How golf is helping Florida football kicker Trey Smack improve in all facets in 2024

Florida football kicker Trey Smack is an avid golfer, who usually shoots in the 80s and can hit his first drive off the tee as far as 340 yards.

"One time I shot a 79, so that’s pretty nice," Smack said,

Smack said there are lessons from golf he will look to take into his second season as the starting kicker for the Florida Gators.

Last season. Smack went 17 of 21 on field goal attempts, including a perfect 11-for-11 inside 40 yards. Smack also went 29 for 29 on extra points.

Like preparing for a putt, Smack said he's making sure he's on a correct line to the ball on the approach to his field goal attempts.

“I’ve been working on my steps a lot, making sure I have my correct line," Smack said. "When the kicker takes the steps back, he’s looking at a specific line.

"I’ll look at the Wells Fargo sign in the stadium if I’m on the right hash. So, there’s a little Wells Fargo sign towards the opposite side of the tunnel, so that’s a little sign there that I’ll look at. Just being really precise on that, kind of lining my foot up in the direction that it’s going and then making a better 90-degree angle on my steps."

Smack is taking a similar approach to kickoffs, where he recorded 56 touchbacks in 70 kickoffs last season.

“Just like in golf, you swing it smooth it goes a lot farther than if you’re swinging it harder," Smack said. "I think that’s the idea on kickoffs too. When I’m trying to hit a ball at 100%, it’s not going to go as far because I’m not as accurate of where my foot’s going to be in contact with the ball, but when I’m swinging it a little smoother, it’s going to go a lot farther because contact is a lot, it’s going to be more beneficial to me.”

What Trey Smack is learning from new Florida football special teams analyst Joe Houston

Smack said he's received help from new UF special teams analyst Joe Houston, who was a college kicker at USC from 2007-10.

"He’s brought things from the professional level down to college," Smack said. "So it’s really helpful for us to kind of break down the position as a kicker, punter, and snapper, so it’s really benefited the whole entire special teams unit.”

Houston also is trying to improve lining up properly on field goal attempts and field goal and punt block teams, which was an issue for UF last season. Special teams units are practicing on a "launch pad" on the sidelines which makes sure block and coverage teams are lined up properly.

 "Organizational issues with special teams, I think it will help out a lot," Smack said. "Just getting everybody there at the same point and making sure everyone is on the same page.”