Dominic Zvada Explained

Dominic Zvada
School:Michigan Wolverines
Currentnumber:96
Currentposition:Placekicker
Class:Junior
Birth Date:25 October 2003
Heightft:6
Heightin:3
Weight Lb:180
Highlights:
Highschool:Valley Christian (Chandler, Arizona)
Pastschools:
Espn:5082424

Dominic Zvada (born October 25, 2003) is an American college football placekicker for the Michigan Wolverines. He was the Big Ten Kicker of the Year in 2024. Zvada previously played for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.

Early life

Zvada attended Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Arizona. Coming out of high school, he was rated as a five-star recruit, and committed to play college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.[1] [2]

College career

Arkansas State

As a freshman in 2022, Zvada made 17 of his 18 field goal attempts and 30 of his 31 extra point attempts, with his only misses being blocked. For his performance, he finished the year as a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and a Freshman All-American.[3] [4] In 2023, Zvada converted on 17 of his 22 field goal attempts and made all 41 of his extra points.[5] After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Zvada entered the NCAA transfer portal.[6] [7]

Michigan

In 2024, Zvada transferred to play for the Michigan Wolverines.[8] [9] He was named the Wolverines starting kicker in the season opener versus Fresno State.[10] Zvada made all six kicks, three extra points and three field goals. He connected on fields goals of 55, 53 and 45 yards, earning him the week one Big Ten co-special teams player of the week.[11] [12] In week two against Texas, Zvada was two for two with field goals of 52 and 37 yards.[13] In week five against Minnesota, Zvada connected on his fourth field goal of over 50 yards, making field goals of 53 and 35 yards to remain a perfect 7 of 7 for the season.[14] He became the only kicker in Michigan football history to successfully make four over 50 yards in the same season, and earned the week five Big Ten special teams player of the week.[15]

In week eleven against Indiana, Zvada connected on field goals of 56, 39 and 22 yards. [16] In making his 56 yard field goal, he tied his personal best for career long, and became the single season and career leader in Michigan football history with five field goals made over 50 yards. He was five for five on field goals over 50 yards in 2024 to this point.[17] Following week eleven, Zvada was named the Big Ten special teams player of the week for a third time in 2024.[18] After a bye, in week thirteen versus Northwestern, Zvada matched his career long in consecutive games. He connected on field goals of 56 and 28 yards, extending both his school records to six.[19] In the last week of the season against Ohio State, Zvada connected on two field goals, a 54 yard in the second quarter and the game-winning 21 yard field goal with 45 seconds left in the game; leading Michigan to a 13-10 win over their arch-rival. He extended both his school records again, remaining a perfect seven for seven in 2024 from field goals over 50 yards. Zvada ended the regular season 17 of 18, with his only miss being a block.[20] Following the season, he was named first team All-Big Ten and awarded the Big Ten Kicker of the Year.[21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hudgison . Chris . Five-star kicker Dominic Zvada commits to Arkansas State . KAIT . 20 January 2022 . 31 August 2024.
  2. Web site: Gladstone . Mitchell . 'It's that elite:' Inside the rise of Dominic Zvada, ASU's nearly perfect freshman kicking sensation . Arkansas Northwest Democrat-Gazette . 28 October 2022 . 31 August 2024.
  3. Web site: Goldman . Lys . Kicker Dominic Zvada transfers to Michigan from Arkansas State . The Michigan Daily . 26 April 2024 . 31 August 2024.
  4. Web site: Balas . Chris . Michigan football finds its portal kicker in Dominic Zvada . On3.com . 26 April 2024 . 31 August 2024.
  5. Rutter . Eric . Michigan Adds K Dominic Zvada From Transfer Portal . Sports Illustrated . 27 April 2024 . 31 August 2024.
  6. Web site: Fragoza . James . 5 Transfer Portal Landing Spots for Dominic Zvada: Alabama, Oregon State Options for the Arkansas State K? . College Football Network . 16 April 2024 . 31 August 2024.
  7. Web site: Red Wolves starters Keyron Crawford & Dominic Zvada enter transfer portal . KAIT . 17 April 2024 . 31 August 2024.
  8. Web site: Garcia . Tony . Michigan football lands kicker Dominic Zvada in transfer portal . Detroit Free Press . 31 August 2024.
  9. Web site: McMann . Aaron . Michigan football set to add a new kicker from the transfer portal . MLive.com . 26 April 2024 . 31 August 2024.
  10. Web site: Zuke . Ryan . Transfer named Michigan's starting kicker: 'Dude has a leg'. MLive.com . 31 August 2024.
  11. Web site: Dominic Zvada looks like the next big-legged, reliable kicker for Michigan football. Detroit Free Press.
  12. Web site: Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada earns Big Ten award after Week 1 performance. Sports Illustrated.
  13. Web site: Michigan v. Texas (2024). ESPN.
  14. Web site: Michigan v. Minnesota (2024). ESPN.
  15. Web site: Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State Earn Weekly Football Honors. Big Ten.
  16. Web site: Michigan v. Indiana (2024). ESPN.
  17. Web site: Postgame Notes: #8 Indiana 20, Michigan 15 . CBS Interactive . MGoBlue.com . November 9, 2024 . November 9, 2024.
  18. Web site: Michigan, Ohio State and UCLA Earn Weekly Football Honors. Big Ten.
  19. Web site: Michigan v. Northwestern (2024). ESPN.
  20. Web site: Michigan v. Ohio State (2024). ESPN.
  21. Web site: Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Awards. Big Ten Conference.