Browns draft Arizona State kicker Zane Gonzalez

TEMPE, Ariz. — Zane Gonzalez endured what he calls “a bumpy childhood.” His mother left the family when he was in fifth grade, his dad worked multiple jobs to make ends meet and for a time, Gonzalez lived with his dad, Joseph, his brother, Zach, and his sister, Skylar, in his grandmother’s one-bedroom apartment in Deer Park, Texas.

Compared to those trials, waiting an extra round or two to hear his name called at the NFL Draft was a trifle.

Cleveland selected the Arizona State kicker in the seventh and final round of the draft with the 224th overall pick on Saturday.

Gonzalez was expected to go higher, with some projections putting him in the third or fourth rounds, and most having him gone by the sixth. Instead, Cincinnati shocked most analysts by selecting Memphis kicker Jake Elliott in the fifth round. The reasoning behind that decision made it all the more puzzling.

#Bengals ST coordinator Darrin Simmons said Jake Elliott’s kickoff ability is what separated him from Zane Gonzalez in his eyes. Big leg.

— Jim Owczarski (@JimOwczarski) April 29, 2017

Gonzalez had a 75.64 touchback percentage last season. Elliott’s was 68.09.

“I covered Elliott,” former NFL kicker and current CBS football analyst Jay Feely said. “I like him, but Zane is much better. I liked him a lot better than [Roberto] Aguayo last year.”

Tampa Bay selected Aguayo with the 59th overall pick (second round) last season.

Instead of playing in Cincinnati, Gonzalez will kick for the Bengals’ in-state and AFC North Division rivals, whom he will face at least twice a year.

Gonzalez made 29 of 30 extra points last season, and 23 of 25 field goals, including an FBS-leading seven of nine from 50 yards or longer. His 23 made field goals out of 25 attempts led the Pac-12 in both makes and percentage. His only two misses came from 53 yards but he made a 59-yarder against Colorado.

The consensus All-American broke the NCAA record (Florida State’s Dustin Hopkins set it from 2009-2012) for field goals in a career with his 89th successful attempt, a 46-yard attempt in the third quarter of ASU’s win over UCLA on Oct. 8. He finished with 96 field goals made. He also set the NCAA record for points by a kicker with 494 (on that lengthy Colorado kick), and he is fourth in points all-time at any position. Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds (2012-15) is first with 530.

Gonzalez won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s best kicker, making ASU just the fourth program with at least two Groza awards, joining Florida St. (4), Tulane (2) and UCLA (2). Thomas Weber was ASU’s other winner in 2007. Coincidentally, Groza kicked for the Browns from 1946-67.

When NFL scouts and executives asked him about Gonzalez, ASU special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum had a simple message for them.

“The mental strength that he’s got will go a long way,” Slocum said.

He also had a more humorous message for Gonzalez.

“He’s going to have to learn to kick on cold weather,” Slocum said, chuckling.

It was a proud moment for the family when Gonzalez took in the news of his future employment.

So unbelievably proud of my big brother @ZaneG_5 Love you Douchan. https://t.co/q8nSvD3DOu

— Skylar Gonzalez🐘 (@SkyGonzalez_66) April 29, 2017

It was especially poignant for Gonzalez to have his dad, whom he calls his role model, witness the news.

“Basically, my dad was doing whatever he could get his hands on to put a roof over our heads. Some of the stuff that he’s been through, some of the stuff he’s done to help us out is incredible,” Gonzalez said previously. “He had to sacrifice so much, waking up at 5 a.m. and going to sleep at 11 to make sure we all had lunches for school, making sure he made us breakfast, making sure he made us dinner every night, which he still does. He set the standard as high as it can be.”

Gonzalez has a chance to raise the bar.

NCAA career field goals made
1. Zane Gonzalez, ASU (2013-16) 96
1. Dustin Hopkins, Florida State (2009-12) 88
3. Billy Bennett, Georgia (2000-03) 87
4. Kai Forbath, UCLA (2007-10) 85
5. Leigh Tiffin, Alabama (2006-09) 83

Note: UCLA’s John Lee also made 85 field goals, but the NCAA did not recognize bowl game stats when he played (1982-85).

NCAA career points by kicker
1. Zane Gonzalez, ASU (2013-16) 494
2. Dustin Hopkins, Florida State (2009-12) 466
3. Aaron Jones, Baylor (2010-13) 451
3. Jaden Oberkrom, TCU (2012-15) 451
5. Mike Hunnicutt, Oklahoma (2011-14) 444

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