Cal Kicker Michael Luckhurst Says He Can Make Field Goals Up to 65 Yards
Cal place-kicker Michael Luckhurst says his field-goal range is out to 65 yards. Cal punter Lachlan Wilson routinely gets five seconds of hang time on his boots.
It suggests the Golden Bears are in good hands, er feet, with Lucky and Lachy in their first seasons as Cal’s place-kicker and punter.
When you see the ball explode off Luckhurst’s foot with minimal effort during practice, you can accept his claim. He certainly has the pedigree. Luckhurst is the son of Mick Luckhurst, a member of the Cal Athletics Hall of Fame who was the Golden Bears’ place-kicker in 1979 and 1980 before being the Atlanta Falcons’ kicker for seven seasons.
Michael Luckhurst, a sophomore, never saw his father (whose actual first name is also Michael) kick in person, but has seen films of him.
“Some funny, some good kicking,” the younger Luckhurst said.
With his father and older brother both being kickers, Michael Luckhurst decided in high school to take up the tradition.
“Junior year, I said, ‘OK, I’ll try this,’” he said.
He fell in love with it, getting pointers from his dad from time to time.
“More on the mental aspect, going through the process,” Luckhurst said of his father's instruction. “Finding your swing you can repeat every time and find your rhythm, and just stay in it. Every kick is the same kick, whether it’s a PAT or a 60-yarder, same kick, Have one swing. It’s like golfing with one club.”
He was reluctant at first to attend Cal, fearing the non-stop comparisons with his father, but he learned to embrace that.
Luckhurst performed kickoffs for Cal last season, when he made his only field-goal attempt, a 36-yarder, and he became the logical choice to be the Bears place-kicker this season after Dario Longhetto, Cal’s place-kicker the past three seasons, transferred to Arizona State in the offseason.
Cal also needed a new punter after Sheahan Jamieson opted to try a pro career following the 2022 season. The Bears may have upgraded the position when Lachlan Wilson transferred in from Tulsa after averaging 43.8 yards per punt for the Golden Hurricane last season.
“Lachy could be the most talented guy in the country,” Cal special teams coordinator Vic So’oto said. “He can boom it. He can let it hang there for five seconds.”
Wilson said his target for hang time is anything over 4.5 seconds.
“I’ve been around there and more,” he said.
Like Jamieson, Wilson is an Australian who developed his punting skills playing Aussie rules football. As a result the threat of oncoming defenders is not a concern, because opposing players came at him from all angles in Aussie rules. Wilson has already demonstrated his ability to kick on the move and place his punts in a specific area.
When Luckhurst and Wilson are on the practice field, the kicks go high and long. Whether they can do the same in games, beginning September 2 against North Texas, will be the test.
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