Carson Smith, Arizona State PK: the 2026 season story
Carson Smith is a senior kicker for Arizona State (Big 12). He ranks 72nd of 261 kickers in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every kicker on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Every measure is set against every ranked kicker, so a strength here is a strength against the whole position, not just his own team. Carson Smith's strongest measure is field goals over expected at +0.09, 53rd of 143 (the average is +0.03). His weakest is made from 40+ at 4, 41st of 143 (the average is 4).
Season production
Why it matters. Volume is the first sign of how much a coaching staff trusts a player. His made from 40+, 4, ranks 41st among 143 ranked kickers.
Against every kicker
Why it matters. Volume, efficiency and impact plays can tell different stories: a player can be busy without being effective, or rarely used but dangerous every time. Among ranked kickers he sits, on average, in the 51st percentile for volume and 63rd for efficiency.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. Consistency matters to a team: one huge game and five quiet ones is a different season from six solid ones. Over 7 games, Carson Smith's best came in week 5 against Baylor and his quietest in week 9 at BYU.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. The shape of a player's production, not just its size, is what opponents scout.
National and conference
Why it matters. The Player Index puts every kicker on one scale, adjusted for the defenses or offenses he faced, so a rank here is comparable across conferences. Carson Smith is 53rd of 143 FBS kickers and 7th of 15 in the Big 12. Next up nationally is Stephen Rusnak of Cincinnati, 0.02 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. A player's track record is the best guide to whether a season like this one is likely to last. His best season by the Player Index was 2025 at Austin Peay, 62nd of 260 kickers.
Kickers like him
Why it matters. Players with similar profiles tend to be used the same way, which makes them a quick way to picture his game. His closest match this season is Devin Orr of Eastern Kentucky.
