One to Watch

JEFF FERRIER

School: Mission Viejo

Position: Kicker

Height: 6-3

Weight: 210

With Mission Viejo’s prolific offense, there hadn’t been much need for Jeff Ferrier to kick field goals--he attempted only five last season and two were blocked.

But with an injury last week to starting quarterback Josh Rodarmel that could keep him sidelined for at least five weeks, that will change. Ferrier could become a critical part of the offense beginning Friday, when the Diablos, No. 4 in The Times’ rankings, play No. 14 Santa Ana Mater Dei.

“Jeff is a weapon,” Coach Bob Johnson said, “and if we have to kick a long field goal, we’ll do it.”

Over the summer, Ferrier attended the National Kicking Service camp at Cal Lutheran, where he won the field-goal kicking contest with a 60-yarder and the kickoff contest with a 74-yarder.

“I coach 60 kids and I have three kickers in the Pac-10, but Jeff is my first NFL prospect,” said Jim Power, a former Arena League kicker who runs the NKS camp. “I’d be willing to bet $1,000 to $100 that he’s one of the top 15 kickers in the country.”

Of Ferrier ‘s 74 kickoffs last season, 68 were touchbacks, and two that didn’t reach the end zone were on-side kicks. He made two field goals, and converted 56 of 60 point-after attempts.

“I just want to do my job when I’m called upon,” the senior said. “Now my role is much bigger.

“I always felt important, but now, I feel like there are game-winning points riding on me.”