Spencer Lanning
7. Joseph Charlton
8. Mitch Jeter
9. Mark Fleetwood
10. Max Runager

Why Kai Kroeger is No. 1: “Kai Kroeger just seems like the most naturally talented guy on this list, and his resume of incredible punts, fakes, and even a drop-kick on a kickoff back that up. His numbers and accolades do as well. We may not see another guy with his combination of natural ability in a Gamecock uniform.”

Wes Mitchell

1. Kai Kroeger
2. Elliott Fry
3. Ryan Succop
4. Collin Mackie
5. Parker White
6. Spencer Lanning
7. Mark Fleetwood
8. Joseph Charlton
9. Max Runager
10. Courtney Leavitt

Why Kai Kroeger is No. 1: “All things being equal, I would have put a kicker in this spot due to the importance of the position. But no specialist in modern South Carolina history was able to genuinely affect the outcome of games like Kai Kroeger did. A true weapon from the punter position, Kroeger flipped fields, played a role in game-changing trick plays, and was an excellent holder too.”

Kevin Miller

1. Kai Kroeger
2. Ryan Succop
3. Elliott Fry
4. Joseph Charlton
5. Parker White
6. Max Runager
7. Collin Mackie
8. Spencer Lanning
9. Mitch Jeter
10. Mark Fleetwood

Why Kai Kroeger is No. 1: “Though arguments could be made for a handful of kickers and even some players who pulled double-duty as the Gamecocks’ kicker and punter, Kai Kroeger gets the nod as the best ever. He was a two-time All-American at South Carolina and owns the single-season record for punting average. Had it not been for a year in which he punted while hurt, he’d own the career mark, too. Add in Kroeger’s legitimate usage as a weapon in the fake game, and he deserves to be called the GOAT. It doesn’t hurt his case that he might have been the Gamecocks’ MVP against Clemson in 2022, helping USC break their losing streak against the in-state rivals.”

The Insiders Forum

Votes in parentheses

1. Ryan Succop (62)
2. Kai Kroeger (45)
3. Elliott Fry (40)
4. Max Runager (33)
5. Spencer Lanning (27)
6. Parker White (26)
7. Collin Mackie (25)
8. Joseph Charlton (20)
T-9. Mitch Jeter (12)
T-9. Mark Fleetwood (12)

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Notes on the Gamecock Greats

Kai Kroeger: Kai Kroeger spent five seasons punting for the Gamecocks, thanks to the “Covid redshirt,” and he spoiled South Carolina fans with his excellence. Based on average distance, he had three really good seasons and two elite ones, but at times, his more tangible numbers suffered because of how often he took a little off to pin a team deep inside their own territory. A two-time All-American, Kroeger deserves some recognition for his versatility, as he also threw three touchdowns, four first downs, and multiple 2-point conversions. Kroeger is in the NFL with the New York Jets and could start as a rookie.

Ryan Succop: Probably the most talented leg in program history, Ryan Succop was a stud for the Gamecocks. Built more like a linebacker, the North Carolina native was better known for putting the ball through the uprights, but he also spent two years as the starting punter. Succop was excellent his entire career, outside of one three-miss game against Ole Miss and some trouble with having kicks blocked. He finished ranked fourth among Gamecocks in field goals made (in just three years starting), leading to him being drafted as “Mr. Irrelevant” by the Kansas City Chiefs. He went on to set an NFL record for consecutive field goals made inside 50 yards, pushing through 56 straight as part of a 14-year career.

Elliott Fry: Elliott Fry began his time in Columbia as an accuracy-first kicker who was reliable but limited with his range. However, he worked hard at improving his leg strength, eventually tying Ryan Succop’s No. 2 mark in the USC record books with a 55-yard game-winning make against Vanderbilt in the final minute. By the time his career finished, Fry was South Carolina’s record-holder in total points and was second in field goal percentage. Steve Spurrier has since called Fry “the best kicker I ever coached,” beating out several players on these lists in the mind of the Head Ball Coach.

Max Runager: Viewed by many as the top punter in school history before Kai Kroeger came along, Max Runager could boot it. Though he doesn’t feature as high in the South Carolina record books as some others, Runager’s raw stats don’t tell the full story. He sacrificed a little distance on his kicks to produce outstanding hang time. He also didn’t mind getting downfield to help out the coverage unit by making tackles and taking on blockers. Runager was the last Gamecock punter drafted, and he spent a decade in the NFL. He was a team captain and is in the University of South Carolina Lettermen’s Hall of Fame.

Spencer Lanning: Spencer Lanning was another double-duty kicker for South Carolina. He started at punter for three seasons and was the team’s kicker for two of those years. “Lanning Spencer” (as he was sometimes called by Steve Spurrier) was the most accurate Gamecock kicker ever until Mitch Jeter. He also was a reliable punter who combined solid power with impressive kick location skills en route to a five-year career in the NFL at the position.

Parker White: The all-time leading scorer at Carolina, Parker White didn’t start his career well-loved. After initially losing the position battle in fall camp, White struggled as a freshman after being forced into action. He missed his first four attempts but continued to work hard. By the time he exhausted his eligibility, White had put together three very good seasons, including a 16-for-17 year as a redshirt senior. He made 89% of his tries within 40 yards, including memorable game-winners against Louisiana Tech, Missouri, East Carolina, and Georgia.

Mitch Jeter: Mitch Jeter only started for two seasons as the placekicker in Columbia, but he was nearly automatic. Obliterating the rest of the competition in career field goal accuracy, the North Carolina native made 92% of his kicks in 2022 and 2023, including a perfect 10-for-10 in his first year as the starter. Jeter elected to transfer to Notre Dame ahead of his final year of eligibility. Had he kicked longer, he might have challenged for one of the top spots on these lists.

Collin Mackie: A University of South Carolina Lettermen’s Hall of Fame member, Collin Mackie owned the majority of the Gamecocks’ placekicking records when his career ended in 1990. The Columbia native still owns at least a share of the records for total field goals made, single-season field goals made, and single-game field goals made. Mackie drilled 25 kicks as a freshman in 1987, a mark that hasn’t been close to equaled since. He is a USC Lettermen’s Hall of Famer.

Joseph Charlton: Joseph Charlton possesses the career standard for punting average among Gamecock specialists. Averaging 45.5 yards per kick over four years, he also held the top single-season mark (47.7 yards per try) before Kai Kroeger surpassed him in 2024. Because he played on some teams with below-average offenses, Charlton posted those numbers behind a lot of attempts. The three-year starter earned spots on a pair of All-SEC teams.

Mark Fleetwood: A big-legged kid from Alabama, Mark Fleetwood doesn’t get enough credit for his career in garnet and black. The kicker for many extra points following George Rogers touchdown runs during his 1980 Heisman campaign, Fleetwood ranks in the top five in South Carolina history in both field goal makes and field goal accuracy. He also owns the record for the longest successful field goal try. His 58-yarder against Georgia is the only kick longer than 55 yards ever to go through the uprights for a Gamecock.

Courtney Leavitt: Courtney Leavitt was viewed by some recruiting outlets as the top high school kicker in the nation, and for parts of his South Carolina playing days, he handled both kicking and punting responsibilities. Because of his strong leg, he often trotted out for longer field goal tries, hurting his career percentage. However, Leavitt made a Freshman All-SEC team and All-SEC as the Gamecocks’ punter. He played for both Brad Scott and Lou Holtz and delivers one of the top Holtz impressions out there.

Discuss South Carolina football on The Insiders Forum!