State kicker Kyle Ferrie off to quick start in 2025

Mississippi State junior Kyle Ferrie wasn’t exactly pleased with the way he kicked the ball this past spring. So that led to more motivation later in his offseason and the Bulldog kicker proved that motivation was well served.

In the season opener against Southern Miss, Ferrie made a school-record 55-yard field goal, which was also the longest for an opposing player at Southern Miss’ M.M. Roberts Stadium. He also now ranks in the Top 10 in school history with made field goals (29) and extra points (72). Ferrie recently met with the media to discuss the start of his junior season:

Q: Did you think much about the distance beforehand on the 55-yard field goal or did you just go out there and kick it without much thought?
Ferrie: A little bit, obviously, kjind of knowing where we are on the field. It’s nice to know but I knew that once we cross the 50, it’s kind of turning into my time. Knowing we can execute that far and then having the trust from Coach (Jeff) Lebby to go do it.

Q: You almost had an extra point go bad in the opener, too. Take us through that play.
Ferrie: Yeah, we initially went out there with ten. We realized very quickly we had ten, then got back to the sideline, Albert Reese ran out there. We had about four seconds on the clock and we went ahead and snapped it. Probably should have taken a delay of game. But we went ahead and snapped it. I kind of just fell back on my soccer background and just made it work.

Q: At what point did you realize you broke the school record with the 55 yarder?
Ferrie: In the locker room after the game. I had no idea going out there that was the record, didn’t know what the record was. So, once we got back in the locker room, Coach Lebby announced it in front of the whole team. Had no idea until then.

Q: Cliff Odom told us before the season that you were not happy with your spring showing and that you really attacked it this summer. What did you change?
Ferrie: I kind of changed it a little bit. Obviously, operationally we changed it. We got a new snapper in. He’s a lefty so it’s the first time I’ve ever had a lefty snapper. So the spin to me as a left-footed kicker is a lot easier to see. For me being able to have that and just being able to trust those guys. I’ve been with Marlon (Hauck) holding for nine months now and he’s done a great job.

The only thing I really changed was how I kind of approached it. I kind of went more smooth and just let my leg power in the weight room take over from there instead of feeling like I have to kill the ball. That 55-yarder I knew just swing smooth it’ll go there. That’s really the only thing I’ve changed in the offseason and it’s worked so far.

Q: How did it feel to break a school record that stood for 40 years?
Ferrie: Man, it felt really, really good. Everyone knows I love this place and I’ve always wanted to be here. So getting my name next to people that I grew up watching and grew up learning about and reading about is truly humbling. I never once thought this would happen. So being able to see your name above guys you looked up to and watched when you were a kid is pretty neat.

Q: Coach Odom said you are always the guy that wants to make that last-second kick to win a game. Where does that mindset come from?
Ferrie: I think it’s something that I’ve always had. My mentality is Saturday night, if we run out there for a 65-yarder, if I don’t have confidence in myself that I can make it what makes me think 60,000 people are going to have confidence in me?

So being able to show confidence and allow the crowd to see confidence in me, I think that instills confidence in them and in the coaching staff. So they know I’m confident any time they say kick it. I never say no. I never say oh let’s scoot it up. I just say let’s do it. I think that’s something I was born with, I guess. I’ve always just kind of been try to be confident without being cocky. It’s just my mentality. If I’m not confident why would I think anyone else would be?

Q: How far do you think you can kick it and what range are you comfortable with?
Ferrie: Ideal conditions, I mean 60 and in I feel pretty good. I think with this new approach I’ve had and really trusting my operation, 60 and in I feel really good. And I think everyone trusts me in that. So knowing that, it makes it a lot easier.

Q: You described your soccer background earlier. What specifically helped you with that extra point that was nearly a mistake?
Ferrie: I guess it was more kickers are seen as un-athletic. I played four sports in high school. So kind of falling back on the agility side of it, and then again, trusting that even though the snap was on the ground and knowing the ball is on the ground, I knew Marlon would get it up. So just trusting those guys being able to get it up. Yeah, I guess it’s more being about to go out of a routine and then back in a routine to make it.

Q: Your fiancé – former State softball player Sierra Sacco – has a championship on the pro level and you own a school record now. Is there competition there?
Ferrie: Always. I’m trying to back up what she did in the spring. Someone’s got to do it. I would hate to have to tell my kids that mom was a lot more athletic than I was. So anytime I get a chance to do something, I better do it because mom and dad have to be equal. Mom can’t be better than dad.