Syracuse, N.Y. -- Syracuse football needed to find a new kicker this season after the graduation of four-year starter Cole Murphy.
For most of the offseason, the thought was punter Sterling Hofrichter would double dip and handle both primary kicking responsibilities.
But a redshirt freshman from Vernon Hills, Ill. gave the coaching staff another option to consider, and Andre Szmyt rewarded it for entrusting him with the job in a road opener last week at Western Michigan.
Szmyt, a preferred walk-on, connected on both field-goal attempts, including one from 43 yards out, exactly the kind of outing the staff hoped to see to validate what it saw in practice.