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Senior kicker Adam McFain has given the Hogs’ special teams a boost
By Brad Joyal
Published:
The last time Arkansas played, there was one lone bright spot: Adam McFain.
The senior placekicker was the only reason the Razorbacks got on the scoreboard when they were clobbered by Auburn, 56-3, in their last game on Oct. 22.
McFain, a Greenwood, Ark. native, booted a 54-yard field goal as time expired before halftime. It was the longest of his career, which has been anything but normal since he joined the Hogs.
As a freshman, McFain sat behind another Arkansas native, senior Zach Hocker, during the 2013 season. When he saw action the next year, McFain made 7-of-10 field goal tries and all 20 of his extra point attempts.
Just before the start of the 2015 season, though, things changed for McFain.
“I was out practicing by myself last summer (2015) and basically tore my quad kicking and then re-injured it about two weeks later,” recalled McFain after he helped Arkansas beat Ole Miss to earn its first SEC victory of the season.
“I thought it was OK, but it wasn’t,” he continued. “I re-injured it in the pool on the Fourth of July with my family.”
Last season was tough for McFain. After sustaining his injury, he sat behind freshman Cole Hedlund, who made 9 of his 15 field goal attempts during the 2015 slate.
When McFain entered camp healthy during this year’s preseason camp, he and Hedlund battled for the starting job. Even though the two were neck and neck, the sophomore wound up winning the kicking duties.
However, the Razorbacks’ coaching staff never seemed to fully trust Hedlund — who made 2-of-3 field goal tries at TCU on Sept. 17 and a combined 2-of-3 in the next three games.
Before a big SEC West showdown against Alabama on Oct. 8, Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema made the switch and brought McFain back to action.
“It feels great just to be back out on the field,” McFain said. “Last year, I had the injury. This year, I have been healthy all year. I was coming back trying to get better, but Cole was hitting the ball really well. Trying to surpass what he was doing was tough, but I finally overcame it and I am glad I got the opportunity.”
McFain has made the most of his chance, making each of the four field goals and all seven of the extra-point tries he has attempted.
After not attempting a field goal all last season, McFain feels right at home in critical situations.
“Going into the season, (Bielema) had me kicking only long field goals, and I was pretty confident in what I was doing,” he said. “I think I was roughly 90 percent, and I was glad that coach started giving me the opportunity to kick shorter field goals. I have full confidence in what I do and my snapper and holder and what I do in practice, because every kick is the same kick whether it’s a 30-yarder or a 50-yarder. It’s the same kick.”
So far, McFain has been delivering no matter the distance. He booted a 25-yard field goal in his 2016 debut against Alabama before adding two more field goals — including a 43-yarder, as well as four extra points — in the Hogs’ 34-30 victory over Ole Miss the next week.
“Just to perform the way he did, to hit the 42 or 43, whichever it was, was huge,” Bielema said after the win over the Rebels. “I think he’s got confidence … And as a head coach, to have the confidence to call on that number is a really, really big deal.”
