For the second time in the last month, Fresno State will be without its primary kicker, Colin McGuire. This time, though, it has the feel of permanence.
According to head coach Tim DeRuyter, McGuire has left the football team to deal with what he described as “personal issues with his family.” McGuire had been given time off early on in summer camp to deal with similar issues.
When or even if McGuire returns wasn’t detailed.
“We really appreciate the contributions from Colin over the last year and a half -- he helped us win a Mountain West Conference championship,” DeRuyter said according to the Fresno Bee. “We let him have a couple of weeks off during training camp this year to deal with some personal issues with his family. We thought we were over the hump, but clearly he has to spend some more time taking care of that and we wish him all the best as he deals with this difficult time in his life.”
Last season as a true freshman, McGuire connected on 11-of-16 field goal attempts. McGuire didn’t attempt a field goal in the opener against USC, but did hit on one of his two extra point attempts.
Freshman walk-on Kody Kroening will assume the PAT and field-goal duties, while punter Garrett Swanson will continue his kickoff duties.