Sep 4, 2018 5 min read

The road to playing big-time college football is a difficult one.

But Cameron Guess is getting his kicks as he pursues his goal of playing at the Division I level.

The Belle Vernon High School junior is rated by Kohl’s Professional Camps as the No. 1 punter in the nation in the 2020 class. In addition to his punting, Guess also is the 13th-ranked kicker in the country.

Indeed, this kid can kick.

“Guess had an excellent showing at the 2018 Kohl’s Kicking National Invitational Scholarship Camp,” said those evaluating the camp. “His punt charts finished in the top five at a camp that had almost 600 competitors, many of them who were older than him. His field goals and kickoffs were also impressive.

“Guess is ahead of his time in punting and has developed nicely the last year. (He) has outstanding leg speed and will continue to get better as he refines his steps and handling times in coming years. The future is bright for this top prospect. Guess has shown special ability at many different Kohl’s events over the last two years. His performance this past July (in Wisconsin) has separated him from others.”

The 5-11, 180-pound specialist will focus solely on football, opting to not play for the Leopards’ soccer team. Guess was Belle Vernon’s starting goalkeeper in 2017.

“It was a very hard decision not to play soccer,” Guess said. “I played it my whole life. My family is a soccer family. I sat down with my dad and we discussed it and decided my future is in football – maybe at the Division I level.”

Guess said he discussed the situation with Leopards’ soccer coach Rob Miele and he also concurred it was the best decision for Guess.

“I feel like I can most definitely get a scholarship for (punting or kicking),” Guess said. “The (Kohl’s) camps provide me a background. They give you an idea where you stand nationally. I’ve worked with a couple different kicking coaches and I feel like they have helped me immensely. The camps have been a big help in me gaining confidence in myself and my future.”

Belle Vernon started the season with a convincing win over Ambridge and is considered one of the top teams in Class 4A.

Guess, who averaged 42 yards punting last year, kicked two field goals and 33 extra points for 39 total points, gives Belle Vernon an advantage on special teams. He also had 26 touchbacks and nine punts pin opponents inside their 20 yard line.

And in games like the Leopards have Friday night – they host Thomas Jefferson at 7 p.m. – coach Matt Humbert is hoping Guess’ abilities create opportunities.

“Obviously, field goals and extra points are big for kickers,” Humbert said. “Where Cam makes a difference for us is with his touchbacks on kickoffs. When he does that, we are making the opponent drive 80 yards. He helps us gain a field position advantage. He’s punted us out of bad situations as well. He’s been stellar and is getting better.”

While the Belle Vernon coaching staff have made it clear it is focusing on Guess’ abilities to dictate field position in the Leopards’ favor, Guess is looking to getting more opportunities to kick field goals and help the Leopards in any way possible.

“I have kind of put the kickoffs to the side because field goals are really important,” Guess said. “I want to make 85 percent of the field goals I attempt. I really want to have a better punting average. Obviously, punts and kickoffs determine field position.

“I want to kick more field goals. But if we are scoring touchdowns that means we are winning games and that’s most important. I would like to do something big field goal wise this year to help us win a game. The coaches have talked a lot about field position to me. I understand what they are saying and what they want. That’s a big emphasis.”

Guess has tied his point total in 2018 to an initiative to raise money to help fight pediatric cancer called Kick-It with Cam Guess. One-time donations or pledges for every point Guess scores on the season can be made at alexslemonade.org/mypage/1502939.

“It’s a partnership,” Guess explained. “I saw a stand at one of the Kohl’s camps. I talked to a lady and watched a video about pediatric cancer. It was moving and I felt like I wanted to help.”

He also hopes to be injury-free this season. As a freshman, he tore his groin and missed half the season. Last year, he dislocated his kneecap and tore his meniscus in his right knee, which happens to be his kicking leg.

“It hasn’t been bothering me lately,” Guess said. “I feel good. I feel confident. It looks like it’s going to be pretty good year.”