So Hey, How About that Kicker? Notre Dame’s Brandon Walker Rebounds
Remember a couple weeks ago when Brandon Walker’s name was thrown around blogs and message boards left and right without much positivity? Of course you do. After missing two field goal attempts in a 28-21 win over Stanford, Walker had a season mark of 1 for 7. Well, since that game, Brandon Walker has connected on 9 of his last 10 field goal attempts including a mark of 3 for 3 on attempts longer than 40 yards.
Walker has completley turned his season around and now has a mark of 10 for 17 this year with just one miss from less than 40 yards. Unfortunately that one miss from under 40 yards game in the fourth overtime of the Pitt game, but it is still great to see Walker work through his funk and start nailing down kicks on a regular basis. He always had the leg, but his accuracy was all over the place in the beginning of the season. These last five games, however, he’s been pretty accurate and might turn out to be the place kicker Irish fans have been looking for.
These players get discussed ad nauseum when they are struggling, but often times get overlooked when they are playing well because people expect them to. Walker’s early season struggles and his fight through them though definitely warrant some mention.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
Frankie, I would have to give you credit on this one. I remember you said his mechanics were good and he was winning dead on in practice. Walker just needed to gain confidence, you were right!
I hadn’t heard much directed at Walker himself for his struggles. I saw the stats from highschool and knew he’d be good. I did wonder how the coaching staff hadn’t prepared him better. Soemthing wroked and it’s just a credit to the kid for working through it. I like that Weis stayed with him. I only hope they try field goals more often from medium range. I hate that go for it on 4th down stuff. It usually indicates a deficiency in your team.