WATCH: UCLA kicker Mateen Bhaghani notes changes going into 2025 season
COSTA MESA, Calif. — Things are a bit different for UCLA kicker Mateen Bhaghani heading into the 2025 season.
While the situation at long snapper remains unchanged, Bhaghani is working with new holder/punter Will Karoll. The Bruins also replaced last year’s special teams analyst Tucker Meyer, was replaced with Bailey McElwain earlier this winter.
Karoll, in particular, did not arrive until the summer. He was previously at Tulane.
“Just working through everything,” Bhaghani said after Wednesday afternoon’s practice, the 11th of training camp. “New holder, same snapper, Salem (Abdul-Wahab). Got a new holder and punter, Will. So, just working things out, going well.
”Coach Bailey is really hands-on, especially with the snappers. With the punters and kickers he’s a little bit more hands-off, but I think his approach to coaching is very detail-oriented — which is what I like, really, and what specialists are. Just the small details and honing in on that.”
Last season, Bhaghani converted 20 of 24 field goals, including a career-long conversion of 57 yards, in his first year with the Bruins after transferring from California.
Entering this season, he is on the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award given annually to the top kicker in the nation.
“Consistency is the main thing, for me,” Bhaghani said. “I think I was around low 80s last year percentage-wise on field goals. I’m always shooting for, obviously, perfection, but just getting better every year.”
Watch his full press conference after practice below:
