Young FSU Kicker On Pace For Record Season

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Given the history of the Florida State Seminoles football program and kickers, specifically against the Miami Hurricanes, it might surprise you that in recent years the school has turned out a string of very successful kickers. The trend has continued this year with redshirt kicker Roberto Aguayo.

The young kicker is 26-26 on extra points and 7-7 on field goals through his first four college games. His 47 points are currently on pace to surpass the school record for scoring in a season that was set last year by kicker Dustin Hopkins.

"Everybody kept talking about Dustin and all that, he's just doing a great job of being Roberto," head coach Jimbo Fisher said, "which is a guy that's extremely talented, has good leg strength and practices with great intensity and great consistency. Being able to watch Dustin perform and prepare has really helped him. He's got a great head on his shoulders and has just been very consistent for us.

Aguayo hasn't had to face a pressure-packed kick on the young season. The Seminoles have yet to trail in the second half of a game. But, Aguayo knows his time is coming and it might be as early as Saturday against the Maryland Terrapins.

"My position is more of a (mental one) – 90 percent mental, 10 percent physical," Aguayo said. "Once you get into your head, once you're nervous and stuff, you're done. That's what I feel I control much better coming into the season."

Aguayo is kicking in the shadows of some pretty great kickers in Florida State history. Hopkins kicked for FSU from 2009-2012 and is on the Buffalo Bills now. Graham Gano kicked from 2005-2008 and is now a Carolina Panther. Then there's Sebastian Janikowski (1997-1999) who is the highest paid kicker in the NFL.

"He knows that people have kicked here before," Fisher said. "I think he feels a responsibility to try to perform well. At the same time, I tell him don't worry about that. You can't be Sebastian Janikowski, or Graham Gano or Dustin Hopkins. You just have to be yourself and do what Roberto does, which is plenty good enough and that's why we recruited you here."

"I surprised myself. ... Take it week by week and eventually that legacy starts growing," Aguayo said. "It's exciting. I think about it, wow, 35 points. ... So, I've just got to do my job and by the end of the season it'll be there."

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