Matsuzawa Becomes Hawai'i Starting Kicker
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Kansei Matsuzawa visited the Oakland Coliseum in 2018 and decided he wanted to become an NFL kicker after watching the Raiders vs. Rams game.
- Matsuzawa failed two college entrance exams in Japan, prompting his father to send him on a two‑week solo trip to the United States.
- Matsuzawa traded work for the Fujitsu Frontiers in exchange for practice time on their X‑League field, gaining exposure to American football coaching.
- Matsuzawa sent a highlight reel to about 50 U.S. junior colleges; only Hocking College in Ohio responded with a genuine offer, which he accepted.
- Matsuzawa earned a starting kicker role at the University of Hawai'i in 2024, converting 12 of 16 field‑goal attempts that season.
- Matsuzawa addressed performance‑anxiety issues by working with Hawai'i’s sports‑performance specialist, adopting a process‑focused mindset for the 2025 season.
Why it matters: Matsuzawa’s ascent proves that a Japanese athlete can break into the U.S. college football pipeline, giving Hawaiʻi a reliable kicker and showing mental‑performance coaching can turn raw talent into consistent on‑field results. His story also highlights the importance of mental‑health support in collegiate sports, as his performance anxiety was mitigated through specialist guidance, leading to improved accuracy and confidence.
Ask SkimNews
