Get A Kick Out Of This: Trey Smack Shines In NFL Debut

Trey Smack is no stranger to turning heads.

After a successful stint at Severna Park High School, he became a two-time finalist for the Lou Groza Award, the most prestigious college honor for a placekicker. His mark of 10 field goals of 50 yards or longer, on just 13 attempts, stands as Florida’s all-time career record.

He then became Severna Park High School’s first-ever NFL draftee when the Green Bay Packers selected him in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL draft last April.

Smack wasted no time making the most of his opportunity. In his first preseason game, last Thursday against the Steelers, he kicked a 58-yard field goal that was negated due to a personal foul. While that effort did not make it into the box score, Smack later converted field goals from 37, 58 and 38 yards for a perfect debut.

That success rate received praise from Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love.

“I think that was definitely the highlight of the night,” Love said. “Him hitting two 58-yard field goals, so that was awesome, making all his kicks.”

The humble Smack redirected the compliments to his long snapper and punter.

“Cal (Adomitis) and Dan (Whelan) do a great job getting the ball down long enough so that I can see it, and from there, it’s on me,” Smack said in a post-game interview shared by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “So I just have to trust my operation.”

Incumbent kicker Brandon McManus is an accomplished 12-year NFL veteran, but he was dogged by accuracy issues last season, including three missed kicks in the team’s 31-27 loss to Chicago in the playoffs. Smack has a legitimate chance to be the Packers’ kicker when their regular season opens against the Vikings on September 13.

Asked about making his kicks in a difficult Pittsburgh environment, Smack noted that it can only help.

“I think it’ll build some confidence and, you know, every day is a new day,” Smack said. “You got to figure out what kind of ball you’re going to hit that day.”