Jesuit sophomore Noah McGough earns national ranking with kicking win

xNoah McGough with Chris Sailer

Noah McGough hasn’t started his sophomore year of high school yet, but already he has his eyes on college. He first wants to earn a spot as varsity kicker at Jesuit College Preparatory School of Dallas, but his real goal is to kick for a Division I college program.

Every day he gets a little closer.

McGough recently returned from Los Angeles, where he attended Chris Sailer’s Undergraduate Invitational Kicking Camp. Sailer is one of the nation’s gurus for training and ranking football kickers, and McGough attended his camps in Dallas and Las Vegas to qualify.

“College coaches trust Chris,” explains McGough. “Chris sees a whole bunch of kickers, then he ranks them all based on what he’s seen.”

McGough won a competition against other kickers from the class of 2025 and earned 4.5 stars to move from 16th to 6^th in a national ranking. If he’s still in the top twelve next year, he’s likely to receive offers to play at DI colleges. He gives credit to Sailer’s camp, but also to a chance meeting.

It was 105 degrees as McGough was working on his technique near his home in Lake Highlands when a stranger came up and began offering helpful tips. Turns out the fellow was Micah Knorr, former NFL kicker for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos. He recently became the new head soccer coach for girls at Lake Highlands High School, and he was working out at the school when he ran into McGough.

“Knorr really poured into me,” McGough recalls. “The next day he spent two hours working with me. He took videos and sent me text messages with tips about form.”

McGough also works regularly with Morgan Lineberry, a coach with Kohl’s Kicking Camp, which McGough also attended.

“Morgan helps me kick drastically higher and farther. He’s amazing,” McGough says.