Category: Conference USA Football

TRANSFER PORTAL: Kentucky Kicker Commits To WKU
4 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

TRANSFER PORTAL: Kentucky Kicker Commits To WKU

This week, University of Kentucky redshirt sophomore Jackson Smith announced his commitment to the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers from the transfer portal. Smith spent the previous two seasons with the Wildcats where he never saw game action, but was twice named to the SEC academic honor roll.

RELATED: Jax State Football: Head Coach Rich Rodriguez Agrees To Extension

Smith was an extremely accomplished specialist in high school, winning National Specialist of the Year three years in a row (2019, 2020, 2021) from ProKicker.com. The same outlet named him as #1 kicker/punter in the 2022 recruiting class. Smith is also the son of former All-SEC punter Andy Smith, who also played at Kentucky.

Current WKU field goal kicker Lucas Carneiro, also a redshirt sophomore, was a CUSA honorable mention after going a perfect 47-for-47 on PATs in 2023. He was 9-12 on field goal attempts last season. The starting punter position will be different in 2023 after Tom Ellard's transfer to Division II's Northern State University.

WKU will open the 2024 season on August 31 at Alabama.

Alabama, Conference USA Football, Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Wildcats, Recruiting, Redshirt, SEC, Smith, to, Tops, transfer, Transfer Portal, Western Kentucky, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, WKU, WKU Football
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Jax State Football: Head Coach Rich Rodriguez Agrees To Extension
3 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Jax State Football: Head Coach Rich Rodriguez Agrees To Extension

The Jacksonville Gamecocks have agreed to a contract extension with head coach Rich Rodriguez that will go through the 2030 season.

Rodriguez was hired in 2021 and after a strong 9-2 record in 2022, their final one at the FCS level, the Gamecocks went to the FBS level in Conference USA and ended up going 9-4 including a win in the New Orleans Bowl.

"We couldn't be more excited that Coach Rodriguez is committed to Jacksonville State and continuing to lead our football program into this new era," Athletics Director Greg Seitz said. "The growth of our program since the day he took over has been incredible, with a conference title in year one, the first bowl win by a transition team in history in year two."

RELATED: REPORT: WKU Starting CB Anthony Johnson Jr. Exiting Transfer Portal

Entering 2024, Jax State brought in the replacement for quarterback Zion Webb in former UConn starter Zion Turner. The quick similar style of offense that was run last year should be in place again this season, especially with Turner’s own skill set.

Along with Rodriguez's success on the field, he has been a vital piece in improvements around the facilities and ensuring his players have the best equipment and work environment.

Although the Gamecocks still have one transition year left, Jax State still cannot play a postseason game without a waiver. If enough teams do not make a bowl game in 2024, there’s a likely chance that Rich Rodriguez's team can reach the six-win marker to make it into a second consecutive bowl game. The Gamecocks will also be one of the top teams in Conference USA. Against the conference last season, Jax State went 6-2.

Coach, Conference USA, Conference USA Football, CUSA Football, FCS, Gamecocks, Jacksonville State Gamecocks, Jax, Jax State Gamecocks, ONE, Rich Rodriguez, Rodriguez, to, Turner, Will, Zion
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