Josh Heupel hasn't lost confidence in struggling Tennessee placekicker Max Gilbert
Josh Heupel hasn’t lost confidence in Max Gilbert. Not after his redshirt freshman placekicker went 0-for-3 in Tennessee’s 28-18 win over Kentucky Saturday night. Not after he went 1-for-3 against Alabama in a 24-17 win two weeks ago.
“I do have confidence in him,” Heupel said during his postgame press conference Saturday night. “He’s got to find a way to start faster during the course of the football game.”
The one Gilbert did make over the last two games was arguably the biggest of the season. He connected from 41 yards out with 1:30 left against Alabama, building Tennessee’s lead to seven points.
He missed from 50 and 53 yards in the first half against the Crimson Tide.
Max Gilbert started 12-for-12 from inside 50 yards this season
“He’s kicked it extremely well up until last couple of weeks,” Heupel said. “Hit a big one late against Bama, too. Kicked it well in practice.”
Gilbert started the season a perfect 5-for-5. He made field goals from 36 and 42 yards against Chattanooga, then made kicks from 32, 36 and 45 yards against NC State a week later. His first miss wasn’t until the 3:50 mark of the fourth quarter against the Wolfpack, no good from 53 yards.
Gilbert answered by making his next five attempts, going 2-for-2 against Kent State, 3-for-3 at Oklahoma and 1-for-1 against Florida.
He missed from 34, 40 and 43 against Kentucky after starting the season a perfect 12-for-12 from inside 50 yards. He missed twice in the first half Saturday night and once in the third quarter, missing on Tennessee’s opening drive of both the first and the second halves.
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Heupel said after the game that Gilbert getting back to making field goals, like he’s shown he can do, gets back to routine.
“Getting re-warmed up after coming to the locker room,” Heupel said, “whatever it might be, just trying to get him into the flow of it. And because of some of what we’ve done offensively, it’s not like he’s had chip shots to start it out either.”
Heupel has said in recent weeks that Tennessee’s offense is “close” despite its struggles. The Vols were shut out in the first half at Arkansas and at home against Florida and Alabama.
He said Tennessee was “gaining” on offense after scoring 28 points — seven in the first half — and going for 477 total yards against Kentucky.
Heupel believes his kicker can get back to being productive, too.
“He’s good enough and confident enough to go put it through the uprights too,” Heupel said. “So got to keep pushing.”
