CU Buffs position preview: Transfers to compete for top spot at kicker

Alejandro Mata was nearly flawless last year at Jackson State and is looking forward to proving himself at Colorado.
Jace Feely is finally getting an opportunity to compete and he, too, is eager to prove himself.
One of the more interesting competitions for Colorado this season will be at kicker, where Mata and Feely will battle for the top spot.
“This is probably the most competition I’ve had in a room,” Mata said during the spring. “All of us are really good to be honest. It’s just great being able to set myself to such a high standard with this competition.”
Leading up to preseason camp, BuffZone.com will preview each position group for CU and in this installment, we look at the specialists.
As a true freshman last year, Mata was the primary kicker for JSU and then-head coach Deion Sanders. When Sanders took the head coach job at Colorado in December, he wanted Mata to follow him to Boulder.
During his one season at JSU, Mata earned Coach Prime’s trust by making 12-of-13 field goals and 50-of-51 extra points. Both misses were blocked.
“I think all that trust, obviously he already knows what I can do,” Mata said.
Mata added, however, that he’s still got to earn the job at CU.
“(Coach Prime) has the same trust in me, same trust in Cristiano (Palazzo), same trust in Jace,” he said. “I know that the competition’s gonna be the same, no matter what, without favorites.”
While Mata is the only current CU kicker who has played for Coach Prime, Feely has known his new head coach for a while. Feely’s father, Jay, kicked in the NFL and worked with Coach Prime at the NFL Network.
“It’s kind of full circle and you can kind of see God’s plan in it,” Feely said of coming to CU to play for Coach Prime. “It was like seven years ago, and he sent me a message through my dad doing Thursday night games with him and recruited me to come play high school football for him. He was like, ‘Oh a kicker who plays linebacker? I love it.’”
Feely no longer plays linebacker, but he spent the past two years battling for playing time at Arizona State. Last year, he made his only extra point attempt, kicked off four times and punted once for the Sun Devils.
Over the years, Feely has learned a lot about the art of kicking from his father, and, like Mata, he takes confidence into the competition.
“I’m very confident in myself and that’s why I’m here,” he said.
Feely and Mata are both on scholarship and it’s possible both will be used at some point, whether it’s for place kicking or kickoffs. Walk-on Cristiano Palazzo will compete, as well.
At punter, the Buffs are set with Louisville transfer Mark Vassett. Last year, he earned All-ACC honorable mention, ranking 18th in the country with an average of 44.63 yards per punt. That’s the best single-season average in Louisville history, and he also has the best career average in Cardinals history at 43.3.
At snapper, Camden Dempsey and Cameron Warchuck are returning Buffs, but the edge might go to Jacob Politte. As a redshirt freshman last year, Politte was the snapper at Jackson State. Gabe Landers will also compete after coming to CU from Miami.
Position: Specialists
Returners: P Trent Carrizosa, So. (walk-on); SN Camden Dempsey, So. (walk-on); PK Christiano Palazzo, So. (walk-on); SN Cameron Warchuck, So. (walk-on).
Transfers: PK Jace Feely, So. (Arizona State); PK Alejandro Mata, So. (Jackson State); P Mark Vassett, Jr. (Louisville)
True freshmen: None
New walk-ons: SN Jacob Politte, So. (transfer from Jackson State); SN Gabe Landers, R-Fr. (transfer from Miami)
Key losses: PK Cole Becker (transferred to Utah)