Special teams, special plays, special players. The 2024 MAC K/P Rankings highlight the best kickers and punters in the conference, positions that don’t receive enough attention. Miami, Eastern Michigan, and Bowling Green land two players in the top 10, but who has the best overall unit?
MAC 2024 K/P Rankings
10) Tom Foley, P, Northern Illinois Huskies
Tom Foley enters his third year as Northern Illinois’ starting punter, and he’s proven to be reliable. Averaging 40.7 yards per attempt across the last two years, Foley recorded the longest punt in the conference in 2023 (79 yards). Of course, he had a very favorable bounce, but the 6’4″ punter has sold hangtime, allowing his gunners to get downfield.
9) Zach Long, K, Bowling Green Falcons
Bowling Green already has a placekicker (more on him later), but Troy transfer Zach Long comes in to handle kickoff duties. His 47 touchbacks last season rank second only behind Miami’s Graham Nicholson and are 15 more than the next closest player.
Long’s powerful leg will allow few returns, something 2023 kickoff specialist Jack Sauder struggled with all year long.
8) Jesus Gomez, K, Eastern Michigan Eagles
While Jesus Gomez missed four field goals last season (12 of 16), two came on 50+ yard attempts. His leg has obviously earned the confidence of the coaching staff, but he wasn’t able to see the field as much as other kickers due to offensive struggles. With Cole Snyder now under center, perhaps we’ll see more of Gomez in 2024.
7) Anthony Venneri, P, Buffalo Bulls
Anthony Venneri’s 43.9 yards per punt ranked third in the MAC last season. But perhaps more impressive was the hangtime he got on each attempt, forcing a low return rate. With a massive question mark under center, Venneri could finish with the most punts in 2024.
6) Alan Anaya, K, Bowling Green Falcons
Extra points are not a given in the NFL, let alone college football. Yet, Alan Anaya didn’t miss any in 2023, going 43 of 43. Now, he did go 13 of 18 on field goals, but three of those misses came from 40+ yards away. At 5’6″ and 180 pounds, Anaya only has so much leg strength, but he makes up for it with accuracy within his range.
5) Luke Pawlak, K, Toledo Rockets
Last season was Luke Pawlak’s first as a starting kicker, and he received third-team All-MAC honors. He was a whopping 50 of 51 on extra points, by far the most in the conference.
MORE: Could More Teams Join UMass in the MAC?
Due to Daquan Finn and the Rockets’ offensive prowess, Pawlak didn’t have to push his leg to its limits, only attempting two kicks of 40+ yards. Nevertheless, he was accurate when called upon, nailing 12 of 15 field goals.
4) Alec Bevelhimer, P, Miami RedHawks
More of a line-drive line punter, Alec Bevelhimer doesn’t get a lot of air under the ball. But that doesn’t mean short fields for the opposition. He recorded the most punts inside the 20 (28) and the second most 50+ yard boots (19). Even when Brett Gabbert and Co. can’t move the chains, Bevelhimer will put his defensive in a position to succeed.
3) Andrew Glass, K, Kent State Golden Flashes
Even on a team that posted its worst record in two decades, Andrew Glass provided a beacon of positivity. He saw the second-fewest XP attempts, making 16 of 17, but connected on 15 of 17 FGs. Making that more impressive is the fact that he went 6 of 7 from 40+ yards, routinely capitalizing when the team needed him most.
2) Mitchell Tomasek, P, Eastern Michigan Eagles
While Gomez didn’t see the field much because of a poor offense, Mitchell Tomasek attempted the most punts in the conference (67). He was still efficient despite the volume, averaging the MAC’s most yards per attempt (45.7). Tomasek also logged the most 50+ yarders (20) and had the second-longest punt of the year (72 yards).
1) Graham Nicholson, K, Miami RedHawks
Update April 19:Nicholson has entered the transfer portal.
All respect to the rest of the kickers and punters in the conference, but no one else comes close to Graham Nicholson’s throne atop the 2024 MAC K/P Rankings. Not only did he make 27 of 28 field goals, averaging nearly two per game, but he booted through 10 of 11 from 40+ yards.
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Nicholson also converted on 36 of 38 extra points and handled kickoff duties. His conference-leading 67.9-yard average resulted in 52 touchbacks and the lowest return rate in the MAC.
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