Alex Kessman

Photo by: Justin Aller/Pitt Athletics

Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics

Position:
PK
Class:
Freshman
Height:
6-3
Weight:
180
Hometown:
Clarkston, MI
High School:
Clarkston

CAREER: As the Panthers’ starting placekicker from 2017-20, compiled 341 points (69-96 FG, 134-138 XP) to rank second all-time at Pitt in kick scoring and third in overall scoring…finished as Pitt’s career leader with 69 field goals…established himself as the greatest long-range field-goal kicker in school history…set Pitt records for 50-yard field goals in a career (12) and season (four in 2018 and 2020)…made 12-of-18 field goals of 50-plus yards for his career…his 66.7% success rate from that range set an NCAA record…to achieve that NCAA mark, Kessman surpassed Arizona’s Max Zendejas, who converted 14 of 23 from 50 yards for a 60.9% success rate from 1982-85 (minimum total to be considered for the NCAA record is 15 attempts)…the longest field goal of his career was a school-record 58-yarder at Boston College (Oct. 10, 2020)…set the Heinz Field record for longest field goal by a collegian or professional with a 55-yarder against Syracuse (Oct. 6, 2018).

2020: All-ACC (second team)…semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (nation’s top placekicker)…led the ACC and ranked second nationally with an average of 2.09 field goals per contest…paced the Panthers in scoring for the fourth consecutive year with a career-high 100 points…his point total ranked third in the ACC and 12^th nationally…kicked 23-of-29 field goals (79%) and 31-of-32 extra points (97%)…his 23 field goals tied Pitt’s season record (set by Dan Hutchins, 2009)…totaled 44 touchbacks on 69 kickoffs (64%)…kicked a school-record 58-yard field goal at Boston College, eclipsing his own mark of 56 yards (shared with Chris Blewitt)…tied his own season record with four field goals of 50-plus yards…three-time ACC Specialist of the Week (Louisville, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech)…also earned Groza Award “Stars of the Week” recognition for his performance in those contests…scored a career-high 17 points in a 47-14 win over Virginia Tech, converting each of his nine placements (four field goals and five extra points)…boomed field goals of 53 and 52 yards against the Hokies…accounted for 14 points in the Panthers’ season-ending 34-20 victory at Georgia Tech, converting each of his six placements (four field goals and two extra points)…was crucial in Pitt’s 23-20 win over Louisville, compiling 11 points…was perfect on five placements against the Cardinals, kicking three field goals (45, 41 and 42 yards) and each of his two PATs.

2019: Compiled 95 points to lead Pitt in scoring for the third consecutive year…converted 22-of-31 field goals (71%) and 29-of-30 PATs (98%)…ranked 12th nationally with an average of 1.69 field goals per game…totaled 37 touchbacks on 63 kickoffs (59%)…had a season-high 13 points in the regular-season finale against Boston College, converting each of his four field goal attempts (23, 35, 48 and 43 yards) and lone PAT…named the ACC Specialist of the Week for his performance against Miami…converted 4-of-4 field goals (a season-long 54-yarder as well as kicks of 25, 29 and 29 yards) in accounting for 12 points against the Hurricanes…became the first Pitt kicker to make four field goals in a game since Kevin Harper at Notre Dame on Nov. 3, 2012…had a 51-yard field goal in Pitt’s 34-30 Quick Lane Bowl victory over Eastern Michigan.

2018: Led Pitt in scoring for the second consecutive season, totaling 79 points on 13-of-17 field goals (77%) and 40-of-42 PATs (95%)…set a school record with four field goals of 50-plus yards during the 2018 season…had 44 touchbacks on 73 kickoffs (60%)…selected All-ACC (third team)…twice notched a season-high 14 points in a game, initially setting the personal milestone in the Panthers’ 44-37 overtime win over Syracuse…was perfect on each of his eight kicks against the Orange (3-of-3 field goals and 5-of-5 PATs), including field goals from 54, 55 and 45 yards…the 55-yarder marked the longest in Heinz Field history by either an NFL or collegiate kicker…also accounted for 14 points in Pitt's 54-45 win over Duke, again converting 3-of-3 field goals (27, 54 and 48 yards) and each of his five PATs…earned ACC Specialist of the Week and Lou Groza “Stars of the Week” recognition for his play against the Blue Devils…selected the John Fulmer Most Valuable Special Teams Player for his performance against Stanford in the Sun Bowl…converted 2-of-3 field goals (the lone miss from 55 yards) and had touchbacks on all four of his kickoffs against the Cardinal.

2017: Seized Pitt’s starting placekicking duties in his first active season…converted 11-of-19 field goals (58%) and 34-of-34 PATs (100%) for a team-high 67 points… had 29 touchbacks on 58 kickoffs (50%)…kicked a 56-yard field goal at Syracuse, tying Chris Blewitt’s school record (56 yards at Georgia Tech on Oct. 17, 2015) and breaking the Carrier Dome mark previously held by North Carolina's Dan Orner (55 yards, 2002)…scored a season-high 10 points at Syracuse, converting each of his four placements…in addition to his lone PAT attempt, Kessman kicked field goals of 56, 49 and 42 yards against the Orange…named the ACC Specialist of the Week for his Syracuse performance…also kicked a 55-yard field goal at Georgia Tech.

2016: Did not play in any games and redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: An accomplished specialist who played diverse roles for Clarkston, a Michigan Class 1 power…in addition to placekicking and punting, Kessman also started at quarterback and safety as a senior for the Wolves…Associated Press All-State Division 1-2 as a placekicker…Detroit News All-State “Dream Team” as a punter…his senior year, converted 5-of-10 field goals (including a 56-yarder, the fourth longest in state history) and 32-of-32 extra points…averaged nearly 40 yards per punt…helped team to a three-year record of 36-4 (.900) and two state championships…played under Coach Kurt Richardson…selected to play in the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) East-West All-Star Game.

PERSONAL: Alex Thomas Kessman, born 1/2/98, is the son of David and Kathy Kessman…has one sister...earned his bachelor’s degree in administration of justice and is pursuing a second major in public service.