How South Carolina football kicker Mitch Jeter developed into standout – Greenville News
COLUMBIA — In South Carolina football’s 24-14 win over Kentucky, kicker Mitch Jeter seemed more hyped up than almost anyone else on the field. He celebrated every touchback on kickoffs like a touchdown, pumping his fists and shouting as he bounded back to the sidelines.
Jeter’s kickoffs through the end zone kept the ball away from star punt returner Barion Brown, who had only 11 return yards against the Gamecocks (4-1, 1-2 SEC) after recording 164 on three returns the week before against Ole Miss. Jeter was also perfect on both extra points and a field goal at Kentucky.
The junior kicker has plenty of reasons to celebrate this season. In his first career start against Georgia State, Jeter became the first in program history to make two field goals of at least 50 yards in one game. He is 6-for-6 on field goals and 15-for-16 of extra points in 2022, with the lone miss coming off of a bad snap against Arkansas.
Jeter’s personal kicking coach Dan Orner, who kicked for the Minnesota Vikings in 2004, said he encourages his athletes to celebrate every successful kick like their teammates do after a big play.
“You watch any college game, you see a quarterback throw a pass that’s a dime and he pumps his fist, or you see a (defensive) lineman make a sack and he flexes his biceps. I think it’s always, for whatever reason, been looked down upon about kickers to act like you’ve been here before,” Orner said. “If he’s pumping his fist or something like that, I think that even shows you more how much he’s trying to help out the team.”
Orner, who trains his athletes out of Charlotte, has worked with Jeter since the North Carolina native was a sophomore in high school. Orner also trains several NFL specialists, including 2021 Pro Bowl kicker Matt Gay and South Carolina alumnus Ryan Succop, who is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Mitch is one of the elite guys,” Orner said. “He’s had the opportunity over the last couple years to kick with Matt Gay who plays for the Rams and Greg Joseph who played for the Vikings and Joey Slye for the Commanders, so I think he’s taken pieces of each one of those guys just having been around them and added little pieces into his skill set, whether it be mental or how he approaches his work week.”
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Jeter’s path to the Gamecocks’ starting lineup was not smooth. He spent his first two seasons playing behind Parker White, who was a senior during Jeter’s first season in Columbia and opted in 2021 to use the extra year of eligibility granted by the NCAA due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
White was the only five-year starter in South Carolina history and finished as the program’s all-time leading scorer with 368 points. He also tied the school record for field goals made with 72 and recorded a 100% completion percentage on field goals and extra points in 2017, 2019 and 2021.
Up until Week 1 of the 2022 season, Jeter was competing for the starting job against fellow junior Alex Herrera. When he won the role against Georgia State, Jeter said he didn’t feel the pressure of living up to White’s legacy because he felt the support from the rest of the kicking group.
“We’ve got a long way to go but it’s been pretty fun, and really we’ve been successful as a unit with my long snapper Hunter Rodgers and Kai (Kroeger) holding,” Jeter said. “Stepping into Parker’s shoes, it’s been a challenge, but it’s something I’ve been preparing for and learning from him for the past two years.”
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer said the lengthy competition with Herrera was a tribute to the talent that both kickers have, and he said Jeter’s consistency on special teams has not been a surprise.
“His confidence continues to grow … and the way that he kicked off last week, he was animated and excited about those kicks in the endzone which is great,” Beamer said. “I think he’s a guy, like any young player, where you get in there and you get experience, and continue to gain confidence. He’s doing a great job … and he’s a weapon for us.”