Indianapolis Colts Sign Former Utah Kicker Matt Gay To Practice Squad
Sep 15, 2020, 1:26 PM | Updated: 2:07 pm
(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Indianapolis Colts signed former Utah Utes place kicker Matt Gay following the opening week of the 2020 NFL season.
Indianapolis officially added Gay to its practice squad roster on Tuesday, September 15.
Gay’s signing comes one day after the Colts brought him in for a workout.
During the Colts’ week one loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis’ rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship missed one his field goal attempts.
We have signed K Matt Gay to the practice squad and released DE Gerri Green from the practice squad.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 15, 2020
The former Utah kicker was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers only days before the start of the 2020 season. Tampa Bay replaced Gay with veteran kicker Ryan Succop.
2019 was Gay’s rookie season in the NFL and his only year with the Bucs.
Congratulations to #TeamDEC client @MGtweetymonster on signing with @Colts practice squad.
— DEC Management (@davidcanter) September 15, 2020
During his first season, Gay connected on 27 of his 35 field goal attempts. He made five of his eight kicks from beyond 50 yards. However, Gay struggled on shorter field goal attempts and missed five kicks between 30-49 yards.
Gay also struggled on point(s) after touchdown (PAT) kicks and missed five extra point attempts in 2019.
That dude Matt Gay out here hitting game winners.#GoBucs | #MIAvsTB pic.twitter.com/BTzQpctg6q
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 17, 2019
He was originally drafted by Tampa Bay during the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Matt Gay’s career at Utah
Prior to his time in the NFL, Gay was an All-American player for the University of Utah.
During his Utah career, the kicker received the following honors.
- Consensus All-American (2017)
- Lou Groza Award (2017)
- Two-time First-team All-Pac-12 (2017-18)
THIS GUY.
Matt Gay putting the team on his leg with a 53-yard FG. pic.twitter.com/gaAIFAsC10
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 1, 2018
Gay left Utah as the program’s record holder for 50-yard field goal made with eight. He ranks third all-time at Utah with 56 career field goals and career kick scoring points with 253 points. Gay’s career field goal percentage of 86.15% is second all-time for the Utes.