{{Short description|American football player (born 2003)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography |name=Dominic Zvada |image= MBN S24G01 FRESNOST-41 (cropped).jpg |image_size= |caption= Zvada with the Michigan Wolverines in 2024 |team= New York Giants |number=34 |position=Placekicker |birth_date={{birth date and age|2003|10|25}} |birth_place= |heightft=6 |heightin=3 |weight_lb=178 |highschool=Valley Christian (Chandler, Arizona) |college= *Arkansas State (2022–2023) *Michigan (2024–2025) |pastteams= *New York Giants ({{NFL Year|2026}}–present) |status=Active |highlights= * First-team All-American (2024) * Big Ten Kicker of the Year (2024) * First-team All-Big Ten (2024) * First-team All-Sun Belt (2022) * Freshman All-American (2022) |espn=5082424 |pfr=ZvadDo00 }}
'''Dominic Zvada''' (born October 25, 2003) is an American professional football placekicker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Michigan Wolverines. Zvada was an All-American and the Big Ten Kicker of the Year with Michigan in 2024. He was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2026.
==Early life== Zvada was born on October 25, 2003, the son of Jeff and Jody Zvada, and attended Valley Christian High School in Chandler, Arizona. He was rated as a five-star kicking recruit, holding the Arizona high school state record with a field goal of 55 yards in 2020. Zvada committed to play college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hudgison |first1=Chris |title=Five-star kicker Dominic Zvada commits to Arkansas State |url=https://www.kait8.com/2022/01/20/five-star-kicker-dominic-zvada-commits-arkansas-state/ |website=KAIT |date=20 January 2022 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Gladstone |first1=Mitchell |title='It's that elite:' Inside the rise of Dominic Zvada, ASU's nearly perfect freshman kicking sensation |url=https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2022/oct/28/its-that-elite-inside-the-rise-of-dominic-zvada/ |website=Arkansas Northwest Democrat-Gazette |date=28 October 2022 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref>
==College career== ===Arkansas State=== As a freshman in 2022, Zvada made 17 of his 18 field goal attempts and 30 of his 31 extra point attempts, with his only misses being blocked. For his performance, he finished the year as a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and a Freshman All-American.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldman |first1=Lys |title=Kicker Dominic Zvada transfers to Michigan from Arkansas State |url=https://www.michigandaily.com/sports/football/kicker-dominic-zvada-transfers-to-michigan-from-arkansas-state/ |website=The Michigan Daily |date=26 April 2024 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Balas |first1=Chris |title=Michigan football finds its portal kicker in Dominic Zvada |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/michigan-wolverines/news/michigan-football-finds-its-portal-kicker-in-dominic-zvada/ |website=On3.com |date=26 April 2024 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref> In 2023, Zvada converted on 17 of his 22 field goal attempts and made all 41 of his extra points.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rutter |first1=Eric |title=Michigan Adds K Dominic Zvada From Transfer Portal |url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-dominic-zvada-kicker-arkansas-state |magazine=Sports Illustrated |date=27 April 2024 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref> After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Zvada entered the NCAA transfer portal.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fragoza |first1=James |title=5 Transfer Portal Landing Spots for Dominic Zvada: Alabama, Oregon State Options for the Arkansas State K? |url=https://collegefootballnetwork.com/5-transfer-portal-landing-spots-for-dominic-zvada-2024/ |website=College Football Network |date=16 April 2024 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Red Wolves starters Keyron Crawford & Dominic Zvada enter transfer portal |url=https://www.kait8.com/video/2024/04/17/red-wolves-starters-keyron-crawford-dominic-zvada-enter-transfer-portal/ |website=KAIT |date=17 April 2024 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref>
===Michigan=== ====2024==== In April 2024, Zvada transferred to the University of Michigan to play for first-year head coach Sherrone Moore.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garcia |first1=Tony |date=April 26, 2024 |title=Michigan football lands kicker Dominic Zvada in transfer portal |url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/college/university-michigan/wolverines/2024/04/26/michigan-football-lands-kicker-dominic-zvada-transfer-portal/73475093007/ |access-date=31 August 2024 |website=Detroit Free Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McMann |first1=Aaron |title=Michigan football set to add a new kicker from the transfer portal |url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/04/michigan-football-set-to-add-a-new-kicker-from-the-transfer-portal.html |website=MLive.com |date=26 April 2024 |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref> He was named the Wolverines starting kicker in the season opener versus Fresno State.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zuke |first1=Ryan |title=Transfer named Michigan's starting kicker: 'Dude has a leg'|url=https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2024/08/transfer-named-michigans-starting-kicker-dude-has-a-leg.html |website=MLive.com |access-date=31 August 2024}}</ref> Zvada made all six kicks, three extra points and three field goals. He connected on fields goals of 55, 53 and 45 yards, earning him the week one Big Ten co-special teams player of the week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.freep.com/story/sports/university-michigan/wolverines/2024/09/01/kicker-dominic-zvada-shows-off-range-reliability-in-michgan-football-debut/75038958007/|title=Dominic Zvada looks like the next big-legged, reliable kicker for Michigan football|work=Detroit Free Press}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/wolverines-kicker-dominic-zvada-earns-big-ten-award-after-week-1-fresno-state|title=Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada earns Big Ten award after Week 1 performance|website=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> In week two against Texas, Zvada was two for two with field goals of 52 and 37 yards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628347#home|title=Michigan v. Texas (2024)|website=ESPN}}</ref> In week five against Minnesota, Zvada connected on his fourth field goal of over 50 yards, making field goals of 53 and 35 yards to remain a perfect 7 of 7 for the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628497#home|title=Michigan v. Minnesota (2024)|website=ESPN}}</ref> He became the only kicker in Michigan football history to successfully make four over 50 yards in the same season, and earned the week five Big Ten special teams player of the week.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/fb/article/blt055d04b48ef532cb/|title=Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and Ohio State Earn Weekly Football Honors|website=Big Ten}}</ref>
In week eleven against Indiana, Zvada connected on field goals of 56, 39 and 22 yards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401628541 |title=Michigan v. Indiana (2024)|website=ESPN}}</ref> In making his 56-yard field goal, he tied his personal best for career long, and became the single-season and career leader in Michigan football history with five field goals made over 50 yards. He was five for five on field goals over 50 yards in 2024 to this point.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2024/11/9/football-postgame-notes-michigan-at-indiana |title=Postgame Notes: #8 Indiana 20, Michigan 15 |publisher=CBS Interactive |work=MGoBlue.com |date=November 9, 2024 |access-date=November 9, 2024}}</ref> Following week eleven, Zvada was named the Big Ten special teams player of the week for a third time in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/fb/article/bltc7e961ed96e92f43/|title=Michigan, Ohio State and UCLA Earn Weekly Football Honors|website=Big Ten}}</ref> After a bye, in week thirteen versus Northwestern, Zvada matched his career long in consecutive games. He connected on field goals of 56 and 28 yards, extending both his school records to six.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401628557/northwestern-michigan|title=Michigan v. Northwestern (2024)|website=ESPN}}</ref> In the last week of the season against Ohio State, Zvada connected on two field goals, a 54 yard in the second quarter and the game-winning 21-yard field goal with 45 seconds left in the game; leading Michigan to a 13–10 win over their arch-rival. He extended both his school records again, remaining a perfect seven for seven in 2024 from field goals over 50 yards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401628566/michigan-ohio-state|title=Michigan v. Ohio State (2024)|website=ESPN}}</ref>
In the ReliaQuest Bowl, Zvada made all four of his field goals (45, 37, 30 and 21 yards), as Michigan defeated Alabama 19-13. He ended the season 21 of 22 (95.5%), with his only miss being blocked.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401677102|title=Michigan defense pressures Milroe all day, Wolverines beat No. 11 Alabama 19-13 in ReliaQuest Bowl|website=ESPN}}</ref> The 95.5 percent conversion rate was a single-season record for the Michigan football program.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/college/michigan/football/michigan-football-kicker-dominic-zvada-set-another-program-record-in-2024-highest-field-goal-percentage-wolverines|title=Kicker Dominic Zvada set another program record in 2024|website=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> Following the 2024 season, Zvada was named an All-Big Ten team selection, awarded the Big Ten Kicker of the Year and was an All-American.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bigten.org/fb/article/bltb8532d0a2076d22c/|title=Big Ten Announces Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Awards|website=Big Ten Conference}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5984654/2024/12/11/college-football-all-america-teams-2024/|title= College football All-America teams 2024: Who joins Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty?|work=The Athletic (The New York Times)}}</ref> He was named a first-team All-American by ESPN, ''The Athletic'' and ''The Sporting News''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mgoblue.com/news/2024/12/19/2024-michigan-football-all-america-honors|title=Graham Earns NCAA Unanimous Consensus All-America Honors|publisher=University of Michigan Athletics}}</ref>
====2025==== On December 10, 2024, Zvada announced he would be returning to Michigan for his senior season in 2025. He was ranked as a consensus top three NFL kicking prospect following his junior season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/college/michigan/article/michigan-football-kicker-dominic-zvada-announces-return-to-wolverines-for-senior-year-241810751/|title=Michigan kicker Dominic Zvada announces return to Wolverines for senior year|website=247Sports}}</ref> In 2025, Zvada failed to replicate the success from the 2024 season, connecting on 17/25 field goals.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/michigan/2025.html|title=2025 Michigan Wolverines Stats|website=Sports Reference (College Football)}}</ref> In week four, he was named the Co-Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Nebraska, making all three field goal attempts and matching his career-long of a 56 yards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://bigten.org/fb/article/58509/|title=Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan and Washington Earn Weekly Football Honors|access-date=September 22, 2025 |date=September 24, 2025 |publisher=Big Ten Conference |work=BigTen.org}}</ref>
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 3 1/4 | weight = 178 | arm span = 31 3/4 | hand span = 9 1/8 | wingspan ft = 6 | wingspan in = 4 7/8 | note = All values from NFL Combine<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/dominic-zvada/32005a56-4141-5291-71ea-5559c0a8c75f |title=Dominic Zvada Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=March 28, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1060076&DraftYear=2026 |title=Dominic Zvada College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=March 28, 2026}}</ref> }}
On April 25, 2026, Zvada signed with the New York Giants after going undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-26 |title=Giants undrafted free agent signings 2026: Dominic Zvada leads list |url=https://nypost.com/2026/04/26/sports/giants-undrafted-free-agent-signings-2026-dominic-zvada-leads-list/ |access-date=2026-04-27 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Giants sign seven undrafted rookie free agents|url=https://www.giants.com/news/giants-sign-six-undrafted-rookie-free-agents-2026-rookie-minicamp-thaddeus-dixon-ben-barten-dominic-zvada|author=Salomone, Dan|website=Giants.com|date=May 8, 2026}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} *[https://astateredwolves.com/sports/football/roster/dominic-zvada/6139 Arkansas State Red Wolves bio] *[https://mgoblue.com/sports/football/roster/dominic-zvada/25738 Michigan Wolverines bio]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zvada, Dominic}} Category:2003 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:Players of American football from Chandler, Arizona Category:American football placekickers Category:Arkansas State Red Wolves football players Category:Michigan Wolverines football players Category:New York Giants players