Quincy Place Kicker Pat Smith Wins Big Ten Honor

Former Quincy Notre Dame and current Nebraska senior place-kicker Pat Smith has been named the Big Ten Conference special teams player of the week, the conference announced today. Smith was honored after kicking the game-tying and game-winning field goals in Nebraska’s 23-20 overtime win at Penn State last Saturday.

Smith made all three of his field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point tries against the Nittany Lions. His first field goal came in the third quarter, and he added a 19-yarder with 4:29 remaining in regulation that tied the score at 20-20. Then in overtime, Smith booted a game-winning 42-yard field goal, his second-longest field goal of the year.

A first-year transfer from Western Illinois University, Smith has been excellent for the Huskers this season. He has made 10 of his 11 field goals, and his .909 field goal percentage ranks 13th nationally among kickers with at least 10 made field goals.

Smith is the first Husker to be honored as the Big Ten special teams player of the week since November of 2012.