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Kennedy’s kicks plus for Youngstown State
By Steve wilaj
youngstown
More than anything, Youngstown State freshman kicker Zak Kennedy picked the mind of the man who was in the Cardinal Mooney graduate’s shoes 25 years ago.
Upon arriving at YSU in the spring, Kennedy — who set the Penguins’ single-season field goal record this past week — began working with Jeff Wilkins, the most prolific kicker in school history who, like the young lefty kicker, was also once a local kid (Austintown Fitch) kicking for his hometown team.
“Just talking with him,” Kennedy said of the biggest benefit from working with Wilkins, a Penguin from 1990-93 before compiling a highly successful 16-year NFL career. “Mostly just mentally, trying to figure out everything, was the hard part. He just gave me advice on how to handle certain situations on the field and off the field.”
It’s safe to say Wilkins’ advice has paid off.
When Kennedy nailed a 45-yard field goal in the third quarter of Saturday’s loss to North Dakota State, it marked his 18th successful field goal of the season. That propelled him above an impressive group of YSU kickers who all previously recorded 17 FGs: Paul McFadden (1982), Robert Fozkos (‘89), Wilkins (‘90 and ‘92) and Mark Griffith (‘99).
“Honestly, at the beginning of the season, I did not [think it would turn out this way],” said Kennedy, who beat out sophomore Connor McFadden (Poland) in the preseason just to earn the starting spot. “I tried to keep my confidence up as much as possible, but I’m real happy how it turned out. All my hard work has paid off.”
Kennedy, who’s 18 of 22 on field goals this season, turned the corner in Week 5 against Illinois State at Stambaugh Stadium. No surprise, it was a mental hurdle he needed to pass — just the type of situation he discussed with Wilkins.
Early in the fourth quarter and trailing 24-20, YSU’s drive stalled at ISU’s 31-yard line. Coach Bo Pelini asked Kennedy if he could handle the 49-yard field goal, with the freshman kicker not giving the most convincing ‘Yes’ to his head coach. But with some urging from his teammates, he eventually took the field anyway and notched his career-long FG.
“We really hadn’t practiced too much beyond 50 yards, so that one I was a little shaky because that was my first one in a big-time situation,” Kennedy said. “But after that game I got more confidence and started moving back in practice. Ever since then, I’ve been out on the field wanting to go take the kick.”
He finished that contest 3 for 3, as the 49-yarder marked his sixth straight converted field goal in a four-week stretch of eight consecutive made FGs. In addition to to the Illinois State game, Kennedy also made three field goals at Pittsburgh (Sept. 5) and Western Illinois (Oct. 31), while he’s made his last three entering Saturday’s finale at Indiana State.
“I just try to stay humble,” said Kennedy, who’s also 31 of 33 on PAT’s. “Every time I make a decently long kick and I come off the field, coach [Carmen Bricillo] just looks at me like, ‘I expected you to make that.’ I’m celebrating with all the other guys and he really just humbles me down and gets me ready for the next kick.”
Kennedy added that some days he can convert from as far as 60 yards away, while other days his range only reaches around 45 yards. That lack of consistency is one area he’s aiming to improve this offseason, while Pelini wants him to hit the weight room.
“From where he’s come in the spring and starting in August and right on through, I think he’s made great progress,” Pelini said. “As time goes on, I think he’ll get bigger and stronger and I think his strength will help him. With time in the weight program, I think he’ll be fine.”
Indeed, more strength — combined with a strong Wilkins-assisted mental approach — should serve Kennedy well in the future. But going forward and into upcoming seasons, the lefty kicker actually wouldn’t mind fewer field goal attempts — even if it doesn’t help his personal statistics.
“It is cool being in the record books,” Kennedy said. “But it’s all about the team, and the majority of the kicks have been inside the 10-yard line. So I just wish we could have got more touchdowns. At the end of the day, it’s not about what I do. It’s about what the team does.”