Carona might have competition despite perfect game
Mike Leach is always on the lookout for talent, even during timeouts.
As part of a promotion between the third and fourth quarters at Jones AT&T Stadium on Saturday, Texas Tech student Matt Williams took the turf and booted a 30-yard field goal. Then it appeared as if Leach, the Red Raiders’ head coach, directed a staff member to track Williams down.
Williams later said during the radio broadcast of Tech’s 56-14 win over Massachusetts that he’d been invited to Leach’s office on Tuesday.
“Very impressive kick, and maybe I’ll get to see him again because we’re always looking for depth at kicker,” Leach said after the game. “We’ve got plenty of drills, and we have a tradition of walk-on kickers rising to the top. (Robert) Treece and (Alex) Trlica both were walk-on kickers that eventually ended up getting to play significantly.”
Donnie Carona, a left-footed true freshman who replaced Trlica – the second-leading scorer in Tech history – didn’t make any field goals on Saturday. But he did have arguably the best performance of his brief career with the Red Raiders.
Carona, who entered the game only 1 of 5 on field goals and 14 of 16 on extra points, made all of his kicks for the first time this season. He was 8 of 8 on extra-point tries, and Tech didn’t need him to attempt a field goal.
Two of Carona’s field goal attempts this season have been blocked – a 44-yard try in the season opener against Eastern Washington and a 28-yard attempt against Nevada the following week. He made the first field goal of his career, a 35-yard kick, against SMU last week.
“I thought he kicked real steady (Saturday), and we protected him better was one thing,” Leach said. “The first game his problems, two-thirds of them were other people, but I thought he kicked the ball real well.”
Carona was especially effective on kickoffs. He booted nine of them with an average of 66.9 yards, and two went for touchbacks. He entered the game with four touchbacks and an average of 67.8 yards per kickoff.
“He really does have some unique skills out there in practice on a daily basis,” Leach said. “Even in games, he does some things other people can’t do.
“He had one kickoff so high, it’s a wonder we didn’t tackle the guy on the 12 or the 7 or something. I mean, it was so high, I’ve got to believe I could’ve run down there and got a hand on (the return man) if somebody didn’t block me.”
Despite his struggles so far, Carona seems to have made a good impression on Leach. Come next week, though, senior Cory Fowler might not be Carona’s only competition.
It could be a three-way battle that involves Williams.
“I thought Carona kicked real well today,” Leach said, “but whether it’s for drills or whether you eventually develop the skills to go out there and be the guy, we’re always looking for guys, so we’re excited to see what he’s got to offer if he’s interested.”
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How embarrassing would it be to have a scholarship to play football, and have someone who won a promotion take away your starting spot? Although, if this kid is as good as Trilica, who was a walk-on, i’d be all for it
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I dont think carona deserves this. Can anyone give the guy credit for his accomplishments? He had a PERFECT game. Its obvious this whole ordeal was a publicity stunt. I think fans should offer more team support.
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I think it sends a message to the rest of the team that your positions isn’t safe if you do not do what’s expected…just like in the real world…
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The quality and value of a walk-on program is fundamental to success at TTU. Mike Leach attracts talent by giving people opportunity.
Corona is going to get his opportunity every year he is at TTU.
There is absolutely no insult, no slight, no implication, nothing about Corona and a new walk on kicker. No one knows what might happen, Corona may choose, or he may be forced by circumstances away from TTU.
I think it a good move to continue to work with walk-ons at kicker, or any other position.
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I agree with you Mike. Corona’s position as kicker will not be seriously threatened in less this kid, Williams, first, accepts the offer to walk on, and second, is better than Corona. Mike Leach has to think about what’s going to be best for his football program, not if someone’s feelings are going to get hurt because a walk-on may have the potential to take their place.
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You can’t ever argue for planning ahead. What if Corona strains a groin and is out for 4 weeks? He could get hurt and then we’d need the backup. Besides, our best kicker ever was a walk-on — Trlica.
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i feel sorry for the guy. But how many extra points and field goals can a guy miss in the first 4 games? We have to have consistancy. It was never an issue with Trilica because he was reliable for the most part. But I get nervous everytime Carona kicks the ball.
As far as publicity stunt, remember that we had try-outs for punter last year before the year started. And Leach mentioned that Treece and Trilica were both walk-ons as well. Just FYI, UT does the same thing. Thier kickers are walk-ons as well.
If this kid can kick, then by all means suit him up. We need as many points as we can get, especially when we play the big boys, and that is something we can all agree on.
Wreck em’
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Does Lin Elliot have a son?
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Donnie Corona is already improved. He hit a nice string of kicks w/o a miss. The longest string of the season. He and his kicking team will continue to improve. The do practice and are coached.
Keep in mind that he played rb in hs and they did not have a lot of kicks, so he is breaking in new. He is only a freshman, and like all of us as freshmen is facing a lot of changes.
He will be fine and perhaps very good before it is all over.
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I don’t understand how a kicker under scholarship isn’t able to make extra points. Those should be automatic especially for a kicker under scholarship. I hope we find a kicker out of the 3 who is able to at least make 50% of their kicks not 1 out of 5.
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Carona has not been perfect but nether was Trlica when he was a freshman. Yes, he has had a rough start but like leach said, not all FG missed were his fault at all. I have noticed that he is also left footed kicker which is not usual and this may cause alot of coordination problems between him and Lacour. He had a great game and no one can argue that. His kick offs were good and he made eight extra points in a row. Its good to look for back-ups in case something happens but i dont think carona is going anywhere. It will be interesting to see how long we actually hear about this free rent kicker. Again, Carona is just a freshman… he is improving every game just like Trlica did. Give the kid a break
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There is no harm in at least looking at what the kid has got. Anybody want to go into the history books and look at some of our best NFL kickers of all time. Adam V. a.k.a. Mr. Clutch was a soccer player who got picked up as a kicker in college. He was just some guy that the coach saw and said hey come kick this egg shaped ball instead and the end result. Probably the the best kicker in NFL history.
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Wasn’t Williams kicking for rent money? Did he accept the prize money? Does this make him ineligible under NCAA rules?
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Did a little research. Williams no doubt has talent. Wasn’t a fluke. Kicked a 55 yarder with time expiring to send a game into OT in high school and won the game with a 38 yarder. Has quite a leg and regularly kicks 50+ yarders.
On Carona…apparently he is a stud in practice and has the respect and confidence of his teammates. Think is great that Leach is giving Williams a chance. May help us down the road. I put my trust in Leach to do what is best for team. Let’s win one at a tiime.
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i think everyone should give donnie a break, i used to play with him and have no doubt he is D1 college level, he kicked a 60 yarder before a game his JUNIOR year and hit the horizontal bar of the uprights, thats impressive….for those who dont know where he came u just have to keep in mind coming from a school that has crowds around 3000 a game its probably quite a challenge adjusting to upwards of 80,000…just my 2 cents
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