FSU football: Ryan Fitzgerald showcasing confidence in himself in 2023

FSU football fans went into the offseason focusing on the special teams aspect of this football team, given that kicker Ryan Fitzgerald struggled at times with consistency and wide receiver/punt returner Mycah Pittman transferred to Utah.

Speaking of Fitzgerald, the criticism was somewhat unwarranted. While he struggled to begin the 2022 season where he connected on four of his nine field goal attempts, the Coolidge (Ga) native finished the campaign on a high note where he made eight of his last eleven.

During a media session last season, he stated that he originally tried a new two-step kicking style. However, that technique clearly was not working for him so he began to go back to more a more traditional three-step style.

While I am not suggesting that the kicking style was the culprit of his inconsistencies, Fitzgerald has performed admirably thus far during the 2023 season. While I do not want to convey his statistics (I am not going to jinx him), you can tell that the redshirt junior has taken the next step in his development.

During the last matchup against the Clemson Tigers, Fitzgerald connected on a 48-yard field goal, which tied the game at 17 a piece early in the third quarter.

With the improvement of Fitzgerald, it drastically impacts what the Seminoles do offensively. Instead of having to go for it on fourth down and long around the 30-yard line, FSU could potentially have the option to send the veteran kicker out there for an attempt.

While we still have eight regular season games to go on the schedule, Fitzgerald seems to be finding himself through the difficult times. Head football coach Mike Norvell always try to emphasize the phrase “response”, and he is certainly a player who has had his share of ups and downs during his time in Tallahassee.