Kentucky kicker Alex Raynor, who concluded his remarkable college football career last month, has been selected to the AFCA FBS Coaches’ All-America Second Team, the American Football Coaches Association announced on Thursday.
A Record-Breaking Career at Kentucky
Raynor, a Kennesaw, Georgia native, cemented his legacy as one of Kentucky’s most consistent kickers. Over two seasons with the Wildcats after transferring from Georgia Southern, Raynor delivered clutch performances and shattered records.
This season, Raynor connected on 15-of-16 field goal attempts, achieving a 93.8% success rate and breaking his own school record for single-season accuracy (previously 90.9% in 2023). His precision led the Southeastern Conference and ranked eighth nationally. Remarkably, Raynor hit 12-of-13 field goals from 40 yards or beyond, including 4-of-5 from 50+ yards.
Among his standout moments, Raynor set a school record with an incredible 55-yard field goal against top-ranked Georgia, a game where he also made a 51-yarder—becoming only the second Wildcat ever to hit two 50+ yard field goals in a single game, and the first since 1977.
Raynor’s 18 consecutive made field goals set a UK record and ranked as the sixth-longest streak in SEC history. He concluded his Kentucky career with a field goal percentage of 92.6%, breaking both the UK and SEC career records. Over two seasons, he tallied 149 points, converting 25-of-27 field goals and 74-of-76 extra points.
National and Conference Recognition
Raynor’s excellence earned him the 2024 SEC Special Teams Player of the Year award, along with first-team All-SEC honors from league coaches. A Lou Groza Award finalist, he was recognized among the nation’s top kickers and was a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy in both 2023 and 2024.
A Legacy Beyond Kentucky
Including his three seasons at Georgia Southern, Raynor ranks second among active college players in career points (393) and PATs (183), and third in field goals made (70-of-84).
Academic Achievements
Off the field, Raynor exemplified academic excellence. He earned a marketing degree from Georgia Southern in May 2023, an undergraduate business certificate from Kentucky in May 2024, and is currently pursuing a graduate certificate in sport, fitness, and recreation management.
Raynor’s exceptional career will be remembered for his consistency, long-distance accuracy, and unwavering performance under pressure. He leaves a lasting mark as one of the best kickers in Kentucky and SEC history.
