Rocco DePrima garners national attention, masters kicker’s mentality

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

One of the nation's top kicking prospects calls Mid-Missouri home.

Rock Bridge's Rocco DePrima, a 4.5-star high school football recruit, is the nation's No. 31-ranked kicker in the Class of 2027 and the top talent at his position in the state of Missouri, based on Kohl's Professional Camps national rankings. At the same time, he's already drawing interest from top-tier college football programs, working out for Georgia, Ohio State and Tennessee ahead of his junior season.

"Those camps were really nice. They showed a bunch of hospitality," DePrima said. "I didn't know where kicking was going to take me, and I've just been so blessed with all the recognition that I've gotten."

As a sophomore, DePrima shined on the gridiron. During the 2024 season, he finished 23-for-24 in PAT's and 7-for-9 in field goal attempts over seven games, including a career-long 52-yarder. The 2024 All-State honoree also set a state record in the Class 6 District 4 Championship, posting the most points by a kicker in a single game.

"He single-handedly, as a kicker, scored 19 points," Rock Bridge special teams coordinator Sean Nevills said. "I've never seen an athlete, in general, locked in like that. He literally had a Kobe, LeBron, Jordan moment in that Troy Buchanan game."

Even before all the accolades, Rock Bridge's coaching staff knew he was a special talent.

"I was blown away from day one," Rock Bridge head coach Matt Perkins said. "When I got here, we had Joey Scardina kicking, and I was just blown away with how good he was and how strong his leg was. Then, my second year here, Joey is a senior, and in walks this freshman, who I thought of as a running back, named Rocco DePrima. He went toe-to-toe with Joey when he was a freshman on being accurate in practice. He never missed a kick, literally."

Behind all of DePrima's success, lies an elite mentality.

"He wants to get out there and compete with the best," Perkins said.

"It's really just a one kick mentality. The next kick is the only one that matters," DePrima said.

However, to establish himself as one of the nation's top kickers, DePrima had to overcome adversity. Since starting his football journey in eighth grade, the All-Conference and All-District athlete has battled strings of injuries that have limited his time on the field.

"Last season, I missed five games due to injury. Most recently, I was out for three months with a pulled hamstring, and that was before all the really important college camps. I was really down on myself because the progress wasn't getting there," DePrima said.

"As a kicker, once that leg is a little bit tweaked, you're sort of done for a little bit," Rocco's private kicking coach Paul Scardina said. "Emotionally, he handled that really well."

The injuries were an eye-opening time for DePrima, who used that experience to reflect and refine his mindset as a kicker.

"My mental has definitely grown so much, especially having these injuries. It's helped me know that I'll come back even stronger," DePrima said.

"You have to have patience in sports, especially at an elite level. Being a kicker, you're on the island all by yourself out there, right?" Scardina said. "I think, being able to take some of those situations that may have set you back a little bit, it gives you time to think right and embrace what's been given to you at that moment in time. How do you deal with it? How do you actually go out and perform and make that a part of your success?"

"Kickers, like every other athlete, go through adversity physically, as well. You might have an injury, might not feel your best or might not be in the right place in a game," Nevills said. "So, that's just another level of armor that he developed going through the injuries."

DePrima is preparing to kick off his junior season on Friday, Aug. 29 in Rock Bridge's season opener against Park Hill. With two years left in his high school career, those around him are looking forward to what his future has in store.

"He's a 4.5-star right now. I believe he'll be a five-star after this season," Nevills said. "He's one that deserves an opportunity at an [NCAA Division I] school."

"He's a phenomenal young man. I know he'll achieve great things, and just remembering he's only a junior, he's already one of the top kickers in the country," Scardina said. "I think it will be a great year for him and Rock Bridge Football."

For DePrima, his focus is helping the Bruins capture their first state championship trophy since 1977. Simultaneously, he'll be tackling every practice, scrimmage and game with one more goal in mind.

"Don't miss a kick," DePrima said.