Will Stone has spent his college career proving he can put the ball where it needs to go, and now UCF is asking him to do it with a little more pressure and a lot more spotlight.
The Texas transfer is in his final collegiate season and handling starting kicker duties for the Knights for the first time on a full-time basis. At Texas, Stone built a reputation for big leg strength, especially on kickoffs. Over four seasons with the Longhorns, he averaged more than 62 yards per kickoff and helped Texas finish in the top five nationally in that category in three of the past five seasons.
Now he’s back in the Big 12, trying to turn that leg strength into points for UCF.
Stone said his teammates spend practice trying to get into his head so he’ll be ready for the noise when the crowd is loud, no matter the setting. In games, though, he says the job gets simpler because he knows exactly who he’s kicking for.
"At the end of the day, you want to kick for them just like the other 10 guys on the field are blocking for you, holding for you, snapping for you, and I'm just trying to do my job just like they're trying to do theirs," Stone said during Tuesday's media availability.
So far, the start has been clean. Stone opened the season with a perfect showing against Bethune-Cookman, going 1-for-1 on field goals and 10-for-10 on extra points.
He’s also stepping into a role that belonged to Noe Ruelas, whose eligibility ran out after last season. Ruelas left big shoes to fill, becoming one of the most accurate kickers in program history with an 88.2% field goal rate and three makes from 50-plus yards.
Stone hasn’t attempted a 50-plus-yard field goal yet, but UCF’s coaching staff believes the distance is there. Stone says the confidence runs both ways.
"My coaches have confidence in me, just like I'm gonna have confidence in myself and in my teammates," Stone said. "And as far as the actual number goes for how far I can kick, hopefully I'm able to show that, not to be all talk about it."
That leg may be tested Saturday against Pittsburgh. The Panthers have been stout against the run, allowing just 85.8 rushing yards per game over the last five seasons.
UCF rolled up 360 rushing yards last Thursday against Bethune-Cookman, with Duke Watson leading the way on 110 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.
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