Woodland Park’s Barrett Absher has one of Colorado’s strongest legs
WOODLAND PARK, Colo. (KRDO)–For most kickers, pressure is part of the job description. One swing of the leg can determine whether a team celebrates a victory or walks away with a heartbreaking loss. For Woodland Park kicker Barrett Absher, handling those high-pressure moments comes down to a simple mindset.
“I’ve gotten pretty good at zoning out recently,” Absher said. “I kind of just zone out. One thing I think is, just kick the ball as hard as I can.”
That approach has worked remarkably well.
Absher has emerged as one of Colorado’s top kicking threats this season, connecting on field goals from 48, 51 and 53 yards. Those booming kicks rank among some of the longest made field goals in Colorado high school football this year and have put the Woodland Park standout on the radar of college recruiters.
It began with the first game of the season against Palmer, when his coaching staff challenged him with a long-distance attempt.
“We actually had a game against Palmer. I kicked a 48-yarder, and coach was like, ‘If you miss this, you’re never kicking one again,'” Absher recalled with a laugh. “It felt like a lot of pressure. But at the end of the day, I was like, I’m just going to kick as hard as I can.”
The result? A successful kick.
Absher’s leg strength didn’t develop overnight. A five-sport athlete, he credits his soccer background for much of his success on the football field.
“It’s pretty much the same motion,” he said. “I learned a lot of technique with it. The muscles are 100% built from soccer.”
While field goals may be his specialty, Absher’s versatility extends beyond kicking. He contributes in multiple phases of the game, playing on offense and defense while also handling punting duties.
“Kicking is definitely natural,” Absher said. “Punting is pretty natural, but it’s still a little funky.”
With another season of high school football still ahead of him, Absher hopes to continue adding distance and accuracy to his game. His long-term goal is clear: take his powerful leg to the college level.
“Thinking about my future and kicking, that’s kind of the next step for sports,” Absher said. “If I’d go to college now, 100%.”
For now, Woodland Park is benefiting from one of the state’s strongest legs. And when the Panthers need points from long range, Absher keeps his approach simple: block out the noise and kick the ball as hard as he can.
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