(Irving, TX) Sun Devil Football kicker Jesus Gomez was a worthy award recipient on Monday after a clutch performance on Saturday.
In the Kenny Dillingham era, a Sun Devil has now won a conference player of the week award 19 times. ASU led the Big 12 and was third nationally with 12 conference player of the week selections last season. They are off to a strong start this year with Kanyon Floyd (special teams) earning his first career honor after week one followed by Jordan Crook‘s selection a week ago. Add to it Gomez’s recognition and ASU has been featured in three of the four weekly honors. Gomez is the fourth Sun Devil to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors from a conference since Kenny Dillingham took over in 2023.
Big 12 Co-Special Teams Player of the Week – Jesus Gomez
- Sun Devil Football kicker Jesus Gomez played hero in Arizona State’s dramatic 27-24 road win over Baylor.
- Gomez drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired, clinching a victory in ASU’s Big 12 Conference opener.
- The Sun Devils needed all four of Gomez’s made field goals as he set a new personal career-best mark for a single game.
- Gomez was responsible for 13 of ASU’s 27 points, connecting on four field goals and an extra point.
- Gomez’s game-winner was ASU’s first walk-off field goal since Sept. 18, 2018 when Brandon Ruiz hit a 28-yarder to knock off Michigan State.
- It is the first walk-off field goal on the road by a Sun Devil kicker since at least 1964.
- Gomez’s four field goals were the most by a Sun Devil since Carter Brown had four against NAU on Sept. 1, 2022.
- Gomez moved to 9-for-10 on field goal attempts for the season – notable as the team kicked just 11 field goals (11-for-20) TOTAL last season. His lone miss came on a 57-yard attempt at the end of the first half against NAU.
- It was his seventh career game in which he has made three of more field goals.
- Gomez is one of only four kickers this season to make four field goals in a game without missing and the only one to do it this week. He is one of only seven kickers to make four field goals in a game this season regardless of the amount of attempts.
- His nine field goals made this season are tied for fifth nationally and his 39 points put him Top-10 nationally among kickers.
Conference Players of the Week under Dillingham (19)
Arizona State finished with 12 Player of the Week selections in the 16-team Big 12 last season, the highest total of any team in the league. The success has continued into this season, with ASU already claiming three weekly awards. The Maroon and Gold have the most selections in the league since the start of the 2024 season. A Sun Devil has now earned a conference player of the week award 19 times total in the three years of the Kenny Dillingham era (four ST, three D, six O, three newcomers, two DL, one OL).
Milestone watch
- Jesus Gomez now has 55 made field goals in his career, the seventh-most of any active FBS kickers. He is one of only three kickers with 55 or more made field goals in 42 games or less.
- Gomez is 28 points shy of 300 career points (currently at 272 career points). He has the 12th-most points of any active FBS kicker. He is one of only four kickers to reach 270+ points in 42 games or less.
Quotables
Kenny Dillingham on his trust in Jesus Gomez
“He just prepares. If you guys come out to practice, you’ll see, we don’t kick him as much. Yet still throughout the week and when we’re doing field goal, he stands 30 yards behind, taking his steps, simulating like he’s kicking on air. That level of focus is why I have so much confidence in him. It matters to him. When it matters to somebody you can trust him.”
Jesus Gomez on his game-winning kick
“I treated it just like another kick. I’ve done this many times before and just needed to do it one more time. I trusted the whole operation. The o-line, the snap, and the hold. The offense did a great job to get us in position. It is a team effort.”
Press Release courtesy of Sun Devil Athletics – Connor Smith
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