In Arizona State’s 24-14 road loss to Cincinnati on Saturday, kicker Ian Hershey missed a pair of field goals in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter, one from 48 yards and the other from 41, prompting coach Kenny Dillingham to announce that the Sun Devils will hold an open tryout at the position on Monday.
“Our kicking game is atrocious. So if you can kick and you’re at Arizona State, email me,” Dillingham said postgame.
“I’m dead serious. We’re going to put it out on our social (media) …We gotta find somebody who can make a field goal.”
“If you can kick and you’re at Arizona State, email me. … I’m dead serious.”
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham is looking for some special teams help 👀
🎥 @LaCertosaSports pic.twitter.com/vz7oKsTdEx
— The Athletic CFB (@TheAthleticCFB) October 19, 2024
Arizona State is now 7-for-11 on field-goal tries this season following the two misses against Cincinnati, but the team is just 3-for-7 on attempts from 30-plus yards. The Sun Devils are 22-for-23 on extra points.
“It makes it even harder late in games when it is clearly a kick scenario,” Dillingham said. “I gotta get guys on the field who can perform in those situations. If somebody is (good enough at the tryout), we’ll add them to the team and rock and roll from there.”
Arizona State, playing without starting quarterback Sam Leavitt due a rib injury, fell to 5-2 (2-2 in the Big 12) on Saturday in a season that has otherwise exceeded expectations. The Sun Devils were picked last out of 16 teams in the Big 12’s preseason media poll.
This story will be updated.
(Photo: Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
