Fresno State is looking for some unexpected depth behind punter Garrett Sawnson (19). ( Russ Isabella-USA TODAY Sports)
Just three weeks into the season, defending Mountain West champion Fresno State is so desperate for a kicker that this week it will hold an open tryout for any fulltime student with previous kicking experience.
The Bulldogs put the invitation on their athletics website, asking interested studenst to bring proof that they are a full-time student at Fresno State and film of their past kicking experiences to a Thursday meeting.
Fresno State lost kicker Colin McGuire when he left the team for personal reasons earlier this month.
Coach Tim DeRuyter turned to freshman walk-on Kody Kroening for the place-kicking, while punter Garrett Swanson continued his duties.
Kroening made all five of his PAT attempts and one of two field goal attempts.
Kroening and Swanson are the only two kickers on the roster, so the Bulldogs would have problems if one of them gets hurt.
Kroening could do the punting in an emergency, but Swanson may not be able to do the place-kicking if it came to that.
