Luis Gutierrez had been kicking soccer balls around ever since kindergarten but had never played football before.

"I was coming to the games and I liked it," Gutierrez said. "So I decided to play. I asked coach last year if I could kick and they said yes. So I started kicking last year."

The freshman suffered a setback though three games in to the season when a teammate accidentally ran in to him on the sidelines during a practice session and broke his leg.

White knew Gutierrez had a lot of potential ever since the day he first spotted him through the window kicking balls around during gym class and was eager to have him in the football program.

"I had seen him one day in P.E. class," White said. "They were on the field kicking soccer balls and I kept saying 'that kid can kick.' We talked about it and went out on the field one day and put a football on a tee and had him kick it. Boom! He nailed it. I said, 'you need to play football.' He said, 'yeah, I want to play.' It was just very unfortunate when he broke his leg."

Gutierrez is back this year from the injury and will have a chance to handle all of the kicking duties, a luxury past Wildcats teams have not had in the past.

"We've always had a kid, usually a lineman or somebody with just a strong leg, kick," White said. "They would go through the regular routine of practice and then, hopefully just try and kick for us. Now, with Luis, we can pretty much delegate him to that role of being the kicker."

White said Gutierrez works out at practice with the rest of the team and has been getting in about 50 kicks a day.

He's has been solid from 40 yards and out ,but hasn't faced a live rush yet, White said.

Gutierrez was 5-for-5 in point after attempts in scrimmages against both Cross County and Manila last week.

"He's been doing really good," White said. "His leg is getting stronger every day. He's going to have to see some live rushes though. Before Friday we're going to give him some of that at practice."

White said Gutierrez is as much a part of the team as quarterback Blaike Jones and running back Zac Thompson.

"He can win us a lot of games," White said. "We've never had anybody with his capabilities. As far as pure kicking ability, he kicks the ball better than anybody we have ever had since I've been here. He knows his job and he gets down there and that's what he does. I don't have to worry about him.

"He has good confidence now. He keeps me laughing. I can't hardly get on him. He's a really good kid and we're proud to have him and really excited we've got him for three more years."

Gutierrez admits he is a little nervous about getting out there for real for the first time, but is excited about the season.

"I'll try not to think about it and just kick," Gutierrez said. "We have a pretty good team. I think we can make the playoffs."