Florida Gators Kicking Competition Continues As Season Approaches

Photograph: Adam Mihalek and Jeremy Crawshaw; Credit score: UAA Communications

The Florida Gators’ particular groups unit underwent a full-on facelift this offseason. 

Following a lackluster season – to place it calmly – in 2021, the newly named GameChangers unit is beginning to take type with gamers filling roles at punter, lengthy snapper and each return man positions. Nevertheless, a beginning spot stays unfilled heading into the 12 months at kicker.

Using a two-kicker system a season in the past with Jace Christmann and Chris Howard splitting duties, it was evident that neither man was a long-term repair on the place to exchange Evan McPherson. Christmann, who transferred in from Mississippi State within the offseason, noticed his eligibility expire following 2021. That left Howard because the lone scholarship kicker remaining.

That did not final for lengthy as Howard was outperformed within the spring by walk-on Adam Mihalek, which was evident within the orange and blue spring recreation. Howard transferred out of this system quickly thereafter, making a two-man competitors between Mihalek and freshman scholarship kicker Trey Smack, who enrolled in the summertime.

The unofficial spokesperson for the specialists in veteran punter Jeremy Crawshaw spoke with the media on Monday, offering some perception into a decent race at place kicker as week one approaches.

“They’re each doing very well,” Crawshaw stated. “They’re each giving one another a aggressive edge. They’re each opponents. Neither of them need to lose. However they’re doing very well. 

“Trey got here in as a freshman. He is discovered rather a lot. He is adjusted very well. Adam has additionally are available in with that mindset that he is able to go. So it is simply between these two.”

Each have carried out nicely all through the autumn, working by their respective challenges. Consequently, there’s a case to make for every to imagine the full-time function beginning towards Utah.

Mihalek is not going to excite with booming leg power however reveals a useful skill to place the ball by upright persistently from longer distances. Mihalek impressively linked on discipline targets from 52 and 49 yards out within the orange and blue spring recreation.

These reps are helpful given the little hole between the 2 in rivalry on the level.

“Perhaps similar to the expertise, to be sincere,” Crawshaw stated when requested about what separates the 2. “They’re each actually good kickers in their very own sense. Most likely simply the truth that Trey bought right here a month or two in the past. We have had fall camp the place we had been capable of get adjusted with the frenzy. That is most likely it, simply the sense of expertise between the 2.”

That have – though minimal with out an in-game rep on his resume – may pay dividends for Mihalek.

On the flip facet, Smack enters the fold because the lone scholarship kicker on the roster.

Labeled as one of many higher kicking prospects within the 2022 class, Smack dealt with each kicking and punting duties in highschool. He ranked because the No. 5 kicker in accordance with Kohl’s Skilled Kicking Camps, drawing reward for his leg power.

There is a risk they break up duties, with one man controlling the placekicking and the opposite dealing with kickoffs. As a result of limits Mihalek confirmed within the spring kicking off, that scenario would probably entail Smack being the one to place toe to leather-based to start the sport and after every rating.

He excelled in doing so throughout kicking camps on the prep degree.

If that is not a course Florida needs to go, the thought of Crawshaw kicking off to is a thought that can creep in. He shut that concept down, for now, not due to his lack of want to take action, however his self-proclaimed lack of ability.

“I might like to kickoff. I simply bodily cannot do it,” he admitted. “I can not do it. I attempted it. I bought Trey and Adam to try to assist me, they usually’re like, ‘Mate, you are a little bit of a misplaced trigger.’ However I am attempting. I might like to kickoff.

“To go to the following degree within the NFL, plenty of punters are kickoff guys. We are likely to have an even bigger leg than the kickers on the kickoffs. … Punting and kicking are two very completely different swings. I simply can’t get my head round it but. I am nonetheless cracking at it. I am not placing it to mattress simply but. I would wish to kickoff.”

Whereas a call might be made when the Gators stroll off the observe discipline on Wednesday – when Napier stated the primary official depth chart of the 12 months can be launched –  we could have to attend to see who trots on the market for the primary discipline purpose or additional level try of the season.

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