Texas A&M’s kicking game got a serious reset this offseason, and now the Aggies’ newest addition is already getting national attention.
Illinois transfer David Olano was named Friday to the Lou Groza Award Preseason Watch List, another sign that Texas A&M believes it may have finally stabilized a spot that caused real headaches in 2025. The Aggies also added five-star kicker Asher Murray, a move that matters even more after last season’s inconsistency.
Texas A&M still finished 11-2 and reached the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history, but the kicking issues were impossible to ignore. Former kicker Jared Zirkel missed a short field goal attempt early against the Hurricanes, and while the 10-3 loss cannot be pinned entirely on special teams, third-year coach Mike Elko is banking on Olano, Murray and veteran punter Tyler White to clean things up.
That confidence starts with Olano’s production at Illinois. He connected on 87% of his field goal attempts in 2025, including 7-8 from 40-49 yards, and his longest make was 47 yards. With former kicker Randy Bond struggling and Zirkel briefly stepping in as the starter before both players left this offseason, Olano quickly became Texas A&M’s top target.
Under third-year special teams coach Patrick Dougherty, the Aggies’ punting operation has remained steady. The real problem was the kicking game, and Texas A&M’s recent offseason moves were aimed directly at fixing it.
The program has produced NFL kickers before, with Randy Bullock standing at the top of that list. Bullock spent 11 seasons in the NFL, won the Lou Groza Award after the 2011 season and delivered several clutch kicks during his Aggie career. Other Texas A&M names mentioned in that conversation include Seth Small, Josh Lambo and Tony Franklin, dating back to the 1970’s.
Olano is expected to be in the starting role when Texas A&M opens the season against Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5.
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