Arizona State kicker Cristian Zendejas adds 5 yards to his range
Oct 26, 2020, 8:40 AM
Place kicker Cristian Zendejas #45 of the Arizona State Sun Devils kicks a 35 yard field goal against the Kent State Golden Flashes during the first half of the NCAAF game at Sun Devil Stadium on August 29, 2019 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Arizona State redshirt junior kicker Cristian Zendejas said he can confidently add five yards to his range from a year ago.
Zendejas, who made the 2020 Lou Groza preseason watch list for the award given to the nation’s best kicker, worked with punter Michael Turk and long snapper Erik Dickerson this offseason to improve his skillset.
“[The] Lord has been working through me and allowing me to kick further,” Zendejas said.
But the one who is the most influential in helping Zendejas throughout his career, and specifically this offseason, is his dad, Luis Zendejas.
Luis Zendejas is an ASU alum who went on to play in the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
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During his time at ASU, Luis Zendejas had 380 career points, the most in NCAA history at the time. He was inducted into the ASU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995.
Despite Zendejas’ experience, he has never pressured his son. He is encouraging and motivating, and stresses the importance of having fun, Cristian Zendejas said.
Cristian Zendejas walked on Arizona State’s football team in 2017 and was promoted to starter in 2019 after Brandon Ruiz injured his knee. He didn’t relinquish the job.
Zendejas had an impressive streak to begin the 2019 season, going 8-for-8 on field goal attempts and contributing to the Sun Devils’ 3-0 start.
Head coach Herm Edwards offered him a scholarship, and since then, Zendejas has been a standout.
In total last season, he was 23-for-27 on field goal attempts with a long of 43 yards. He missed one kick inside 40 yards, went 5-of-7 from 40-49 yards and had a single miss beyond 50.
Zendejas remains a starter this year and is excited to finally to play football this season after the coronavirus put the Pac-12’s football season in question.
In practice, he has been working on how to warm up more effectively and become more deliberate with his approach leading into a kick.
His goal this season, Zendejas said, is “to be perfect inside 40 [yards] and be comfortable 52 and in.”
