From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Michigan K Dominic Zvada.
No. 96 Dominic Zvada/K Michigan – 6’3, 178 pounds (Senior)
MEASUREMENTS
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Dominic Zvada 6’3/178 9 1/8 31 3/4 N/A
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
N/A N/A N/A N/A
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
N/A N/A N/A
The Good
– Good leg strength capable of hitting from 55-plus yards without much strain
– Repeatable stroke on kicks
– Consistently sends ball end-over-end
– Elite 2024 season that was near-perfect
– Makes are generally down the center, hardly any “close calls”
– Stellar production from 50-plus yards
– Shows ability to make kicks despite poor snaps
– Experience and success kicking in adverse conditions
– Shows short-term memory after missed kicks (only two career games with more than one miss)
– Handful of clutch career makes
– Some experience performing onside kicks (2023 vs Northern Illinois)
The Bad
– Skinny frame
– Ball tends to slice to the left, creating issues when kicking from right hash
– Showed clear 2025 regression after excellent 2024 campaign
– Too many misses from “makeable” range (seven of eight 2025 misses under 48 yards) with streaky play
– Limited experience as kickoff specialist and never recorded a tackle
– Never punted in college to help in emergency situations
Stats
– Career: 72-of-87 on FGs (82.8 percent) and 140-of-142 on XPs (98.6 percent) with long of 56 (hit three times)
– 2025: 17-of-25 on FGs (68 percent) and 43-of-43 on extra points with long of 56
– Made 21-of-22 FGs in 2024 with lone miss blocked (led Big Ten in makes and FG percentage)
– Nine FGs of 50-plus yards in two years at Michigan, including school-record seven in 2024 (hit roughly 11 or 12 over entire four-year career)
– Made 84 percent of his career field goals from 50-plus
– Had at least two kicks blocked
– Made 55 yard field goal in HS (his second attempt of season) and served as team’s punter (averaged 40 yards per punt)
– 18 kickoffs in 2023 and appeared in Kickoff Off Specialist (KOS) role for two games across final two seasons with Michigan
Injury History
– No known injury history
Bio
– Turns 23 in October 2026
– From Chandler, Arizona
– Spent 2023-2023 at Arkansas State, transferred to Michigan for 2024-2025
– Rated as Kohl’s Camp 45th best kicker out of HS, accepted preferred walk-on to Arkansas State (UC Davis and Cal also showed interest)
– STs Coach at Arkansas State once said Zvada showed “humble confidence”
– Set Sun Belt record for most points as freshman (81)
– First team All-Big Ten in 2024
– Considered leaving for draft after 2024 season but chose to return partly to try to win Lou Groza Award after being snubbed as finalist
– Added 10 pounds of muscle from junior to senior season at Michigan
– NFL Combine invite and 2026 Shrine Bowl participant (making 33-yard FG)
– KOS in high school (averaged 60.8 yards per kickoff)
– Didn’t begin kicking until junior year of HS, playing soccer previously
– Personal kicking coach is former Arizona State K Steve Rausch
Tape Breakdown
Dominic Zvada didn’t pick up football until his junior year of high school. Early growing pains created little college interest. But he found his way to Arkansas State, shining for two seasons before transferring to Michigan.
His 2024 season was elite. He missed just one field goal, which was blocked, and repeatedly hit from 50 yards. His stroke is repeatable, and he hits the ball clean and often down the middle.
Kicking in Michigan over the past two years put him in adverse conditions, like a snow game against Ohio State in 2025 or a rain game against Alabama in their 2024 bowl game.
On the negative side, Zvada regressed in 2025 after his great 2024. It’s worth noting there was an operation change with LS William Wagner off to the NFL, but many of his kicks weren’t the operation’s (snap/hold) fault. Zvada tends to slice the ball to the left, creating issues from the right hash.
He also didn’t serve as Michigan’s main kickoff specialist. He has the leg strength to seemingly be competent, but it’s not something he’s done much of in recent years. Hangtime and placement on these are important and something he may have to adjust to. He’s also likely a non-factor as a tackler.
Conclusion
Overall, Dominic Zvada had some impressive boots throughout his career, and his 2024 season in a vacuum made him draft-worthy. But his regression in 2025 will give teams pause and likely cause him to sign as an undrafted free agent. He’ll need to prove his consistency and kickoff ability to win a job.
In body type, Zvada is unique. There aren’t many tall and lanky kickers like him. The only modern-day kicker of his listed proportions is Chris Boswell. But putting pure size aside, my comp is Chad Ryland. A big-legged kicker with a higher career percentage from 50-plus (12 of 18) than he has from 40-49 yards (19 of31).
NFL Projection: Late Day 3-Undrafted
Steelers Depot Grade: 7.1 (Spot Starter – would sign as UDFA, would not draft)
Grade Range: N/A
Games Watched: All 2024 kicks, All 2025 misses, Most 2025 makes, Select Arkansas State kicks
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