FSU football: 5 players from 2019 recruiting class need to shine in 2022
By Kelvin Hunt
Ryan Fitzgerald
Kicker Ryan Fitzgerald was the lowest-rated player in the 2021 class, but that’s common for kickers because they are not rated the same as position players.
Fitzgerald appeared in five games in 2020, making 4 of 7 field-goal attempts and 12 of 13 extra points. All three of his field-goal misses came in the North Carolina game the Noles held on to win. However, Fitzgerald didn’t attempt any more field goal attempts that season.
He won the kicking job in the 2021 season and finished the season 10 of 13 and 37 of 40 extra-point attempts.
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The highlight of the year was the game-winning field goal against Syracuse as time expired to give the Noles their first win of the season.
Although he improved a lot, I still never felt 100 percent automatic anytime Fitzgerald went in to kick a field goal, no matter the distance. He also has to become automatic on extra-point attempts.
There’s also a shot he’ll have kick-off duties with Parker Grothaus in the transfer portal. FSU has to get back to having reliable kickers(not that FSU wants to depend on kicking them), but it’s comforting to know your kicker is money most of the time.