West Virginia hit the transfer portal hard to address basically every single position on the football roster and that includes kicker.
The Mountaineers added not only one, but two specialists out of the transfer portal first with Tulane kicker Ethan Head in December and then Coastal Carolina kicker Kade Hensley after spring ball wrapped up.
The two are expected to play a significant role in the specialist room, complementing returning starting punter Oliver Straw.
Head spent the spring in Morgantown after just one season with the Green Wave where he attempted 77 kickoffs for 4,873 yards and 50 touchbacks. That’s an average of 63.3 per attempt and the 65-percent touchback percentage is strong as well.
The Illinois native also kicked some field goals at Tulane hitting 4-5 with a long of 38-yards, while also connecting on 18-21 point after touchdowns.
Head picked the Mountaineers over fellow finalist Arkansas and is likely to slot in as the kickoff specialist after handling that role with the Green Wave.
And while Head is likely going to be a factor on kickoffs, Hensley should be the same when it comes to place kicking for the Mountaineers.
As a field goal kicker, Hensley connected on 34-43 attempts overall in his career with the Chanticleers and was 10-15 from 30-39 yards and 10-13 on attempts from 40-49 yards. He only attempted one unsuccessful field goal over 50 yards in his career.
Hensley saved his best for last, making 16-19 attempts in 2024. Also strong in the PAT department, Hensley only misfired on one of his 117 attempts and gives plenty of experience for West Virginia
That consistency is something that was appealing to the coaching staff during the recruiting process.
“That’s been my trademark through my career is just being a steady hand,” he said. “That’s really what they are bringing me in for is to provide that and be one of the leaders and help make us better.”
The pair is competing with a group that includes Nate Flower and RJ Kocan and only Flower has seen game action with a kickoff for 63 yards.
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