Yonchiuk hopes to get Bears off on right foot

All you need to know about Tyler Yonchiuk's potential as a punter and kicker is to hear the comparison his coach makes to another successful East Brunswick player.

JEFF GRANIT staff Tyler Yonchiuk punts the ball for East Brunswick High School during a home scrimmage Monday night. Yonchiuk, entering his senior season handling the kicking and punting duties for the Bears, has worked with former Rutgers kicker Lee McDonald and punter Charlie Titus, who played high school football at Monroe. "Tyler is as far along in his development as Josh Miller was at this stage of his career," says East Brunswick High School football coach Marcus Borden. "He has the same potential."

That, sports fans, clearly defines just how good Tyler Yonchiuk can be as he enters his senior season handling the kicking and punting duties for the Bears.

Miller was the kicker for East Brunswick in the late 1980s who added punting to his job description when Borden saw how well he had developed his strength and accuracy. Borden's decision enabled Miller to become one of the most successful professional athletes in East Brunswick history. He went on to matriculate at a junior college in Arizona, transferred to the University of Arizona, and then enjoyed a highly successful NFL career, playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans, earning a Super Bowl ring along the way.

Like Miller, Yonchiuk resembles one of the linemen or linebackers on the team with his height (6-3) and weight (200 pounds). However, he discovered early in his football career that his ability was best served using his legs. That turned out to be highly beneficial to East Brunswick's kicking game, which became a strength last year. His concentration on punting, particularly, will likely lead to a college career after he graduates from EBHS.

"Yeah, I fit the typical kicker and punter profile," Yonchiuk admitted. "I started out playing soccer and participated on travel teams up until eighth grade. That's when I decided to try football. My father [Jerry] has been a longtime high school football coach [in Lebanon, Pa.], and I felt I had the size and ability to play the sport."

His coaches at East Brunswick, however, had more specific ideas about how to use Yonchiuk. They knew they had a player whose kicking ability surpassed what he could accomplish at any other position. So they had the youngster concentrate on kicking and punting. While Yonchiuk is the No. 1 kicker for East Brunswick, it is clear his future will be as a punter.

"It's worked out well," said Yonchiuk, as he and the Bears prepare for what they believe will be a winning season. "I've already attended kicking days at schools like Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Maryland, Purdue and Syracuse, in addition to some I-AA schools. They are aware of what I can do."

Unlike athletes who play other positions, kickers are not usually recruited by colleges until after their senior seasons. That's when Yonchiuk will decide where he continues his kicking career.

Not that he's concerned. His main focus is helping East Brunswick return to its winning ways after the team finished with a 4-6 record last year.

"We're excited about the season," Yonchiuk said. "We have a lot of experienced players returning who understand what kind of commitment it will take to win. Now it's a matter of realizing our potential."

Yonchiuk is doing all he can to make this final high school season the best it can be. In addition to the many daily practice sessions he devotes to refining his craft, Yonchiuk has worked with former Rutgers kicker Lee Mc- Donald and punter Charlie Titus, who played high school football at Monroe Township. He also knows he has competition for being the best punter in the Greater Middlesex Conference from Chris Mattos of Monroe Township.

"Chris and I have worked together," said Yonchiuk. "We have a lot of respect for each other's ability."

"Punting is really a repetitive thing," Yonchiuk said when speaking about his craft. "Your focus is mostly on how you drop the ball. You almost develop muscle memory so that you can kick the ball where you want it."

The gauge for determining a punter's effectiveness isn't necessarily based on how far the ball is kicked. Just as important is the degree of accuracy. Can the ball be kicked to a specific area of the field to minimize the chance for a runback? That's why Yonchiuk's punting average isn't indicative of his potential.

"If I'm punting for distance," he said, "my goal is to average 41, 42 yards per kick this year. Just as important will be kicking the ball so that we get good field position. That can help win games."

Borden knows what an effective weapon Yonchiuk can be. "He has developed tremendous hang time and really has a lot of similarities to Josh," Borden said. "The major colleges are all aware of what a good kicker he is. It will be a matter of deciding which school is the best fit."

Academics will not deter Yonchiuk from determining where he goes. He maintains a 3.3 grade point average and is looking at a major in sports management when he attends college.

"Right now I'm putting all my effort into kicking," says Yonchiuk, on the eve of the 2009 football season. "The college thing will take care of itself."