After missing half of six field goals attempts to begin the season, Ball State University redshirt freshman place kicker Jake Hogue might not be attempting field goals next week at Navy.
Cardinals' coach Brady Hoke said Monday he had opened the competition for the kicking position Sunday night between Hogue and backup Ian McGarvey. Both kickers traveled with the team to Eastern Michigan University last weekend, and Hoke said he plans to use both kickers in the next two weeks.
"We weren't very good kicking field goals [the past two weeks]," Hoke said. "We're looking at who's going to kick without feeling the pressure of the big stage. We're going to have a good crowd at the Naval Academy a week from now and there will be a lot of red at Nebraska the next week."
Hoke said Hogue has the stronger leg, but that McGarvey's leg has enough power to make that a moot point. Instead, Hoke said the team is looking for the more accurate kicker.
"We've got to have consistency," Hoke said. "We were fortunate enough last week to score enough points offensively. But that's not going to be the norm most weeks. We're going to need those points, those field goals to win us the game."
Though Hogue has struggled with field goals, Hoke said the first-year player has performed well with kickoffs. Against Eastern Michigan, Hogue had one touchback and averaged 62.7 yards on seven kickoffs.
"He's been tremendous in that area," Hoke said. "That hasn't been the problem."
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