Catching up with K Jimmy Stevens

Place-kicker Jimmy Stevens is trying to hold off Tress Way to keep his starting job. Later, he’ll also have to hold off walk-on Bryce Easley.
But Stevens said he’s more confident this year and looking forward to showing everyone that he’s a better kicker.
Stevens spoke with me after Monday’s practice:

On the competition
The competition’s going real good. Tress and I are both kicking the ball real good right now and we’re just getting things fine-tuned.

On the rotation
Easley’s not here yet. We’re all just competing. I don’t really know the specifics of the positions yet but we’re all competing against each other.

On this spring
This year I actually am competing for a job and last year I felt like I had the spot. This year I’m having to work harder for the position

On gaining confidence with experience
Yeah, definitely. Getting the whole year under my belt makes you feel a whole lot better. I have more experience and experience helps.

On getting better late last year
Yeah, I would say that. The end of the season and how I did helps a lot. My confidence is way up and that helps a lot.

On Tress as a punter
He’s hitting the ball real hard. He’s got a big ole’ leg on it.

On coaches’ confidence in him by giving him a shot at a 49-yarder against Florida
They have a lot of confidence in me, which is nice. Florida had some 6-8 guys up in the middle who blocked it, but other than that I’m glad they had confidence in me.