Oldsmar kicker boasts good genes

While kickers are sometimes the last to receive a scholarship offer, they are many times the deciding player in a game’s outcome. Oldsmar (Fla.) Countryside kicker Zach Hobby is one of the lucky ones and midway through his senior season has already gathered four offers. Who is interested in signing him?

“64 D-I schools have sent mail so far, and UCF, Syracuse, Navy, and Army have offered scholarships,” commented the 6-foot-0, 205-pound prospect. He grew up flowing Florida, but now list six schools as favorites.

“Right now, I like Florida, Ole Miss, USF, UCF, Northwestern, and Penn State,” he said.

Hobby has received numerous awards, including all-county, all-district, and all-PCAC; and was the overall winner at the National Kicking Services Combine with a 100 percent showing on his field goal attempts, including a long of 55 yards and a 71-yard kick off average. He was also rated the No. 1 prospect in the southeast by Carol White, and during his senior season has made six of seven field goals with a long of 47 yards.

“I kick long and high,” he described his playing style, but continues to work on improving his game. “I am always trying to lower my get-off time on field goals and increase my hang time on kickoffs.”

Hobby has big shoes to fill while showing off his leg, but is comfortable with the situation. His father, Phil Hobby was a professional soccer player in the NASL, and his brother, Chase Hobby, is currently a kicker at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Hobby is an excellent student with a 3.7 GPA and a 1,170 on the SAT.