In 2022, former walk-on Adam Mihalek controlled the field goal and extra point duties for the Gators while the highly touted Trey Smack appeared in the final seven games on kickoffs.
Mihalek burst on to the scene after an impressive 2022 spring game, where the Tampa native connected on field goals from 52 and 49 yards.
“I had a strong showing last spring, super confident, and then yeah, I was lucky enough to have an opportunity to hit a 52-yarder… executed it,” Mihalek said.
Mihalek says last year’s Orange and Blue game gave him confidence moving forward.
“That was the first time I played in a stadium,” Mihalek said. “So, it was like okay, that’s kind of a similar feeling I’ll have on gameday. I just absorbed it and made the best out of it.”
The former soccer player connected on 14 of his 21 field goals (66.67%) with a long of 52 yards. Mihalek was 42/43 on PATs a year ago.
Redshirt freshman Trey Smack originally signed with Dan Mullen and his staff, but stuck around with the Gators after the head coaching switch.
“The whole entire switch between Napier and Mullen came along and you know I was having some thoughts, some downs about it, but as soon as I got here, I knew I made the right choice,” Smack said. “I mean I’m committed to the school and the football team. So I’m a student first and an athlete second.”
Smack battled a groin injury in 2022, but was able to play on kickoffs, finishing with an average kickoff of 64 yards and 18 touchbacks in 32 attempts.
The two kickers are battling it out once again this spring.
“Kicking competition been great,” Smack said. “Adam has been a great competitor. Me and him like feed off each other every single day, we’re competitive. I give props to him every day cause he’s someone I look up to, as a kicker too.”
Mihalek was asked the same question on the kicking competition and had a very similar answer to Smack.
“Competition is awesome, you know, we are really neck and neck, going at each other,” Mihalek said. “We always just want the best out of each other. I mean yeah, we just feed off of one another.”
The 2022 spring game gave Adam Mihalek an opportunity to showcase his skillset, which ultimately led to the former walk-on winning the job. That same opportunity is available for Trey Smack this spring.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for me to get into a game,” Smack said. “As I said before, Adam’s a great kicker, I mean we compete, it’s a pretty awesome competition.”
“I think everyone can showcase their talents here in the spring game,” Smack said. “But yeah, I feel like if I come into this and kick well, I don’t know, we’ll see what happens.”
It’s possible that both Mihalek and Smack have a role in 2023, similar to what we saw last season. It’s also possible, and maybe likely, that this competition goes on all season long.