Dominic Zvada
 Zvada with the Michigan Wolverines in 2024 | |
| Michigan Wolverines – No. 96 | |
|---|---|
| Position | Placekicker |
| Class | Senior |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | October 25, 2003 |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight | 180 lb (82 kg) |
| Career history | |
| College |
|
| Bowl games | |
| High school | Valley Christian (Chandler, Arizona) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Dominic Zvada (born October 25, 2003) is an American college football placekicker for the Michigan Wolverines. In 2024, he was an All-American and the Big Ten Kicker of the Year. Zvada previously played for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.
Early life
[edit]Zvada attended Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Arizona. He was rated as a five-star kicking recruit, holding the Arizona high school state record with a field goal of 55 yards in 2020. Zvada committed to play college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.[1][2]
College career
[edit]Arkansas State
[edit]As a freshman in 2022, Zvada made 17 of his 18 field goal attempts and 30 of his 31 extra point attempts, with his only misses being blocked. For his performance, he finished the year as a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and a Freshman All-American.[3][4] In 2023, Zvada converted on 17 of his 22 field goal attempts and made all 41 of his extra points.[5] After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Zvada entered the NCAA transfer portal.[6][7]
Michigan
[edit]2024
[edit]In April 2024, Zvada transferred to the University of Michigan to play for first-year head coach Sherrone Moore.[8][9] He was named the Wolverines starting kicker in the season opener versus Fresno State.[10] Zvada made all six kicks, three extra points and three field goals. He connected on fields goals of 55, 53 and 45 yards, earning him the week one Big Ten co-special teams player of the week.[11][12] In week two against Texas, Zvada was two for two with field goals of 52 and 37 yards.[13] In week five against Minnesota, Zvada connected on his fourth field goal of over 50 yards, making field goals of 53 and 35 yards to remain a perfect 7 of 7 for the season.[14] He became the only kicker in Michigan football history to successfully make four over 50 yards in the same season, and earned the week five Big Ten special teams player of the week.[15]
In week eleven against Indiana, Zvada connected on field goals of 56, 39 and 22 yards.[16] In making his 56 yard field goal, he tied his personal best for career long, and became the single season and career leader in Michigan football history with five field goals made over 50 yards. He was five for five on field goals over 50 yards in 2024 to this point.[17] Following week eleven, Zvada was named the Big Ten special teams player of the week for a third time in 2024.[18] After a bye, in week thirteen versus Northwestern, Zvada matched his career long in consecutive games. He connected on field goals of 56 and 28 yards, extending both his school records to six.[19] In the last week of the season against Ohio State, Zvada connected on two field goals, a 54 yard in the second quarter and the game-winning 21 yard field goal with 45 seconds left in the game; leading Michigan to a 13–10 win over their arch-rival. He extended both his school records again, remaining a perfect seven for seven in 2024 from field goals over 50 yards.[20] In the ReliaQuest Bowl, Zvada made all four of his field goals (45, 37, 30 and 21 yards), as Michigan defeated Alabama 19-13. He ended the season 21 of 22, with his only miss being blocked.[21]
Following the 2024 season, Zvada was named an All-Big Ten team selection, awarded the Big Ten Kicker of the Year and was an All-American.[22][23] He was named a first-team All-American by The Athletic and The Sporting News.[24] On December 10, Zvada announced he would be returning to Michigan for his senior season. He was ranked as a consensus top three NFL kicking prospect following his junior season.[25]
References
[edit]- ^ Hudgison, Chris (January 20, 2022). "Five-star kicker Dominic Zvada commits to Arkansas State". KAIT. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Gladstone, Mitchell (October 28, 2022). "'It's that elite:' Inside the rise of Dominic Zvada, ASU's nearly perfect freshman kicking sensation". Arkansas Northwest Democrat-Gazette. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Goldman, Lys (April 26, 2024). "Kicker Dominic Zvada transfers to Michigan from Arkansas State". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Balas, Chris (April 26, 2024). "Michigan football finds its portal kicker in Dominic Zvada". On3.com. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Rutter, Eric (April 27, 2024). "Michigan Adds K Dominic Zvada From Transfer Portal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Fragoza, James (April 16, 2024). "5 Transfer Portal Landing Spots for Dominic Zvada: Alabama, Oregon State Options for the Arkansas State K?". College Football Network. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Red Wolves starters Keyron Crawford & Dominic Zvada enter transfer portal". KAIT. April 17, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Garcia, Tony. "Michigan football lands kicker Dominic Zvada in transfer portal". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ McMann, Aaron (April 26, 2024). "Michigan football set to add a new kicker from the transfer portal". MLive.com. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ Zuke, Ryan. "Transfer named Michigan's starting kicker: 'Dude has a leg'". MLive.com. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ^ "Dominic Zvada looks like the next big-legged, reliable kicker for Michigan football". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ "Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada earns Big Ten award after Week 1 performance". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "Michigan v. Texas (2024)". ESPN.
- ^ "Michigan v. Minnesota (2024)". ESPN.
- ^ "Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State Earn Weekly Football Honors". Big Ten.
- ^ "Michigan v. Indiana (2024)". ESPN.
- ^ "Postgame Notes: #8 Indiana 20, Michigan 15". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. November 9, 2024. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
- ^ "Michigan, Ohio State and UCLA Earn Weekly Football Honors". Big Ten.
- ^ "Michigan v. Northwestern (2024)". ESPN.
- ^ "Michigan v. Ohio State (2024)". ESPN.
- ^ "Michigan defense pressures Milroe all day, Wolverines beat No. 11 Alabama 19-13 in ReliaQuest Bowl". ESPN.
- ^ "Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Awards". Big Ten Conference.
- ^ "College football All-America teams 2024: Who joins Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty?". The Athletic (The New York Times).
- ^ "Graham Earns NCAA Unanimous Consensus All-America Honors". University of Michigan Athletics.
- ^ "Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada announces return to Wolverines for senior year". 247Sports.
External links
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