We started the 2017 football season with a different field goal kicker. He pulled his first kick from what should have been a very easy range. Coach Whitt yanked him and Gay was the kicker for the next attempt. Gay was long and solid, so to speak. The rest is history.
Chayden Johnston. Top 3 kicker coming out of HS. They were neck and neck coming out of camp and Johnston blew that first kick. He’ll be alright, but it’s good we get Gay back for another year. Crazy he went from walk-on backup to national award winner
I had the same concern coming into the start of the season. I thought the kicking would be terrible. I attended several spring practices and the kicking wasn’t very good.
I actually don’t think it was easy range. I think it was a 45-48 yarder if I remember right and he hit very good. Just barely missed. I remember being impressed with the way he hit the ball, and thinking he looked like a legit kicker. Little did I know the freaking Lou Groza award winner was going to come in and take over after that kick.