Wingate graduate kicker Caleb Bonesteel picked up right where he left off last season and earns NC Football News Special Teams Player of the Week honors after his leg carried the Bulldogs past UNC Pembroke on Saturday night. Bonesteel was also recognized by the South Atlantic Conference as its Special Teams Player of the Week, the fifth such award of his career.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound standout from Dawsonville, Ga., booted three field goals of 40+ yards and added three PATs in a 30-21 victory at Irwin Belk Stadium. His final kick — a 42-yarder with 3:25 left — extended Wingate’s lead to nine points and effectively sealed the Bulldogs’ 13th straight season’s opening win.
Bonesteel has already established himself as one of the premier kickers in Division II. He was named MVP of the 2024 SAC Championship Game after hitting a remarkable five field goals and an extra point in Wingate’s title win. Last fall, he earned All-Piedmont Division honors in the SAC, connecting on 17 of 25 field goals and 33 of 34 PATs, including four makes from 40 yards or more.
About Caleb Bonesteel
- Position: Kicker
- Class: Graduate Student
- Height/Weight: 5-11, 180 lbs
- Hometown: Dawsonville, Ga. (Dawson County HS)
- Career at Wingate: 30 field goals made, 73 PATs, 163 total kicker points, career-long 48 yards.
- Notable Honors: SAC Special Teams Player of the Week (5x), 2024 SAC Championship Game MVP, D2Football Special Teams Player of the Week (2024).
With his accuracy from long range and ability to deliver in clutch moments, Bonesteel gives Wingate a reliable weapon every time the Bulldogs cross midfield, a bonus in D2 football.
Honorable Mention – Special Teams Performances Across North Carolina
- Dominic Freitas, K, Appalachian State – Tallied 10 kicking points, going 2-for-2 on field goals and 4-for-4 on PATs in the Mountaineers’ 34-11 win over Charlotte.
- Charles Viorel, K, Gardner-Webb – Scored 10 points on a field goal and seven extra points in the Bulldogs’ 52-45 comeback at Western Carolina.
- Stewart Simmons, P, Lenoir-Rhyne – Launched the longest punt of the week in the state, a booming 67-yarder at West Florida.
- Jeff Yurk, P, Elon – The returning FCS All-American averaged 49.8 yards on five punts (long of 57) in the opener at Duke.
- Que’Sean Brown, RS, Duke – Broke free for a 78-yard punt return touchdown in the Blue Devils’ 45-17 win over Elon.
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