Tag: Kickers

Wisconsin loses veteran kicker to the transfer portal

Wisconsin loses veteran kicker to the transfer portal

Wisconsin veteran kicker Nate Van Zelst announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Thursday.

Van Zelst is the second Badgers place-kicker to enter the transfer portal this month. Gavin Lahm entered the portal on Dec. 7 before withdrawing his name and returning to the program.

“Thank you Wisconsin, for an incredible four years,” Van Zelst wrote on X. “I am deeply grateful for the memories, friendships, and experiences that have shaped me both on and off the field. It has been a blessing to be a part of the rich tradition of Badger football. Representing this program and wearing the Badger uniform has been one of the greatest honors of my life.”

Van Zelst walked on with the Badgers in 2021 after a successful high school tenure at Loyola Academy in Illinois. He joined Wisconsin over scholarship offers from Army, Navy, and Air Force, plus walk-on opportunities at Arizona and Northwestern.

After redshirting his 2021 season, Van Zelst played in 11 games as the Badgers’ primary place-kicker in 2022. He won the starting job early in the season after struggles from starter Vito Calvaruso. He converted 11-of-14 field goals during the campaign, plus all 35 extra point attempts. That was capped off by a 47-yard field goal, his career long, in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl against Oklahoma State.

Van Zelst was relegated to a depth position behind starter Nathanial Vakos in 2023 and 2024. With Vakos back for the 2025 season, he was set for another depth role.

Bookmark our transfer departure tracker for up-to-date information on Wisconsin’s transfer movement and where former Badgers are headed.

Opposing kickers have struggled since Darren Rizzi became head coach

Since Darren Rizzi became interim head coach, opposing kickers have missed 75 percent of their field goals, and the Saints have 2 FG blocks

Apparently making your special teams coordinator your interim head coach earns you some good luck on the third phase of the game

Since Darren Rizzi has become the New Orleans Saints head coach, opposing kickers have struggled against New Orleans. Every team the Saints have faced since the coaching switch have missed a field goal, other than the Los Angeles Rams and they didn’t attempt a field goal.

The most notable miss was Bryan Bresee blocking Matt Gay’s field goal to seal a Saints win over the New York Giants. The play earned Bresee recognition as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

It all started with Younghoe Koo and the Atlanta Falcons. Koo is a normally surefooted kicker, especially against New Orleans. He’d only missed two field goals versus the Saints coming into the game, and one was a blocked kick from beyond 60 yards.

In Week 10, Koo missed three field goals. That’s more field goals than he’d missed against the Saints in his whole career. It’s also the most kicks Koo has missed in a single game in his career.

In total, opposing teams are 2-of-8 on field goals since Rizzi has taken over. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. You be the judge.

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BREAKING: Wisconsin class of 2025 commit flips pledge to Notre Dame

BREAKING: Wisconsin class of 2025 commit flips pledge to Notre Dame

Wisconsin class of 2025 commit Erik Schmidt flipped his pledge to Notre Dame on Monday.

Schmidt committed to Badgers on June 26 over a handful of walk-on opportunities. One of those collegiate chances was with Notre Dame, which now adds the talented specialist to its class of 2025.

247Sports currently considers the three-star prospect as the No. 2,136 player in the class of 2025, No. 3 kicker and 26 recruit from his home state of Wisconsin. He joins a Notre Dame class of 2025 that On3 and Rivals both consider No. 11 in the nation with 24 players committed.

The product of Milwaukee, Wisconsin also earned the Kevin Stemke Award on Nov. 20 for the top Wisconsin high school senior specialist — kicker or punter.

Schmidt is the third class of 2025 talent to decommit from Wisconsin’s program. He follows three-star LB Brenden Anes’ flip to Tennessee and three-star defensive lineman Wilnerson Telemaque’s flip to West Virginia last month.

The Badgers have, however, flipped top-ranked class of 2025 defensive lineman Jaylen Williams and landed four-star quarterback Carter Smith, two players who initially committed to the Michigan Wolverines before landing in Madison.

In all, Wisconsin’s class of 2025 ranks No. 20 in the nation with 24 players committed. Nathanial Vakos, who struggled throughout the 2024 season, and Gavin Lahm headline Wisconsin’s kicking depth chart. Schmidt’s loss is a big one for the future of that unit.

Badgers class of 2025 commit earns Kevin Stemke Award for top Wisconsin specialist

Badgers class of 2025 commit earns Kevin Stemke Award for top Wisconsin specialist

Wisconsin class of 2025 commit Erik Schmidt was named the 2024 recipient of the Kevin Stemke Award on Wednesday.

The award is presented annually to the top Wisconsin high school senior specialist — kicker or punter. Schmidt joins fellow in-state 2025 recruit Cooper Catalano to receive an honor from the Wisconsin Sports Network Senior Football Awards — Catalano who notably set the state record for tackles at the high school level in September.

Schmidt is widely considered one of the nation’s best kickers in the class, and is ranked as a five-star by Kohl’s. The outlet has Schmidt as the No. 1 punter in the nation and No. 8 kicker, per the Wisconsin Sports Network.

This season, Schmidt has converted 9-of-12 field goals and all 57 extra-point attempts. He also averaged over 45 yards per punt. Most notably, the Marquette University High School attendee drilled a 55-yard field goal in the 2024 playoffs.

The 6-foot-1 prospect committed to Wisconsin in late June over walk-on opportunities at Notre Dame, Boston College and Michigan. He projects to join a specialist group currently headlined by kicker Nathanial Vakos and punter Atticus Bertrams.

Based off his recruiting profile, he won’t take long to contribute for Luke Fickell’s program.

Packers worked out pair of kickers on Tuesday

The Packers worked out two kickers on Tuesday, just two days following Brayden Narveson’s pair of misses against the Vikings.

Two days after Brayden Narveson missed a pair of field goals in a two-point loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers worked out a pair of kickers on Tuesday, per Field Yates of ESPN via Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Four players were in the workout group. In addition to quarterback Gavin Hardison and receiver Lideatrick Griffin, the Packers worked out kicker Chad Ryland and kicker Lucas Havrisik.

Narveson, who was claimed off waivers following final cuts, has missed four field goals in four games. On Sunday, he became the first NFL kicker to miss from under 40 yards on a field goal when his 37-yarder hit the right upright, and he missed from 49 yards later in the first half. Down three or more scores, the Packers elected to go for it on 4th-and-10 and 4th-and-8 within field goal range after Narveson’s two misses.

It’s possible the Packers are updating their free agent board at kicker in case Narveson’s struggles continues. Or general manager Brian Gutekunst has seen enough and is ready (or close to ready) to make a change.

Ryland was a fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots in the 2023 draft. He made 16 of 25 (64%) field goals and 24 of 25 (96%) extra points during his rookie season. He was released by the Patriots at final cuts in August. During the preseason, he made his lone field goal and all four extra points.

Harvisik made 15 of 20 (75%) field goals and 19 of 22 (86.4%) extra points over nine games with the Los Angeles Rams last season. He was released by the Cleveland Browns at final cuts. During the preseason, he made his lone field goal attempt and all three extra points.

Either could be signed to the practice squad if the Packers want to add competition without making an immediate change.

For more on Narveson’s struggles early in the 2024 season, click here.

Wisconsin kicker listed on 2024 Lou Groza Award watch list

Wisconsin kicker listed on 2024 Lou Groza Award watch list

Wisconsin kicker Nathanial Vakos was included on the 2024 Lou Groza Award watch list on Friday.

The award began in 1992 and it recognizes the best place-kicker in college football each year. Vakos joins Badger safety Hunter Wohler and Wisconsin long snapper Cayson Pfeiffer as current Badgers to earn preseason watch list recognition.

Notable recent college football alumni to receive the honor include Michigan’s Jake Moody (2021), Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship (2019), Utah’s Matt Gay (2017), UCLA’s Ka’imi Fairbairn (2015) and Tulane’s Cairo Santos (2012).

Only 30 place-kickers across the country earned a watch list nomination. Those players include Big Ten rivals Dominic Zvada (Michigan), Drew Stevens (Iowa), Dragan Kesich (Minnesota) and Grady Gross (Washington).

Vakos enters his second season in Madison after playing all 13 games in 2023. His 15-of-19 field goal conversation rate, 34-of-34 mark on extra points and 14-of-15 rate from inside 50 yards earned him a Lou Groza Award Semifinalist nod.

 

Vakos also earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week after his perfect 3-for-3 output against Purdue and was named honorable mention All-Big Ten for his season-long performance.

Given the pool of 30 and his track record from a season ago, the Avon, Ohio native could pocket the award with another stellar performance in 2024.

Packers still determining how many kickers to bring to training camp

The Packers have three kickers on the roster and are still determining if they want to bring all three to training camp.

Following the conclusion of the offseason workout program, the Green Bay Packers are still determining how many kickers they are comfortable bringing to training camp in late July.

The Packers currently have three rostered: Anders Carlson, Greg Joseph and Jack Podlesny.

Coach Matt LaFleur said it’s possible that general manager Brian Gutekunst will keep all three on the roster to open camp.

“We’ll see how it all plays out. Ultimately, that’s going to be Gutey’s decision, but that’s certainly something we’ve talked about,” LaFleur said to end the offseason workout program.

Carlson, the incumbent, is attempting to hold onto the job after a shaky end to his rookie season, including a brutal miss late in the Packers’ loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the postseason. LaFleur believes Carlson is responding the right way to added competition.

“I think Anders had a pretty solid spring,” LaFleur said. “Particularly, of late, he’s done a really nice job.”

Joseph spent the last three years as the kicker for the Minnesota Vikings, giving him the experience edge. Podlesny didn’t get drafted but was a standout kicker for the two-time national champion Georgia Bulldogs.

During the offseason workout program, LaFleur had all three kickers attempt to make field goals while surrounded by teammates in an effort to ramp up the intensity of the practice kicks. Each kicker made a 54-yard field goal in a stress-filled situation to end the program.

“All these guys had their moments,” LaFleur said.

The Packers believe they are a legitimate Super Bowl contender entering 2024. The offense is young and ascending and the defense added veteran and rookie help for Jeff Hafley’s new scheme, but the special teams still has a potential fatal flaw at kicker.

It’s the job of LaFleur, Gutekunst and coordinator Rich Bisaccia to make sure the kicker question is answered so that a big kick opportunity at some point this season doesn’t produce a derailing moment.

And the search might not be over. The Packers had All-UFL kicker Jakes Bates in for a visit, but he signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions.

Notre Dame in the NFL: Former Irish kicker makes Saints 53-man roster

Congrats to Blake!

Walking into an NFL training camp that housed a Pro Bowl kicker isn’t the easiest place to look for a regular season kicking job, but that’s exactly what former Notre Dame kicker Blake Grupe did with the New Orleans Saints – and Grupe has now made the 53-man roster.

Grupe’s successful preseason led to the Saints being able to trade kicker Wil Lutz to the Denver Broncos on Tuesday.  The Saints received a 7th round pick in the 2024 NFL draft as compensation and as a result, the former Notre Dame and Arkansas State kicker Grupe has a regular-season NFL job.

Below is what the new Saints starting placekicker had to say about the competition and winning the job.

Michael Badgley and the Lions decision to make at kicker this offseason

The Detroit Lions have a difficult decision to make at K this offseason on keeping pending FA Michael Badgley, the draft and free agency

For the third offseason in a row, the Detroit Lions face uncertainty at kicker. Ever since Matt Prater chose greener pastures in Arizona after the 2020 season, the Lions have cycled through potential replacements.

It has not gone well.

Austin Seibert. Riley Patterson. Zane Gonzalez. Aldrick Rosas. Ryan Santoso. Dominik Eberle. All had their chances — some more than one — and they all quickly fizzled away.

The last replacement attempt has been the most successful thus far. Michael Badgley joined the Lions in Week 7 and quickly proved capable. He was perfect on placekicks in his first five games.

Alas, Badgley’s hot streak came to an end. He finished the season making 20 of his 24 field goal attempts for the Lions. Most painful was the 29-yarder Badgley yanked wide in the 3-point loss to the Bills on Thanksgiving, his first miss for Detroit.

Badgley is one of the Lions’ pending free agents this offseason. The 27-year-old is good enough to bring back, but also not so good that Lions GM Brad Holmes couldn’t find a better kicker.

Badgley finished the season ranked 18th in the NFL in field goal percentage at 24-for-28 (he was 4-for-4 with Chicago before joining the Lions). He tied for 18th with Patterson, who became the full-time kicker for the Jaguars. On long field goals, Badgley was 2-for-3 from beyond 50 yards with a long of 53. The “Money Badger” was perfect on extra points, one of just three kickers league-wide to hit all conversions.

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One knock against Badgley is that he typically does not handle kickoffs. In five NFL seasons, Badgley has just 27 kickoffs to his credit, including eight with the Lions. His career touchback percentage on kickoffs is 25.9, a very low figure that helps explain why his teams have typically had the punter handle kickoffs. That’s not a dealbreaker for Detroit; punter Jack Fox ranked 10th in the league (min. 10 attempts) in touchback percentage at 71.4.

Badgley stacks up pretty well against the rest of the free agent class in 2023. The top names include Green Bay’s Mason Crosby, Robbie Gould from the 49ers, Greg Zuerlein of the Jets, Prater from Arizona, Minnesota’s Greg Joseph and Eddy Piniero from Carolina.

Age all but rules out Crosby (38), Gould (40), Zuerlein (35) and even Prater (38), who was the NFL’s least-accurate continuously employed kicker over the last three seasons when combining FGs and XPs; Zuerlein is 2nd on that list. Joseph was 4-for-10 from beyond 50 yards but missed a league-high six extra points. Piniero, 27, is coming off the best year of his three-year career and will probably be judged the top option in free agency. Washington’s Joey Slye and Chase McLaughlin of the Colts are also worth mentioning as options.

In short, there is very little certainty that any of the experienced kickers would be upgrades over Badgley unless the Lions decide they don’t want Fox to handle kickoff duties any longer, which is a real possibility.

Drafting kickers is inherently perilous, though the payoff can be quite nice.

There was one kicker taken in the 2022 NFL draft, Cade York, in the fourth round by the Cleveland Browns. He made just 75 percent of his field goals in an erratic rookie season, lower than his freshman year percentage at LSU.

But a year earlier, Cincinnati selected Evan McPherson from Florida in the fifth round. McPherson has made 84 percent of his FG attempts over two seasons with the Bengals, including several clutch and game-winning field goals. He’s 14-for-16 from beyond 50 yards.

This year’s draft class at kicker is highlighted by three names at the top. Two of them have won the Lou Groza Award in their career, though neither did that in 2022. Jake Moody of Michigan (2021) and Andre Szmyt (2018) from Syracuse have had some tremendous success but also rough years after their great ones. Moody and Szmyt each missed six FGs in 2022, one below the most in college football.

The top kicker is likely Missouri’s Harrison Mevis, who has the longest successful FG of any draft-eligible kicker at 56 yards — and he hit that in two different college seasons.

This is a case where Holmes and the Lions will need to weigh relative stability and success with Badgley against the chance to potentially get a little better — or worse — with either a veteran free agent or a rookie. It’s not likely to be an easy decision for Detroit.

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