ASU FOOTBALL

Carston Kieffer will be ASU football’s kicker for Peach Bowl

Dec 12, 2024, 7:30 AM

Arizona State will roll with redshirt freshman kicker Carston Kieffer during the Peach Bowl in the College Football Playoff, head coach Kenny Dillingham told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Monday.

Kieffer made his first college field goal in ASU’s Big 12 Championship win Saturday against Iowa State, hitting a 32-yarder to cap the game’s opening drive. And Dillingham saw him fired up on the sideline after giving the team an early lead.

“He made that kick, he ran off the field and said, ‘I’m gonna make them all night, coach.’ And I believed him,” Dillingham said.

Arizona State did not line up for another field goal in its 45-19 rout of Iowa State, although Kieffer did his job by hitting six extra points.

Carston Kieffer’s path to the starting kicker job for Arizona State

For how special this ASU team has been, the kicking game never fully stabilized before the Iowa State win.

The Sun Devils have cycled through three kickers with Ian Hershey and Parker Lewis getting opportunities along with Kieffer, and the team is only 9-for-17 on field goals. It had not made a field goal since Nov. 16 against Kansas State before Kieffer punched the ball through.

Dillingham hosted tryouts following a loss to Cincinnati going into the bye, criticizing the kicking game and later apologizing for his comments.

Kieffer was 0-for-1 this season having missed an attempt during the season opener, but Dillingham said he saw something in the Tempe native and Corona del Sol High School alum after he hit an extra point in the Territorial Cup victory over Arizona.

“Once he made that kick versus Arizona, the extra point, he came off the field and you just saw a different look in his eyes, like a comfort,” Dillingham told reporters on Monday.

“Like, ‘Whoa, I just scored a point versus Arizona. Like holy cow, is this real life?’ I think ever since then, I just saw a look in his eye that was just like that’s the dude I want to put out there. … It was super exciting to see a guy who grew up a passionate Sun Devil go and be a part of a game that’s going to be remembered in the history books.”

The Sun Devils have a break before their quarterfinal matchup in Atlanta kicks off on New Year’s Day. ASU will take either Clemson or Texas, who will battle in the opening round on Dec. 21.

ASU has attempted 30 fourth down tries, the 17th most in FBS. If the Sun Devils opt to take the points, the plan is for Kieffer to receive the opportunity of his career.

ASU Football

Tempe brewery NIL...

Arizona Sports

Tempe brewery signs sponsorship and NIL deal with ASU

Tempe-based Huss Brewing Co. announced it has signed a multifaceted sponsorship deal with Arizona State University, which includes the creation of a Sun Devil specific ale.

9 hours ago

ASU's Kenny Dillingham and Sam Leavitt...

Damon Allred

Kenny Dillingham needs ASU hungry for fall 2025, details offensive tweaks

Kenny Dillingham has a tall task in front of him in getting ASU to sustain good football into 2025 and prove its magical 2024 was not an aberration.

10 hours ago

Wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan #4 of the Arizona Wildcats runs during the second half against the ...

Brandon Cadiz

Mel Kiper Jr: Tetairoa McMillan a top 10 prospect, Cam Skattebo outside top 5 RBs in NFL Draft

Mel Kiper Jr. has Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan as a top-seven prospect and Arizona State's Cam Skattebo top 10 in his running back rankings.

16 hours ago

Larry Fitzgerald...

Damon Allred

Larry Fitzgerald praises Kenny Dillingham following ASU offer to son Devin

Larry Fitzgerald threw some credit Kenny Dillingham's way following his son's recent offer to be a Sun Devil.

18 hours ago

Arizona State...

David Veenstra

Arizona State Sun Devils football signing day tracker

Arizona State football announced three-star running back Grayson Rigdon (Texas) committed on Tuesday. 

3 days ago

Israel Briggs has committed to the ASU Sun Devils...

Tyler Drake

ASU lands commitment from 4-star recruit Israel Briggs for 2026

Four-star recruit Israel Briggs has committed to play for the ASU Sun Devils as part of the defending Big 12 champion's 2026 class.

3 days ago

Carston Kieffer will be ASU football’s kicker for Peach Bowl