Drew Stevens reflects on career after breaking Iowa football’s all-time made field goals record

IOWA CITY — It was a record No. 20 Iowa knew Drew Stevens would eventually own, even if it broke in the middle of a two-score comeback against Penn State.

The Hawkeye kicker drilled a 31-yard field goal against the Nittany Lions in the third quarter. That was the record, 68 made field goals in his career. It surpassed Nate Kaeding (2000-03), who held the record for more than 20 years at that point.

Kaeding sent Stevens a text congratulating him.

“It's an awkward feeling at first,” Stevens said, laughing. “But I don't know, I mean, it's friendly bantering and stuff.”

Stevens’ four-year career as the Iowa kicker hasn’t been filled with perfect kicking percentages and 70-yard field goals. The gradual rise to now 70 made field goals in his career cements Stevens in Iowa football history.

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“It's cool,” Stevens said. “Like, a lot of things, I feel like really fell into my place. Our team gives me a lot of attempts it just kind of works out that way. Some of it, I think, is a little bit luck that I get the opportunities I get. A lot of it plays into the coaching staff's hands here for trusting me to have those opportunities to go and perform, and then it was just the right situation.”

Growing up in North Augusta, S.C., Stevens played high school football with teammates recruited to SEC programs. He committed to Iowa in late June 2021, heading into his senior year.

Stevens eventually was one of two true freshmen named a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, given to the top placekicker in college football every year. Stevens set the Iowa freshman record with 16 made field goals.

“He came in and set the world on fire year one,” special teams coordinator LeVar Woods said. “Eighy-nine-percent field goals, three 50-yard field goals. That gets you to the Pro Bowl in the National Football League.”

He’s played in every Hawkeye game of his career and has hit 79.5-percentage of his kicks. Though his sophomore season wasn’t as flashy as his freshman campaign, Stevens has made at least one 50-plus-yard field goal every season.

His most recent? A 54-yarder against Indiana.

“You could tell there was a competitor, there was a tiger in there somewhere just waiting to get turned loose,” Woods said. “I think for him, it's been every single day trying to be consistent, trying to get better, trying to improve at what he does.”

The quiet celebration of Stevens breaking the program record was one that matched his personality some, according to Woods. The special teams coordinator described the 6-foot-1 senior as quiet, though added he might be a bit more personable outside of a coach’s conversation.

Stevens said he’s talked with Kaeding before, and he’s enjoyed getting to learn from a veteran like the former Hawkeye who spent nine years in the NFL.

It’s about learning how the Hawkeye great did things then, and what Stevens could maybe implement into his game as he finishes up his senior year.

“I have had lunch with Nate twice, just talking about just random technical things. Like how was he back in his day? How did he deal with certain situations?” Stevens said. “Because I am trying to play the next level and just the mindset of going from your senior season into potentially NFL team. He's done it, so that's one of the reasons I connected.”

Stevens knows he’s got more attempts left in his college career with four regular season matchups plus a bowl game guaranteed. He’s still trying to be better at his game, fine-tunig technique and improving from mistakes he’s made in-game this year.

“I'd be lying if I said I was, like, super happy with my performance,” Stevens said. “There's just a lot of little things.”

He knows the Hawkeye coaching staff trusts him to step up, too. It’s just a matter of making sure the ball goes through the uprights.

“I'm proud of that kid, as proud of any guy I've ever coached because of how he battles and how he competes,” Woods said. “I believe in him wholeheartedly. I know his teammates do, too. I know Coach (Kirk) Ferentz does. So he continues to show us in practice, so we continue to put him in situations.”

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