Florida Gators could have a major problem on their hands after unexpected star struggles in season opener
It could be a concern for the Gators moving forward.
One of the best returning players from the 2024 Florida Gators roster was at the kicker position in Trey Smack. Throughout the course of the 2024 season, Smack missed just three field goals, hitting 18-21 while also making all 44 extra points.
Saturday night’s game wasn’t nearly as successful. He went just 2-5 on field goals, but made all seven extra points. His misses were frustrating, from 39, 40, and 57, which saw Smack doink it off the left upright.
Billy Napier isn’t concerned with Trey Smack
The misses themselves weren’t egregious, as they straightened out faster than Smack would have liked. Having all three misses not have as much movement as he tried for is frustrating, but not something to be too concerned about.
Head coach Billy Napier didn’t show much concern during his postgame press conference.
“He’s an elite competitor, and some of those were deep,” said Napier. “We’ve got to help him, but we’ve got a ton of confidence in Trey. That’s why we kept putting him out there, so we’ll see. There’s no telling. When you look at the tape, you’ve got to play good around him. Good snap, good hold, good protection. But yeah, he’ll bounce back. He’ll be fine.”
The misses were frustrating for Smack, but it wasn’t all bad. He hit a 41-yard field goal in the third quarter, but it was his 56-yarder in the second quarter that was the most impressive. It would have been good from 65 yards.
It’s tough to see Smack miss three field goals in the same game, but it’s not a huge deal either. The Gators won by 55 points, and neither miss put the Gators in danger. Now, those misses could easily cost the Gators a game when they play within the SEC conference. However, there is plenty of time to fix things.
Smack is going to be just fine, but it could be an issue if this happens again this season.
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