Freshman Jake Weinberg is aware of Florida State's reputation for producing kickers.
He even called it Kicker U at the podium on Thursday, the last day of incoming players' availability. For now, Weinberg will continue to develop his kicking game while sitting behind returning starter Ryan Fitzgerald.
“It was definitely a positive,” Weinberg said. “I mean, not many freshman kickers are lucky to have a veteran kicker like Ryan.
He's been my guy that I've been going to for advice, kicking out there, he'll see something and tell me something about like what to change, what to do. I think I'm very lucky to have someone like him.”
He also mentioned how excited he is about working with All-American punter Alex Mastromanno.
Weinberg was a three-star prospect out of Delray Beach, Beach. He was ranked the 10th best kicker in the country according to 247 Sports.
Since last January, he has committed to FSU and remained loyal to the Seminoles throughout his recruiting. Weinberg believes his accuracy and leg power are his biggest strengths.
It also helps that he comes from a soccer background. Before he was introduced to being a placekicker at American Heritage High School, soccer was his first love.
"I played midfield, so I'd always hit like long balls and stuff like that," Weinberg said.
"I got used to, like, where it hit on the ball, and then when I switched over to kicking, it was not similar because it's different of the ball, but I feel like as I kept on kicking and getting used to it.
I definitely say over time, I've gotten better."
Jake Weinberg career long: 70-yard field goal?
He once kicked a 70-yard field goal, and the video surfaced online and on social media. Weinberg talked about that day. It was a career-best unofficially for the former American Heritage kicker.
"I'd definitely say that was my best that day,” Weinberg said. “I kind of just woke up not expecting to hit a 70 that day.
My leg was feeling good. I was with my kicking coach, and I was like, all right, we'll just keep backing it up. I tried 71. I hit the crossbar, so definitely 70. But I mean, who knows?"
When Weinberg committed to FSU, one of the first people he told was former FSU great Roberto Aguayo, who lives in the same area as him.
Aguayo trained with Weinberg and stayed in contact with him throughout his football career. He also wants to train with another FSU great, Dustin Hopkins, who plays for the Cleveland Browns.
“It was kind of more of not just kicking," Weinberg said about training with Aguayo. "I was asking him questions on like his experiences, what to know and just advice as I go into my freshman year.”
Florida State Seminoles 2024 Football Schedule
- Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
- Sept. 21 vs. California
- Sept. 28 at SMU
- Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
- Oct. 18 at Duke
- Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
- Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
- Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
- Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
- Nov. 30: Florida
- Dec. 7: ACC Championship
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at PHolland@Gannett.com or on X @_Da_pistol.
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