The Success of True Freshman Kicker, Jameson Vest

REPLACING KICKING LEGEND, JEREMIAH DETMER

By: Zach Harig -- December 7, 2015

Eleven months ago, the Toledo Rockets were in Mobile, Alabama coming off of a GoDaddy Bowl victory. Not only that, but the Rockets were celebrating some tremendous careers that would be lost due to graduation, including kicker, Jeremiah Detmer. The Hilliard, Ohio native finished his career as the Mid-American Conference's all-time leader in accuracy after finishing his career with nearly an 85% field goal percentage. Detmer would set the bar for not only Mid-American Conference kickers, but college football kickers as a whole before his graduation in 2014.

Jameson Vest has stepped up for the Toledo Rockets in his
first collegiate season.

So how would Toledo replace the production that Detmer provided for four seasons? The answer was Jameson Vest, a recruit in the 2015 class out of Peachtree City, Georgia. Obviously, replacing someone that had been in discussion for a Lou Groza award for nation's best kicker isn't easy, but for a true-freshman to come in, it would be nearly impossible.

"Jeremiah gave me big shoes to fill," Vest stated, "He set the standard for kickers at Toledo and it really made me determined to get better and become the standard myself."

Prior to the 2015 season kicking off, a lot of questions for head coach, Matt Campbell, were about special teams. It was obvious that even the Toledo coaching staff had many questions to answer themselves in terms of the kicking void left by Detmer. However, in fall camp, Vest dominated, winning the job over sophomore, Sam Vucelich. 

"I came in cocky about my abilities and thought I was better than I really was," admitted Vest, "Looking back, I'm very fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to start."

After earning the job, the first game of the season had arrived against Stony Brook. Ultimately, Vest would get an opportunity early in the first half on a 33-yard attempt. Good snap, good hold, and it split the uprights for three points, resulting in the first points of Vest's young career. The road to replacing Toledo legend, Jeremiah Detmer was underway, or so we thought. After a heavy downpour and thunderstorms throughout the first half, the game would be cancelled at halftime following nearly three hours of storm delay. All statistics from the game were scratched, as was the score, and just like that, Vest was once again looking for the first points of his career.

Vest has shined in the spotlight of big games in 2015.

The following week, Toledo made the journey to Little Rock, Arkansas to face the Arkansas Razorbacks at War Memorial Stadium in the heart of the state. In front of a sellout crowd of 55,000 people, Vest lined up for a short field goal of nearly thirty yards. Unfortunately, 6'10" Arkansas offensive lineman, Dan Skipper, would get a hand on the kick. The first attempt of Vest's career was blocked. A short moment later, Toledo head coach, Matt Campbell would send Vest out to attempt another, this time from nearly forty yards in a hostile environment and it was to take the lead. The Georgia native would leave no doubt about it, his first points in a Toledo uniform were recorded and he put Toledo ahead of the Hogs, where the Rockets wouldn't look back, notching the upset and biggest win in school history, 16-12.

"The first kick was crazy, I never realized how loud SEC country was until I was on the field. That second kick was all business, I didn't even notice the crowd when I went out. I told myself I was making this one to take the lead," Vest stated.

Not a bad "first game" for an eighteen year old kid, a clutch go-ahead kick against a SEC opponent and a national spotlight after an upset victory.

Former Toledo kicker, Jeremiah Detmer set the standard
with an 85% career field goal percentage.

A week later, against another Power 5 opponent in Iowa State, Vest would continue to make a name for himself. Late into the second half, Vest would hit a game-tying field goal to make it 23-23 and ultimately send the game into overtime, where Toledo would win the game, 30-23.

Since the opening weeks, Vest has continued to impress and fill the shoes of Jeremiah Detmer rather smoothly for a true freshman. Vest would finish the 2015 season with a conference high 18 field goals for a 69-percent field goal percentage. The eight field goals missed by Vest throughout the season, ultimately cost him a chance at making an All-MAC team.

"It's very humbling," Vest said on not making All-Conference, "I knew in the back of my mind that it wasn't a great season missing eight kicks. The fact that the MAC knew it too just made it easier to realize that I want to dedicate the off-season to getting better."

Aside from the field goal percentage, Vest also led the Mid-American Conference in scoring per game, accounting for an average of just over nine points per contest, in the same category as the most explosive runningbacks and wide outs in the conference.

Although Vest was not recognized as All-MAC for his incredible efforts throughout the season, his teammates, coaches, and predecessor have certainly taken notice.

"He's impressive," stated Jeremiah Detmer, who still has a relationship with Vest, even after his graduation, "For a true freshman to come in to a program and transition as well as he has, it's remarkable. He's made big time plays and has stepped up for his team. The most exciting part about his season is that he has three more to improve!"

Jeremiah Detmer set the standard at Toledo and in the Mid-American Conference but true freshman, Jameson Vest has entered the Glass City and has exceeded expectations. A conference-high eighteen field goals in 2015 will place a bright spotlight on the Georgia native over his next three seasons in Northwest Ohio.

Questions? Comments? Interact with Zach on Twitter: @ToledoZach