Road to the 2026 National Underclassman Challenge

Posted October 27, 2025 | Bret

The Road to the 2026 Kohl's National Underclassman Challenge has been announced with regional stops this December on the Kohl's National Showcase Tour. The showcase tour, open to any high school kicker, punter or long snapper, will provide an opportunity to earn a national ranking, rating, an evaluation for college coaches, as well as a chance to compete for an invitation to the prestigious Kohl's Underclassman Challenge in Florida this January-- featuring the top underclassmen prospects in the America.

With an unmatched lineage of underclassmen athletes from this event going on to play at top college football programs as well as the NFL, this invite-only event has featured the top up-and-coming kicking, punting, and long snapping prospects across the nation each year. Current junior, sophomore, and freshmen athletes are eligible.

The proof is in the results, that this event has historically been the place for the best college prospects in the country to compete.

Top College Commitments

Over the years, top athletes from the Kohl's Underclassman Challenge event have gone on to receive major offers from top schools such as Alabama, Auburn, Notre Dame, Clemson, Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida, Stanford, Minnesota, Baylor, Wisconsin, Texas, Michigan State, Syracuse, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Michigan, Penn State, USC and many more.

Today, overall, there is an average of 3-4 Kohl's specialists on every Division 1 FBS roster.

NFL Lineage

With NFL starters like Harrison Butker (Chiefs), Jake Elliott (Eagles), Daniel Carlson (Raiders), AJ Cole (Raiders), Jack Fox (Lions), Tommy Townsend (Texans), Scott Daly (Bears), Reid Ferguson (Bills), Evan McPherson (Bengals), Cam Little (Jaguars), Bradley Pinion (Falcons), Braden Mann (Eagles), Thomas Hennessy (Jets), Will Reichard (Vikings), and more-- the NFL lineage of talent from the Kohl's Underclassman Challenge speaks for itself, as these athletes add to the unmatched number of Kohl's athletes overall who have landed themselves on NFL rosters.

Kohl's NFL Numbers

Last NFL regular season, 75 Kohl's athletes started for teams
78% of specialists taken in the NFL Draft the last 5 years have been Kohl's athletes

Earn an Invitation

This event has always been an invitation-only event to ensure the quality of competition remains elite.

Earn an invitation this December at any regional showcase camp on the Kohl's National Showcase Tour, the largest showcase tour for kickers, punters, and long snappers in America- where you'll earn a ranking and evaluation for college coaches across the country.

Events Begin December 7th: View Dates & Locations