WATCH: Rookie kicker Charlie Smyth boots 65-yard field goal at Saints practice

Rookie kicker Charlie Smyth connected on a 65-yard field goal at New Orleans Saints practice. It might’ve been good from 70:

Have a night, Charlie Smyth. The rookie kicker from Northern Ireland has picked up the American game quickly after playing Gaelic football, and he’s made life tough for New Orleans Saints incumbent Blake Grupe.

And when the Saints kicked off their open practice at Tulane’s Yulman Stadium on Tuesday night, Smyth stole the show. He capped his eight field goal tries — nailing seven of them with a miss from 55 yards — by booting a 65-yarder through the uprights. Nola.com’s Jeff Duncan noted it was near the same spot Tom Dempsey once set an NFL record from 63 yards.

That’s very impressive. Smyth has a big leg but he’s put in the work to hone his craft in a very short time. ESPN’s Katherine Terrell shared that he first kicked an American football almost exactly one year ago on Aug. 22. If he can keep developing and earning confidence from his coaches, Smyth just might unseat Grupe. This Sunday’s final preseason game with the Tennessee Titans looms large.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]