Trey Smack nears a Florida field goal record after bouncing back from an unwelcome start to the season.
In the Gators’ season opener against Long Island, the senior kicker was perfect in point-after-attempts, but went two-of-five in field goal attempts in the 55-0 win.
“I'm still bouncing back, still recovering from the game, but it's kind of a new edge,” he said. “It was a good learning opportunity for me.”
Smack missed from 40 and twice from 39, but has been perfect in the past six games, going 10-for-10 in both field goals and PATs. He’s nailed 80% of his field goals and ranks fifth in the SEC in field goals, making 12 of 15 attempts. Now, Smack approaches a Florida record for 50-yard field goal attempts.
The current UF record is held by former kicker Caleb Sturgis who made eight field goals of 50-or-more yards in his career. Smack has already tied the record, charting a career-high 56-yarder against LIU.
“A 50 yarder is like a PAT to me,” he said. “I feel like I have more room to work with the ball when I have that much space.”
Prior to this season, Smack had logged five 50-or-more yard field goals. Two occurred in his 11-point game against Mississippi State this season, and the career best against LIU put him in record-breaking territory. Smack has five games left in his collegiate career..
Across his career, he is a three-time SEC Special Teams Player of the Week and two-time Lou Groza Star of the Week. He was also named to the 2025 Lou Groza Award Watch List in early August after being a semifinalist in 2023.
Smack will now be tasked with remaining consistent amid the changes in Florida’s program. He had a close relationship with Billy Napier and said dealing with the departure has been hard. He said the former coach has done a lot for him since his arrival in Gainesville and is a great role model.
Despite his feelings about Napier’s dismissal, he said Gonzales stepped right in and is doing a good job at the helm.
“You just got to put your boots on and get back to work,” he said. “That's all you can do. You just keep moving forward, so it's kind of how we're handling it.”
The kicker has found another role model in former Florida kicker Judd Davis, mentioning their connection when Smack was added to the 2025 Lou Groza Award Watch List.
Davis’ mentorship and impact on Smack has extended to this season.
“He's a great guy to have in my corner,” Smack said. “I'll be warming for a kick and he'll be like, ‘You got this, man.’ He'll just be my ear a little bit.”
Smack will face a top team in the SEC in field goals allowed as the Gators head to Jacksonville to face No. 5 Georgia Saturday.
Contact Ava DiCecca at adicecca@alligator.org. Follow her on X @avadicecca24.
Ava is a sophomore sports journalism student and the volleyball beat reporter for fall 2025. She enjoys playing basketball and volleyball in her free time and going on beach trips with friends. She has been a Boston sports fan all her life (Brad Marchand we miss you).
