Top 10 Best Kickers in College Football 2023 Rankings

Ranking the best kickers in College Football for the 2023 NCAA season as Will Reichard of the Alabama Crimson Tide leads the way

By admin | May 3, 2024

The success in a game of football comes down to many key elements all coming together over the course of a football game. One of those elements is the special teams portion that includes both kicking and punting as well as kick returning and punt returning. While kicking becomes even more important at the NFL level with accurate field goal kickers playing a key role each game, they are just as important at the NCAA level as a great NCAA kicker changes the game plan for head coaches while giving the team an opportunity to put points on the scoreboard. As I start to look at the Top 10 Best Kickers in College Football 2023 Rankings, each of these kickers can put the football through the upright while also forcing great field position with touchbacks.

Standing at the top of the best kickers in college football is the Alabama Crimson Tide senior place kicker Will Reichard. Reichard has been a key asset for the Crimson Tide over the past three seasons as well as through the first half of the 2023 NCAA Football season. Reichard, who has connected on 22 field goals in each of the previous two seasons has nailed his first 13 attempts this season.

As the Crimson Tide kicker headlines the list, other top NCAA kickers include Miami (OH) RedHawks Graham Nicholson, Ohio State Buckeyes Jayden Fielding, James Madison Dukes Camden Wise, and Arkansas Razorbacks Cam Little. Here is a look at the Top 10 NCAAF Kickers 2023 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Dragan Kesich

School: Minnesota Golden Gophers

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Just missing the Top 10 NCAAF Kickers 2023 Rankings is the Minnesota Golden Gophers kicker Dragan Kesich. Kesich has been nearly perfect for the Golden Gophers this season making 10 of his first 11 field goal attempts on the season with his only miss coming from above 50 yards.

Currently the Gophers kicker sits tied for 15th in college football with a season long 54 yard field goal. Kesich, who should have a ton of interest at the next level, has posted a 90.9 field goal percentage mark to go along with successfully nailing all 14 of his extra point attempts this season.

Noah Burnette

School: North Carolina Tar Heels

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Another kicker who has been hurt by the success of their respective teams scoring touchdowns is the North Carolina Tar Heels kicker Noah Burnette. Burnette, who is one of many great kickers to have not missed this season, has connected on all nine of his field goals this season and all 18 of his extra point attempts.

While Burnette has been perfect on the season, the Tar Heels junior kicker has yet to attempt a field goal of 50 or longer which holds him back from climbing up the list of the best college kickers in 2023 list.

Top 10 Best Kickers in College Football 2023 Rankings

10. Joshua Karty

School: Stanford Cardinal

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 NCAAF Kickers 2023 Rankings is the Stanford Cardinal kicker Joshua Karty. After putting together a stellar 2022 NCAA Football season while connecting on all 18 of his field goal attempts, the Cardinal senior kicker has connected on 13 of his first 16 attempts this season including making six of nine of at least 40 or more yards.

Despite the strong kicking numbers his only struggles have really come from above 50 yards after missing two of his first three attempts this season. Karty, who was a preseason Lou Groza Award watch list member, continues to have success each week.

9. Alex McPherson

School: Auburn Tigers

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Kicking runs well in the McPherson home as Alex McPherson is following in his brother’s footsteps as being one of the best kickers in the game. Alex’s older brother is currently the kicker for the Cincinnati Bengals after playing his college football for the Florida Gators.

Now the younger McPherson has continued that success this year connecting on all six of his field goal attempts including a career long 53 yard. Only thing holding the Auburn Tigers kicker back from a top five position is the lack of overall opportunities he has had all season.

The future of the Tigers kicking game looks promising with a stellar young kicker anchoring down the responsibilities this season.

8. Alex Hale

School: Oklahoma State Cowboys

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Joining the list of the best field goals kicker in college football is the Oklahoma State Cowboys senior kicker Alex Hale. Hale is an interesting option at the kicker position after attempting just six attempts over the previous two seasons.

Nonetheless the Cowboys kicker has rewarded the team this year while connecting on 15 of his 18 total field goal attempts including nailing all three from over 50 yards or longer.

His success connecting on field goals along with his 15 extra point attempts have yielded him 60 points on the season.

7. Trey Smack

School: Florida Gators

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

When it comes to a great field goal kicker the kicker must not only be accurate but also have the leg to kick 50 plus yard field goal attempts. One college kicker that is exactly that is the Florida Gators sophomore kicker Trey Smack who is from Severna Park, Maryland.

After not playing last season, Smack took over the kicking duties for the Gators this season and has not disappointed. Through the first six games of the season, Smack has connected on 11 of 12 field goal attempts including nailing two from 54 yards out including a key one in the Gators 41-39 win over the South Carolina Gamecocks last weekend.

In addition, Smack has connected on all 14 of his extra point attempts while racking up 47 total points scored this season.

6. Jose Pizano

School: UNLV Rebels

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

The UNLV Rebels place kicker has been nearly as perfect as you can be all season while connecting on 12 of his first 13 field goals on the season. Among those field goals Pizano has added two of at least 40 yards, and one field goal of 52 yards while helping to pace the Rebels offense.

Pizano who sits just behind 12 other kickers who have yet to miss, ranks 10th in college football in field goals made and tied for second with six field goals made of 30-39 yards Pizano who had connected on 45 of his 54 field goals over the previous three seasons with the Missouri State Bears elected to transfer in for the Rebels this season.

5. Camden Wise

School: James Madison Dukes

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 NCAAF Kickers 2023 Rankings is the James Madison Dukes place kicker Camden Wise. Wise has been brilliant all season for the Dukes while playing his name into consideration as the best kicker in college football.

As the NCAA football schedule approaches late October, the Dukes senior kicker currently ranks among the best kickers in the game across multiple statistics. This includes sitting tied with the best field goal percentage in college football after not missing one over his first 11 attempts.

In addition to the 11 field goals, Wise has also connected on all 26 of his extra point attempts. Only thing holding Wise back from moving up the leaderboard is the lack of kicking 50 plus yard field goals this season which he has yet to try on the year.

4. Jayden Fielding

School: Ohio State Buckeyes

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

A name to remember among the best kickers during the current college football season is Jayden Fielding of the Ohio State Buckeyes. Fielding, who is a sophomore, took over the kicking duties this season for one of the most explosive offenses in college football and has performed at a high level.

Despite not getting the same number of opportunities of some of the top kickers, Fielding has made the most of his time kicking connecting on all seven of his field goal attempts as well as 27 of his 28 extra point attempts this season.

As he looks to add to those numbers, the Buckeyes kicker should return as one of the top overall kickers in college football during his junior season.

3. Graham Nicholson

School: Miami (OH) RedHawks

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

The 2023 NCAA Football season continues to roll along while the Miami RedHawks field goal kicker Graham Nicholson continues to connect on each field goal attempt.

Since arriving with the RedHawks back during his freshman season during the 2021 NCAA season, Nicholson has continued to improve his overall accuracy which has shown up during the current season.

Through seven games this season Nicholson has connected all 13 of his field goal attempts including seven from at least 40 yards or longer. Currently Nicholson ranks tied for sixth in field goals made, tied for first in field goal percentage and leads all kickers with seven field goals of over 40 yards.

2. Cam Little

School: Arkansas Razorbacks

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

Not receiving the same recognition as some of the other top college football kickers, Cam Little is making a household name among the Arkansas Razorbacks locker room.

The junior field goal kicker has one of the strongest legs in college football while continuing to improve his overall accuracy this season. After going three for five on field goal attempts over 50 yards during his first two seasons, Little has connected on all four this season including setting a career high field goal after connecting for a 56 yarder.

Overall Little is 11 of 12 on the season with his only miss coming just below 50 yards while also connecting on all 22 of his extra point attempts.

1. Will Reichard

School: Alabama Crimson Tide

NFL Draft Status: Unknown

In atop the Top 10 NCAAF Kickers 2023 Rankings list is the Alabama Crimson Tide graduate kicker Will Reichard. Reichard, who has been the anchor of the Crimson Tides kicking duties since taking over full time in 2020, has made at least 22 field goals in each of the two previous seasons.

Rolling into the Tide’s eighth game of the season, the former 2020 All-American kicker has made 13 straight field goals to start the season including connecting on all six of his attempts of 40 yards or longer.

In addition Reichard has connected on all 21 of his extra point attempts this season making him to us the best kicker in college football 2023 season.

How would you rank the Best College Kickers in the 2023-2024 BCS season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings