Ryan Fitzgerald PK Florida State | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Ryan Fitzgerald PK Florida State
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Last Updated: 01/29/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.20 seconds (1%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Last Updated: 01/29/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 5.20 seconds (1%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.5 / 100 | |
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| Focus: |
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91% |
| Accuracy: |
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95% |
| Leg Power: |
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86% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
3rd
Overall Rank:
#95
Position rank:
#1
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| College Games: 55 | ||
ESPN RATING: 75/100
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247 RATING: 75/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.4 (89%)
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Draft Profile: Bio
The development of Ryan Fitzgerald from a raw-legged Georgia high school record setter to Florida State's clutch specialist mirrors the increasingly crucial role of kickers in today's NFL. After rewriting the Georgia prep record books with 51 career field goals, including eight from 50+ yards, Fitzgerald arrived in Tallahassee as a five-star Kohl's prospect carrying sky-high expectations.His journey through FSU saw steady progression, culminating in a remarkable 2024 campaign where he drilled all 13 field goal attempts, including five from beyond 50 yards. His 59-yarder against Georgia Tech stands as the longest field goal in ACC conference play history, while his 56-yarder versus North Carolina set the Doak Campbell Stadium record. Most impressively, Fitzgerald's 2023 season showcased his reliability, converting 90.5% of his attempts (19-of-21) while maintaining perfect PAT efficiency (58-of-58).
Beyond the raw numbers, Fitzgerald's legacy at Florida State is cemented in the record books: third all-time with six 50-yard field goals, fourth with 178 made PATs, and fifth with 352 total points scored. His steady improvement trajectory, particularly in pressure situations, suggests a kicker who's only now entering his prime.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional leg strength demonstrated consistently on deep kicks, routinely splitting uprights from 50+ with room to spare - as evidenced by his perfect 5-for-5 mark beyond 50 in 2024
- Rock-solid mechanics from ground contact through follow-through, maintaining textbook form even in adverse weather conditions at venues like Notre Dame and Boston College
- Thrives under pressure, illustrated by his game-winning 32-yarder with 55 seconds left in the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl victory over Oklahoma
- Outstanding kickoff specialist who averaged 64.3 yards with an 81% touchback rate (34 of 42) in 2024, consistently pinning returns inside the five
- Exceptional accuracy on PATs, demonstrated by perfect 58-for-58 performance in 2023 and maintained consistency throughout his career in high-pressure ACC games
- Shows remarkable poise in hostile environments, maintaining composure and technique whether kicking in Death Valley or South Bend
- Steady upward trajectory in field goal percentage, peaking at 100% (13-for-13) in 2024 after improving from 60% to 90.5% between 2022-23
- Versatile skill set includes experience as a punter, offering emergency backup capabilities at the next level when roster spots are precious
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Early career consistency issues, particularly in 2020-22, raise questions about his ability to maintain his recent excellent performance under NFL pressure
- Limited experience kicking in extreme weather conditions given his primary experience in ACC territory, particularly the Florida climate
- Slightly slower operation time from snap to kick compared to NFL averages, though this improved significantly in his final season
- Occasional tendency to push kicks right when attempting to maximize distance, though this flaw largely disappeared in 2024
Scouting Report: Summary
Fitzgerald projects as an immediate NFL starter with the potential to become a franchise cornerstone at the position. His remarkable improvement curve, particularly his perfect 2024 campaign, suggests a kicker who's figured out both the mental and physical aspects of his craft. The leg strength is NFL-ready, as evidenced by his ACC-record 59-yarder, and his near-perfect accuracy on PATs will be particularly valuable given the NFL's longer extra point distance.His ideal fit would be with a dome team or warm-weather franchise that can maximize his leg strength and precision, though his success in various ACC venues suggests he can adapt to different conditions. Any team looking for stability in their kicking game should have Fitzgerald high on their board - his combination of power, accuracy, and clutch performance is rare for a collegiate kicker.
While his athletic limitations might give some teams pause, Fitzgerald's technical excellence and proven ability to deliver in high-pressure situations more than compensate.
Ryan Fitzgerald percentiles vs other Kickers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Ryan Fitzgerald (Overall Rank)
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.