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UCF PK Will Stone Wants To Have Great Year for Fans
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- UCF PK Will Stone Wants To Have Great Year for Fans
(Maria Lysaker/Imagn Images)
Will Stone is eager to prove himself in a new role as the UCF Knights ' kicker entering his final season.
His résumé at that position is lacking. Stone converted two PATs in Texas ' College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Ohio State on Jan. 1, 2025.
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Excluding those attempts, he served as the Longhorns' placekicker for four seasons. He averaged over 60 yards per kickoff and totaled 139 touchbacks, including a career-high 56 in 2024.
That kicking power has earned the trust of special teams coordinator Pete Alamar. Stone said he has seen him kick for a long time.
"He knows me in all aspects and knows me really well," Stone told Sons of UCF at UCF's media day for local media . "And I think he sees something that I think I have."
UCF is searching for its next kicker after Noe Ruelas' eligibility expired. Ruelas was named to the All-Big 12 Third Team for converting three field goals from beyond 50 yards, converting 88.2% of his field goals (best in the Big 12 and 15th nationally) and earned a nod as a Lou Groza Semifinalist.
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He placed himself within special company, joining Scott Ryerson and Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater .
The Knights struggled to find an experienced player to replace his production. They are betting on Stone's leg strength to produce at a high level to succeed Ruelas.
Stone has competition in camp, battling against Noah McGough. The redshirt freshman converted his lone field goal against the North Carolina A&T Aggies to push UCF's lead to 68 on Sept. 6, 2025.
A look back at his high school career could give insight into how consistent he was.
He was First Team All-District Kicker for three straight seasons and finished first in field goals made in Texas at 17. McGough converted 51 PATs and four field goals for Jesuit High School.
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The Dallas, Texas native averaged 53.9 yards in the 64 kickoffs he completed throughout his senior campaign, also showing some leg strength.
The kicker competition is an interesting showdown in fall camp. Both prospects have limited experience as college-level starters, but their leg strength is apparent.
Stone said he hopes he can show everybody what he can do to prove the skeptics wrong about his ability to thrive in a new role. He's looking forward to having fun with the coaches and his teammates.
"I feel like if I can just have fun this year and be as prepared as I can for the games, we're going to have a really good shot at getting what we want," Stone said.
