Pitt secures transfer kicker Samuel Hunsaker to shore up special teams

Samuel Hunsaker committed to the University of Pittsburgh on Jan. 11, 2026, giving the Panthers a veteran option at kicker after freshman Trey Butkowski transferred to Michigan. Hunsaker announced the move on X following an official visit and arrives with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Hunsaker spent his college career at Northern Arizona, where he converted 15 of 22 field-goal attempts with a long of 50 yards and went 63 of 64 on PATs. That production translates to roughly a 68 percent field-goal conversion rate and near-perfect point-after reliability, numbers that provide Pitt with both range and consistency as the team reshapes its special teams unit. Hunsaker was also a semifinalist for the Fred Mitchell Award, recognizing his standing among top collegiate kickers.

For Pitt, the timing matters. The program needed a kicker after Butkowski entered the transfer portal and committed elsewhere, creating an immediate vacancy on the depth chart. Hunsaker’s two remaining seasons give the Panthers short-term stability and a chance to evaluate him through spring practice and summer workouts before the 2026 season. His 50-yard long suggests he can be a strategic option on longer attempts and late-game situations where range matters.

Hunsaker joins a collection of transfer additions to Pitt’s portal class in early January, part of a flurry of roster movement that affects special teams, offense, and defense heading into the spring. For coaches, his arrival offers flexibility in kickoff strategy, field-goal decision-making, and in-game roster management without having to rely solely on incoming recruits or walk-ons for the kicking game.

Community relevance is straightforward: Pitt fans and alumni now have a clear candidate to watch for the starting job, and game-planning expectations shift slightly when a kickers’ range and accuracy improve. Special teams play often decides close FCS and FBS matchups, so boosting reliability on PATs and trust on 40-to-50-yard tries can change late-game calculus.

What comes next is evaluation in the Panthers’ offseason program. Hunsaker will get reps in spring ball and the coaching staff will test him in live reps and situational drills. For fans, keep an eye on special teams reports and depth-chart updates; Hunsaker’s performance this spring will determine whether he becomes the go-to leg for 2026 or enters a competitive battle for the job.