One-on-One with Arizona Football Kicker Lucas Havrisik

With the Arizona Football team preparing for the 2021 season, I sat down with Kicker Lucas Havrisik over a Zoom Call to discuss the upcoming season and beyond.

One of the Arizona Football coaching staff’s top items of concern heading into the 2021 season will be adding more depth to the Quarterback room, correcting deficiencies within the Offensive Line room, and adding more depth to the Defensive Secondary. However, the placekicker position within Special Teams should not be a concern with the return of Senior kicker, Lucas Havrisik.

Havrisik, age 21, stands at a well-conditioned and in shape 6-foot-2, 185 pounds. And right now, he may very well be the most consistent and experienced player on the Arizona Football team.

Arizona Wildcats

From our brief conversation, it didn’t take long to see Lucas’ leadership and professional qualities put on display during the interview. What stood out was his passion and genuine care for “the team, the team, the team” if I can quote the legendary Coach Dick Tomey.

Since arriving on campus in 2017, Lucas has had several teammates and roommates, and he was not shy to give many of his teammate’s high praise. He specifically told me that he is a big fan of Jalen Harris, giving Jalen much credit for his speed particularly for Jalen being a 6-foot-5, 260-pound grown man.

Lucas Haversiks Stats, Numbers and Achievements heading into the 2021 Season

• In 2017, Lucas tied the all-time school record by connecting on a 57-yard field goal against Washington State.
• In 2018 ranked 2nd in the PAC-12 and 9th in the country with 81 percent Touchbacks.
• Multiple times PAC-12 Special Teams Player of the Week Award Recipient.
• The Average long Field Goal for his career is 54 yards.
• 145 points in his career.
• 70 percent career field goal connectivity rate.
• 93 percent career extra point connectivity rate.
• Based on his 2020 season performance, tied at the No. 16 spot in the country with a .857 Field Goal percentage.

One of the things Lucas loves to do is mentor underclassmen, specifically Sophomore Punter Kyle Ostendorp and back-up Freshman Kicker Tyler Loop. I don’t know the manner of how Head Coach Jedd Fisch selects team captains but Lucas should be a candidate as a Senior Leader.

When asked about his personal and team goals, he immediately said “Win games, it’s about the team”. His personal goals are to continue staying healthy which includes eating and sleeping right. He even tracks the amount of sleep he gets. He also continues to work ensuring he gets stronger, working out in the weight room during the off season.

Havrisik continually seeks professional development and communicates with and seeks guidance regularly from former Arizona Football kicker Nick Folk and has trained with former Arizona Football Hall of Fame kicker Max Zendejas. He also trains with long time successful NFL kicker John Carney and attends numerous high-level training camps specific to placekickers.

When asked specifically about long term goals (after the University of Arizona), although Lucas will have the opportunity to be a professional at life outside of football, his long term goal is to be a professional kicker in the National Football League.

When asked about the 2021 season ahead with the opportunity of being in the same company as legendary former Arizona kickers Max and Nick Folk, he said that is an honor and keeps him motivated to continue to strive to be the best that he can be. He further said that none of it would be possible without his life as a Christian and he is grateful for his blessings in life. Lucas is a friendly down to earth guy, clearly a huge asset to his team in many regards.

I see Lucas rising to the top of the placekicker rankings in the Pac-12 and nationally in 2021. I would venture to guess a lot of scouting eyes will be on Lucas as he progresses through the 2021 season.

On another note, a notable nugget of information. Lucas’ dad played college basketball at the University of California-Riverside. As Always, Bear Down, Arizona!