Hauser Feels Right at Home as Clemson’s Kicker

CLEMSON – The Clemson Tigers returned to Memorial Stadium for their home opener against the Appalachian State Mountaineers, as they are looking to right the ship following a tough loss to No. 1 Georgia last week.

The media had the opportunity to meet with kicker Nolan Hauser earlier this week. It is the first time the freshman kicker got to speak to the talented kicker, who score the 25 ^th -ranked Tigers only points in the Georgia game.

–Hauser was asked about his first collegiate kick and the nerves that he felt stepping up to the ball, “I think coming into any game you are going to have a little bit of nerves, but it really felt right at home. So, it is that feeling when you have not been home in a while, and you come right up to the door, and you are like, ‘Wow I am here.’ So, it was not really nerves it was more anxiety and readiness to go out there and go do it.”

–Hauser said the competition in the fall between him and Robert Gunn was “amazing… the weight staff does a great job with us and helping us prepare for that fall camp.”

–Hauser also talked a little bit about the competition with Gunn, “It was amazing. He is a great kicker and a really nice guy. I mean you see him put the ball out of the back of the end zone, his leg strength is amazing. I think the most important thing is just going out there and having fun.”

–When asked about finding out he was the starter, Hauser really did not see it coming. “I really did not know until I think I saw I got tagged in some stuff and I figured out that way. I really did not know other than that it was awesome for me as a freshman. I am blessed to be able to have the opportunity to come in here as a freshman and play for such a great program under Coach [Dabo] Swinney.”

–photo by Brett Davis / USA TODAY Sports