Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Detroit Lakes junior placekicker Nick Buboltz has been invited to the Kohl’s Professional Kicking Camp in Gatlinburg, Tennessee after an impressive showing at the Minneapolis camp last weekend.
The Kohl’s Camp sees the largest amount of high school kickers, punters, and snappers at over 150 events across the US. Jamie Kohl ranks athletes for ESPN and selects players to the Under Armour and Blue/Grey All-American Games.
“The Minneapolis camp is a showcase camp with a lot of coaching and instruction,” Buboltz told KDLM on Tuesday. “When I went there, I didn’t even know there was a national showcase I could be invited to. I kicked well. I had some good kickoffs, I punted pretty solid and then I got an invite from one of their coaches to come to Tennessee next weekend.”
In his sophomore season, Buboltz hit 25 of 27 extra points (both misses were early season blocks), and recorded four touchbacks. The Lakers’ opponent’s average starting position was their own 23-yard line. He was named Co-Conference Special Teams MVP.
“The best high school punters and kickers in the country will be there,” said Buboltz. “It’ll be a great networking opportunity with other players and college recruiters. Recruiting kickers for college is kind of last minute because all sorts of stuff can happen…injuries and stuff. I’m expecting to go out there and show what I’m made of and hopefully catch some attention from other scouts and colleges.”
Buboltz’s kicking journey began with him being a guy wanting to help his team out.
“We needed a guy to kick, so I volunteered myself,” he said. “The coaches were looking for someone who could kind of kick a football. I had played some youth soccer when I was younger so I gave it a shot. I kicked pretty well. In my freshman year, Evan (Thomas) went down with an injury in the Barnesville game and I came in and kicked the rest of the game. I really like how kicking is really laid back, but there is also a lot of pressure. In big spots, you need to be able to depend on a kicker, but I also like the adrenaline for kickoffs.”
Over the last handful of seasons, the Lakers have had solid special teams with kickers like Buboltz, Evan Thomas, and Braeden Wimmer plus punters Caeden Yliniemi and Reed Mace.
“The Lakers have always been great at taking time for special teams,” Buboltz said. “Coach (Steve) Zamzo really set the tone in practice for special teams. He’s not going to be coaching this year, so we’ll really miss him. Also, Coach (Reed) Hefta and Coach (Josh) Omang take time out of practice to work on specials. I’ll be we spend the most time on specials than any program in the area.”
“We couldn’t be more proud of Nick and the hard work he’s put in,” Coach Hefta said. “He’s a 4.0 student, he’s a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, tennis), and he’s going to handle kickoffs, extra points, and punting for us next season.”
One of the criteria for an invite to the Kohl’s camp is a 40-yard make. Buboltz has hit from 53. But does that mean coach Hefta will let him attempt from 50+ in a game?
“Oh, I don’t know,” Buboltz laughed. “Maybe if the wind is right, right before half where the other team can’t get it back. We’ll see.”
The Kohl’s Professional Kicking Camp will be held July 22-23 and will feature two sessions: one for college and professional free-agent kickers and punters, and one for high school athletes.
“My expectations are to go out there and compete, kick well, and turn some heads,” Buboltz said. “The big thing is having confidence.”
Had a blast this past weekend at @KohlsKicking MN camp. A huge thank you @BretCulbertson and staff for the helpful tips. Excited to have earned an invite to the National Showcase in Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/Zg7VeVEu7w
— Nick Buboltz (@buboltz_nick) July 10, 2023
