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The 2024 college football season has continued with conference play now in full swing as the schedule turns to Week 6. There has been plenty of movement in the AP Top 25 Poll due to several shocking upsets and big-time ranked wins in the early portion of the season.
While kickers generally fly under the radar, they can play a major role in swinging a game in their team's favor. Here's a closer look at the top five kickers over the first several weeks of the college football season.
Top 5 college football kickers heading into Week 6 of college football season
#1. Alex Raynor
Alex Raynor initially joined the Georgia Southern Eagles as an unranked walk-on prospect in the 2019 recruiting class. He joined the Kentucky Wildcats via the transfer portal ahead of the 2023 season and has been perfect in the early portion of the 2024 season, connecting on all 11 of his field goal attempts and all 11 of his extra-point attempts.
He has knocked down two 50-yarders, including a season-long 55-yard field goal. Raynor played a vital role in the Wildcats' upset 20-17 road victory over the then-No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels in Week 5 as he knocked down both field goal attempts and both extra point attempts while opposing kicker Caden Davis missed a field goal that would have tied the game.
#2. Peyton Woodring
Peyton Woodring joined the Georgia Bulldogs as a three-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. He has also been perfect to start the season as he has knocked down all six of his field goal attempts and all 13 of his extra point attempts. His season-long also came from 55 yards.
#3. Max Gilbert
Max Gilbert joined the Tennessee Volunteers as an unranked walk-on prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. After redshirting his true freshman season, he has been among the biggest breakout stars at the kicker position this season. Gilbert is 10-of-11 on field goal attempts and 24-for-24 on extra point attempts. He has knocked down a season-long field goal of 45 yards.
#4. Ryan Fitzgerald
Ryan Fitzgerald joined the Florida State Seminoles as a two-star prospect in the 2019 recruiting class. He has picked up where he left off after having the best season of his career in 2023. Despite the team's struggles, Fitzgerald has been perfect as he has made all six of his field goal attempts and all six of his extra-point attempts. Three of those field goal attempts have come from 52 yards or more, with the longest coming from 59 yards out.
#5. Gino Garcia
Gino Garcia initially joined the FCS-level Houston Baptist Huskies as an unranked prospect in the 2019 recruiting class. He joined the Texas Tech Red Raiders via the transfer portal ahead of the 2022 season. Garcia is in the midst of the best season of his career as he has not missed on any of his eight field goal attempts or 14 extra point attempts. His season-long has been a 45-yarder.
Which kicker has impressed you the most so far this college football season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
