ASU’s Kenny Dillingham sees potential in international kicker this season

Gomez, born and raised in Puebla, Mexico, has been training with the team over the last several weeks to prepare for the upcoming 2025 season. The ASU senior transferred from Eastern Michigan, where he scored 87 points and had an 80 percent field-goal accuracy.

“[Gomez is] kicking,” Dillingham said to the press during practice on Aug. 7, according to 12 Sports’ Jake García. “… I have a lot of confidence he’s making it. Is he gonna miss some kicks? Yeah, but you know what, he’s gonna miss them good.”

Last season, ASU struggled to find a kicker. After a game on Oct. 19, 2024, Dillingham was at his limit after Arizona State’s kicker missed two key field goals.

“Our kicking game’s atrocious,” Dillingham said after the game, according to ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura. “So, if you can kick and you’re at Arizona State, email me. We’re going to have kicking tryouts on Monday, so bring it on.”

Gomez could be the kicker ASU has been looking for. Before football, the ASU senior played soccer until he eventually transitioned.

“Just felt like soccer wasn’t the sport for me anymore and I wasn’t having fun,” Gomez said to García. “I just thought, ‘Why not football?'” And then I realized I had potential. That’s when I started to focus more on kicking.”

The Sun Devils hope that Gomez can bring stability to a position that has plagued Arizona State.