Wolfert makes mark on football team

Ex-diver Jeff Wolfert has never missed kick in Big 12 game.

By Nick Forrester

Published Sept. 18, 2008

When senior kicker Jeff Wolfert arrived at Missouri, he had no idea he would be one of the country's most reliable kickers.

In Wolfert's senior year of high school, he decided to try out for the football team as a kicker. In his first game, he went one-for-two on extra point attempts, but after a hip-injury he thought his career as a kicker was over.

Wolfert entered MU on a diving scholarship and finished in the top five on the platform at the 2005 NCAA Zone Diving Scholarships. But he wanted to try his luck as a walk-on for the football team. When Wolfert tried out, Pinkel knew that he had found someone special.

"I thought he was absolutely crazy," Pinkel said. "I looked at him and said 'You're going to give up your scholarship to kick?' But he's a very mature guy, very smart. He works his butt off and he's certainly nice to have."

Wolfert might not be crazy, but he does test Pinkel's patience. Wolfert is a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie who has jumped off the 75-foot high Hurricane Deck Bridge at the Lake of the Ozarks. When asked about Wolfert's need for adrenaline, Pinkel said he doesn't know nor does he want to know about Wolfert's activities.

Wolfert has been nothing short of automatic throughout his career at MU. Against Nevada last week, he made a school-record nine PAT's, plus two field goals to go 11-for-11 on the day. For his effort, Wolfert was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week.

"That's where my maturity has to come in a little bit on this offense," senior quarterback Chase Daniel said. "If it's third and 22 from the 35-yard line we don't need to get 22 yards. We need to get five yards to make it a little bit easier for a field goal."

Wolfert has made 91 consecutive kicks, including 28 this season. In the last two seasons, he has never missed a kick against a Big 12 opponent, going 90-for-90.

"I like playing in the big-game situations and I've been real successful doing it," Wolfert said. "I've never missed a Big 12 field goal, and all those games are more high pressure games, closer games. I try not to think about whom we're playing or how important this kick is. I just do everything that I can do to make sure that the ball goes through the uprights."

For his efforts last season, Sports Illustrated named Wolfert as an honorable mention All-American. He needs only 21 points to break former quarterback Brad Smith's career scoring record of 284.