2025 NFL Draft: Top five specialists

Don’t get it twisted, an NFL roster relies on all 53 players, and the game of football consists of three different units. The special teams could very well be looked at as the most important.

A contending team usually has reliable specialists who can get the job done more times than not, so let’s take a look at the top specialist players in the 2025 NFL Draft who potentially could have their name called.

1. Andres Borregales, K, Miami (FL)

What Borregales lacks in stature at 5-foot-11, 170 lbs, he makes up for in his consistency, clutchness and a powerful leg. Borregales broke out onto the scene in his junior season and has had two straight 100-plus point and first-team All-ACC seasons since.

In 2024, including a career-long 56-yard boot, Borregales made all but one field goal in 19 attempts and converted on 62-out-of-62 extra points, catapulting the Hurricanes into one of the highest scoring teams in college football.

2. Tyler Loop, K, Arizona

Loop took a different path than most of these specialist prospects as he started as a punter for the Wildcats before transitioning to kicker in 2021. In his first season, he went perfect and ultimately took future NFL kicker Lucas Havrisik’s job.

In 2023, Loop was awarded second-team All-PAC-12 honors. Clearing the uprights on a 62-yarder in 2024, he displayed his NFL-level trajectory and ball flight on any kick.

3: James Burnip, P, Alabama

Burnip was reliable for the Crimson Tide, playing all 55 games of his collegiate career, where he showcased his comfort and accuracy on directional punts and his ability to bury teams in their own territory with consistent ball flight and hang time.

Specifically, as a junior, Burnip earned second-team All-SEC honors as he ranked fifth in the FBS in average punt yardage. However, touchbacks were a problem for him in 2023. His improvements in that area became apparent in 2024 as he cut his touchbacks in half.

4: Ryan Fitzgerald, K, Florida State

The Seminoles didn’t have many bright spots last season. However, Fitzgerald was as reliable as a kicker can be when converting on stalled possessions. He kicked perfectly on all 13 of his field goal tries, including a 59-yard drill, which demolished his career long by six yards.

After an erratic start to his kicking career, Fitzgerald was truly relied upon to be an impact player for FSU’s 2023 undefeated campaign. In that season, he flipped a switch, collecting third-team All-ACC honors and accumulating 115 points as he went 90.5% on field goals.

5: Maddux Trujillo, K, Temple

Trujillo could be looked at as the best kicker in the class when we look back on it due to his raw power. The Owls play at Lincoln Financial Field, the home of the Philadelphia Eagles, giving him practice in a pro stadium.

The Austin Peay transfer has a terrific leg and consistently drives the ball, creating lift. In 2024, he annihilated a 64-yard strike from the Eagles logo against Utah State.

Trujillo will need to clean up his accuracy from shorter range, but his impressive power is undeniable and can be valuable for a team that wants to prioritize his development.

Owen Daszko is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email opd5073@psu.edu.