College football’s 15 best place kickers of 2025
Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada (96) prepares to attempt a field goal in the first half against Illinois Saturday October 19, 2024 at Memorial Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
They don’t arrive on campus with star ratings behind their names.
As a matter of fact, most of them usually have to take the walk-on route before being awarded a scholarship. However, the position they play requires them to be the most consistent in the clutch for their teams.
Despite being underappreciated, and considered unsung heroes, kickers have the most responsibility on the team besides the quarterback when their number is called. Rain, wind, snow, glaring sunlight and crowd noise comes with the territory, but these 15 players have all displayed what it takes to be successful when delivering in the clutch.
15. Atticus Sappington, Oregon: Although his accuracy is questionable from long range, he’s money inside the 40-yard line. Sappington connected on 13 of his 14 attempts at Oregon State in 2023. He made an instant impact with Oregon last season, and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. After all, Sappington only missed two field goal attempts. The Portland native recorded three field goals, including a season-long, 42-yarder in the victory at Wisconsin. Sappington nailed another 42-yarder in the win at UCLA. There’s no denying that he’ll be a weapon again this fall for the reigning Big Ten Champs.
14. David Olano, Illinois: The Illinois native finished fifth in the Big Ten, and 28th nationally in field goal percentage last season. Olano even ranked sixth in the conference in field goals per game. He made all 12 of his field goal attempts inside the 40-yard-line. Olano only missed two kicks inside the 50-yard-line. Not to mention he connected on all three of his attempts in the victory over Kansas, including a 50-yarder, which was also a season-long. Olano posted three field goals, including a 49-yarder in the overtime win at Purdue. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder also hit a 49-yarder against Central Michigan.
13. Upton Bellenfant, Texas Tech: The Tennessee native made 18 field goals at Buffalo last season, which was the second-most in a single-season at the program. Bellenfant didn’t miss a PAT, and capped off the year with third-team, All-MAC honors for his heroics. He connected on all three of his attempts, including a 42-yarder in the overtime win at Northern Illinois. Bellenfant made four of his five field goals, including a season-long, 52-yarder in the bowl victory over Liberty. Not to mention Bellenfant nailed a 47-yarder at Connecticut. Bellenfant even generated a 42-yard field goal against Kent State.
12. Laith Marjan, Kansas: The former two-star prospect only missed one field goal at South Alabama last season, and was one of 20 Lou Groza Award Semifinalists. Marjan even finished the year with second-team, All-Sun Belt honors. He nailed all three of his attempts, including a 42-yarder in the victory over Troy. Marjan also connected on all three of his attempts, including a 41-yarder against Georgia Southern. His 49-yarder at LSU was a season-long. The North Carolina native made a 48-yarder in the win over Louisiana-Monroe. Marjan should be able to make an instant impact with the Jayhawks after they lost Tabor Allen.
11. Collin Rogers, SMU: Although the Alabama native missed nine field goals last year, he made every PAT, and earned Honorable Mention All-ACC. Rogers set a record with the Mustangs for the most field goals made in a single-season. He led the ACC, and finished ninth in the FBS in field goals per game. Rogers ranked fourth in the conference, and 19th in the FBS in scoring. The former two-star prospect posted a school record, five field goals, including two from beyond 50 yards against BYU. Not to mention Rogers made 20 field goals in 2023. With improved accuracy, Rogers is poised for an All-ACC campaign this fall.
10. Jonah Delange, UAB: The Alabama native is coming off a stellar campaign, in which he was named the AAC Special Teams Player of the Year. Delange was also a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist, and earned first-team, All-AAC honors. After all, he made 21 field goals, which were the second-most in a single-season for the Blazers, and didn’t miss a PAT. He nailed four field goals, including a 48-yarder at South Florida. Delange made all three of his attempts against Connecticut. His 52-yarder in the victory over Tulsa was a season-long. Not to mention Delange made a 51-yard field goal at Army. Delange is as clutch as they come.
9. John Love, Virginia Tech: The former two-star prospect earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors in each of the past two seasons. Love made 38 of his 42 field goal attempts, and didn’t miss a PAT during that span. Last year he posted three field goals, including a 44-yarder in the victory over Virginia. Love nailed two field goals, including a 57-yarder at Miami. The South Carolina native left a last impression, with a jaw-dropping, 60-yard field goal in the bowl game against Minnesota. It was also a career-long. Love has great accuracy, and tremendous leg power, which should propel him to an All-ACC campaign this fall.
8. Trey Smack, Florida: The former two-star prospect takes care of business on the field, and in the classroom. Smack has made the SEC Academic Honor Roll twice, and is a two-time, Lou Groza Award Semifinalist. He hasn’t missed a PAT over the past two seasons. Smack even tied for 24th nationally in field goal percentage last year. The Maryland native nailed two field goals, including a 53-yarder against Georgia. Smack also posted two field goals in the victory over LSU. The 202-pound Smack had a 47-yarder in the win at Mississippi State. Smack left a lasting impression after he nailed four field goals in bowl game against Tulane.
7. Stephen Rusnak, Cincinnati: The redshirt senior is coming off a stellar campaign at Charlotte, in which he was perfect on every field goal attempt, and PAT. Rusnak tied for first in the FBS in field goal percentage, and earned third-team, All-AAC honors for his clutch performances. He set a single-game, program record, after connecting on all four of his field goal attempts in the victory at Florida Atlantic. The Michigan native nailed a 50-yarder against South Florida. Rusnak should have an immediate impact with the Bearcats, after they lost reliable kicker Nathan Hawks. It’ll be intriguing if he can continue his magic in the Big 12.
6. Brock Taylor, Vanderbilt: The Tennessee native tied for 24th in the FBS in field goal percentage last season. Taylor was one of 20 Semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, took care of business in the classroom, and only missed one PAT. He also capped off the year with third-team, All-SEC honors. After all, Taylor has a powerful leg, and he’s accurate from long range. Taylor nailed a 53-yarder against Virginia Tech. Not to mention he posted two field goals, including a 51-yarder in the win over Alabama. His 57-yard field goal at Missouri was a season-long. Taylor even had a 54-yarder against Texas, and hit one from 50 at Kentucky.
5. Lucas Carneiro, Ole Miss: The North Carolina native finished sixth in the FBS in field goal percentage at Western Kentucky last season, and capped off the year with first-team, All-CUSA honors. Carneiro was even named the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Year. After all, he was extremely accurate, with only one missed field goal, and nailed every PAT. Not to mention Carneiro was money on all of his six of his attempts from beyond 50 yards. Carneiro hit three field goals, including a 54-yarder in the victory over UTEP. He also nailed a 54-yarder against Jacksonville State in the C-USA Championship Game.
4. Drew Stevens, Iowa: The former two-star prospect is as clutch as they come, and is no stranger to game-winning field goals. Stevens is a three-time, All-Big Ten performer, and a two-time, Lou Groza Award Semifinalist. He tied for fourth in the Big Ten, and 17th nationally in field goals per game last season, plus he didn’t miss a PAT. Not to mention he ranked fourth in the conference, and 21st in the FBS in field goal percentage. Stevens also led all Big Ten kickers in scoring, and ranked 41st nationally. His 54-yarder in the victory at Maryland was a season-long. Stevens even kicked the game-winner against Nebraska.
3. Will Ferrin, BYU: The Utah native led the Big 12 , and tied for fourth in the FBS in field goals per game last season. Ferrin was a co-captain, and a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist. He only missed three of his 27 field goal attempts, and nailed every PAT. Ferrin ranked third in the Big 12, and 15th in the FBS in field goal percentage. Not to mention he finished fourth in the league, and 21st nationally in scoring. Ferrin also capped off the year with first-team, All-Big 12 honors. His 54-yarder in the victory at Baylor was a career-long. Ferrin even nailed a walk-off, 44-yard field goal in the win at Utah. No doubt Ferrin is a dynamic weapon.
2. Peyton Woodring, Georgia: The former three-star prospect finished third in the SEC, and 12th in the FBS in field goal percentage in 2024. Woodring only missed two of his 23 field goal attempts, and made every PAT. He also earned second-team, All-SEC honors. Woodring started off on fire with two field goals, including a career-long, 55-yarder in the opening victory over Clemson. The Louisiana native nailed three field goals, including a 48-yarder in the win at Texas. Woodring also made three field goals in the SEC Championship Game against the Longhorns. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder even nailed a 53-yarder against Florida.
1. Dominic Zvada, Michigan: The 21-year old set a school record for field goal percentage after nailing 21 of his 22 field goal attempts last season. Zvada was named the Big Ten’s Kicker of the Year, and a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist. He even capped off his junior campaign with first-team, All Big Ten honors. Zvada started off on fire, with a 55-yarder in the opener against Fresno State. His 56-yard field goal against Indiana and Northwestern, were season-longs. The Arizona native nailed two field goals, including a 54-yarder in the victory at Ohio State. Zvada left a lasting impression with four field goals in the bowl win over Alabama.
Honorable Mention
Will Betridge, Virginia: The former three-star prospect finished third in the ACC, and tied for 22nd nationally in field goals per game. in 2024. Betridge ranked fifth in the league in field goal percentage, and didn’t miss a PAT.
Ryan Barker, Penn State: The redshirt sophomore made 15 field goals last season, and only missed one PAT. Barker nailed four field goals in the win at USC. He made a 49-yarder against Maryland, and USC.
Gabriel Plascencia, San Diego State: The Californian tied for ninth nationally in field goal percentage last season. Plascencia even capped off the year with second-team, All-MWC honors.
Ethan Sanchez, Houston: The Georgia native ranked 11th in the FBS in field goal percentage at Old Dominion last season. Sanchez made 11 of his 12 field goal attempts, but did miss five of his 42 PAT.
