USC Kicker Ryon Sayeri Named Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week

LOS ANGELES – USC kicker Ryon Sayeri earned Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance in USC's 21-17 victory over Nebraska in front of a hostile road environment on Saturday (Nov. 1).

This is the first Big Ten weekly honor for Sayeri and the third for USC this season. USC quarterback Jayden Maiava earned Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week honors after leading the Trojans to a 73-13 victory over Missouri State in USC's season opener, and running back King Miller was honored as Big Ten Freshman of the Week after his performance in USC's decisive 31-13 victory over No. 15 Michigan on Oct. 11.

Sayeri scored 8 points for the Trojans: 2 field goals (49 and 24 yards) and 2 PATs, all of which were massive in what proved to be a four-point game. He also tallied 5 kickoffs for 323 yards (64.6 avg.) and 2 touchbacks.

He is tied for No. 7 in the nation in field goal percentage with 93.3% accuracy going 14-of-15. He's second in the Big Ten.

Sayeri is 4-of-4 in field goals versus ranked AP opponents, and he's 5-of-5 over 40+ yards. He's averaging 9.5 points per game which ranks him 12^th in the nation and second in the Big Ten. Additionally, he's averaging 1.75 FGs per game (12^th in the nation and third in the Big Ten).

Sayeri has scored 76 total points this season, 19^th in the nation and third in the Big Ten.

On kickoffs, he's recorded 46 touchbacks, which is tied for seventh-most in the Power Four and tied for first in the Big Ten.

After Saturday's game, USC head coach Lincoln Riley was asked by the media if it's normal for a first-year kicker to be as calm as Sayeri. Riley responded with an emphatic "no."

When asked if he's ever had a kicker like Sayeri, Riley said, "We've had some pretty good ones throughout my career, but his poise and presence, the confidence he has and the confidence our whole team has in him, is off the charts right now. The guy has been incredible for us all year. He doesn't miss very often, which is a pretty good quality for a kicker I was told," he said with a laugh. "He doesn't miss in practice. He doesn't miss in games. He's the same steady guy the whole way through. He's one of the biggest stories of our team right now."

After a late road game, USC has a quick turnaround as the Trojans host the Northwestern Wildcats in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Friday night (Nov. 7) at 6 p.m. PT.

Players Mentioned

Jayden Maiava

King Miller

Ryon Sayeri