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Texas A&M's 2026 special teams unit received a major boost this offseason after landing Illinois transfer kicker David Olano, and five-star kicker Asher Murray, which was critical given the Aggies' kicking issues during the 2025 season.
Even though the Aggies finished 11-2 while making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, former kicker Jared Zirkel missed short field goal attempt early against the Hurricanes, and while the 10-3 loss can't be fully blamed on kicking woes, third-year coach Mike Elko is confident that Olano and Murray, combined with veteran punter Tyler White will solve these consistency issues.
Under third-year special teams coach Patrick Dougherty, Texas A&M's punting game hasn't lost a step, while former kicker Randy Bond's struggles led to Jared Kirkel briefly taking over as the starter, but after both players departed this offseason, David Olano, who hit 87% of his field goal attempts, including 7-8 form 40-49 yards, and a long of 47 yards during the 2025 season, quickly became the Aggies' No. 1 target.
Texas A&M's history of developing NFL kickers starts and ends with Randy Bullock, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL and won the Lou Groza Award after the 2011 season, hitting several clutch kicks during his Aggie career. Other names include Seth Small, Josh Lambo, and, going back to the 1970's, Tony Franklin.
On Friday, David Olano was named to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List and is in line to start for the Aggies in the season opener vs. Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M transfer kicker named to Lou Groza Award Watch List
Continue reading...
Even though the Aggies finished 11-2 while making the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, former kicker Jared Zirkel missed short field goal attempt early against the Hurricanes, and while the 10-3 loss can't be fully blamed on kicking woes, third-year coach Mike Elko is confident that Olano and Murray, combined with veteran punter Tyler White will solve these consistency issues.
Under third-year special teams coach Patrick Dougherty, Texas A&M's punting game hasn't lost a step, while former kicker Randy Bond's struggles led to Jared Kirkel briefly taking over as the starter, but after both players departed this offseason, David Olano, who hit 87% of his field goal attempts, including 7-8 form 40-49 yards, and a long of 47 yards during the 2025 season, quickly became the Aggies' No. 1 target.
Texas A&M's history of developing NFL kickers starts and ends with Randy Bullock, who spent 11 seasons in the NFL and won the Lou Groza Award after the 2011 season, hitting several clutch kicks during his Aggie career. Other names include Seth Small, Josh Lambo, and, going back to the 1970's, Tony Franklin.
On Friday, David Olano was named to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List and is in line to start for the Aggies in the season opener vs. Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Texas A&M transfer kicker named to Lou Groza Award Watch List
Continue reading...
