K Dominic Zvada’s path to Michigan Football, outlook for 2025 season

Dominic Zvada has already etched his name in Michigan football lore. What else does he have in store? We evaluate his outlook for 2025:

When Sherrone Moore and the Michigan football program brought in Arkansas State kicker Dominic Zvada last offseason, there was tepid optimism that the position would be in good hands following a few great years of kickers. In his first year as a Wolverine, Zvada smashed several records and etched his name in program history forever.

Let’s evaluate Zvada’s path to Michigan and his outlook for the upcoming season.

The story so far

Zvada was born and raised in Chandler, Arizona and attended Valley Christian High School. As a part of the class of 2022, he was considered a five-star kicker but was just the 45th ranked kicker in the nation, according to Kohl’s Kicking.

He committed to the Arkansas State Red Wolves. Zvada went 17-for-18 on field goals as a true freshman, with the lone miss being a block. He was named a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and was a Freshman All-American.

In his sophomore season, he regressed slightly by going 17-for-22 on field goals and 41-for-41 on extra points.

Following his sophomore season, Zvada entered the transfer portal. He was ranked as the third-best kicker in the portal behind Graham Nicholson (Miami of Ohio to Alabama) and Mitch Jeter (South Carolina to Notre Dame). On April 26, 2024, he committed to Michigan.

As a junior in Ann Arbor, Zvada had easily his best season in college. He went 21-for-22 on field goals, including 7-for-7 on field goals of 50+ with a long of 56 yards. He was also 26-for-27 on extra points. His 95.5 percent set a program record.

Zvada also shattered the record for career field goals of 50 or more yards.

The numbers still don’t quite do his 2024 season justice. Zvada was a Second-Team AP All-American, won the Bakken-Andersen Big Ten Kicker of the Year and was a unanimous First-Team All-Big Ten choice. He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist again and was, in my opinion, absolutely robbed of the honor.

Most importantly, Zvada hit a go-ahead field goal that led to a victory over Ohio State in Columbus.

Outlook for 2025

Zvada is the undisputed starting kicker for the Wolverines this fall. He will look to build on his record-setting career in his brief stint in Ann Arbor. The Lou Groza Award is certainly a possibility for him if all goes according to plan. He recently posted a video of him making a 60-yard field goal on social media.

Zvada has already been named a Walter Camp Preseason First-Team All-American for 2025. The sky truly is the limit for Zvada.

Kickers rarely get drafted into the NFL. However, Jake Moody recently was a third-round selection by the San Francisco 49ers. Zvada occupies the same rare air as Moody, so being an NFL Draft pick is certainly a possibility.