Navy’s freshman kicker Cooper Welch arrives with strong pedigree and special-teams upside
Cooper Welch is a 2026 Navy freshman kicker from Archbishop Spalding who earned major Maryland high-school honors, including Sports Illustrated Maryland Special Teams Performer of the Year in 2025, which suggests legit leg talent and composure under pressure. Navy lists him at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, and notes he spent the 2025-26 year at the Naval Academy Preparatory School, a good sign for maturity and readiness. He’s still early in his college career, so the real appeal is upside: a decorated specialist with a winning background who could fit a disciplined, field-position-driven Navy roster.
