GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida kicker Trey Smack has been named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week, as announced by the league office Monday morning. Smack, the sophomore, earned this honor for the first time in his career, and is the first Gator to win the award since Kadarius Toney in 2020.
Just a week after making his first collegiate field goal, Smack converted on all five of his attempts during the Gators Week 4 contest against Charlotte.
The Severna Park, Maryland native’s five field goals made is the most in a single game since 2017 when current NFL player Eddy Pinerio made five against UAB. He recorded makes from 23 yards (twice), 27 yards, 36 yards, and 54 yards. In turn, Smack accounted for 15 of Florida’s 22 points on Saturday.
His 54-yard field goal came in the second quarter and extended Florida’s lead to 16-0. The field goal itself was a career long make for Smack and was a season long for the Gators. It also stands tied for the seventh longest field goal in Gators history.
“That was probably the cleanest ball I’ve ever struck. It felt really good,” Smack said on his 54-yard field goal.
Smack told the media postgame that he wasn’t even expecting to be the starting place kicker prior to Saturday’s game against Charlotte.
“No, I wasn’t expecting it. I mean, I think that the preparation came the same,” Smack said postgame. “As I said back in fall camp, I think Adam and I are both back and forth at each other, and I think I was pretty fortunate to come out on top.”
Smack gave credit to all operations in the kicking game, not just his powerful leg.
“I trust in my operation,” Smack said. “Rocco did a really good job of snapping the ball back there, and Jeremy did a great job of putting it and placing it the right way with laces, and the operation was just really clean, and I’ve got to give credit to them.”
In addition to his success in the field goal department, Smack recorded touchbacks on all seven of his kick off attempts for a total of 455 kick off yards.
The Gators have now totaled three SEC Player of the Week honors during the 2023 season after Jordan Castell and Cam Jackson took home awards in Week 3.