TOLEDO, Ohio - It would be fair to say that
Jameson Vest doesn't fit the stereotype of a kicker. He didn't play soccer growing up. In high school, he wasn't a kicking specialist, the skinny kid whose object was to trot on the field when a drive stalled.
In fact, most Rocket fans would probably be surprised though to learn that the Peachtree City, Ga. native was actually a star quarterback in high school.
That's right. Before he became one of the best placekickers in Toledo history, Vest stood under center for Our Lady of Mercy High School and passed for nearly 3,000 yards in addition to running for over 1,700 yards in his junior and senior seasons.
"I was a good athlete growing up and when I tried football I liked it," Vest said. "When we had kicker tryouts in Pee Wee football I always won the job. That just transitioned into high school when I was playing quarterback too. Kicking is just something I've always been good at."
Vest's success booting the ball through the uprights led him to begin the pursuit of a college scholarship by the end of his sophomore year. That's when he started to devote more time to perfecting his technique.
"Once I realized kicking was something that I could do in college, I started to split my time between position work and kicking," Vest said. "I kicked about 50 field goals three or maybe four days a week. Kicking is a lot like pitching because you need to limit yourself to a kick count so you're leg doesn't get tired."
He began to work with instructor Adam Tanalski and traveled to kicking camps in 10 different states following his junior year in an attempt to get even better. That additional effort paid off when he was offered a chance to join the Rockets' program.
"I did have some interest in playing quarterback and kicker at a smaller college, but when Toledo offered me the opportunity I jumped on it," Vest said.
Vest made an immediate impact for the Rockets. He ranked fifth in the MAC with a 70.4 field-goal percentage as freshman, highlighted by a 42-yarder that sent a game vs. Iowa State into double overtime. After converting 13-of-19 attempts as a sophomore, Vest took his game to another level with a school- record 25 field goals and a MAC-best 83.3 field-goal percentage. Now he is just nine field goals away from tying Rusty Hanna (68 from 1989-92) for the most conversions in school history.
Vest is quick to credit the success in his career to having a good holder and snapper, as well as good blocking from the offensive line. This year he is breaking in a new holder and snapper with senior
Jalen Reese and sophomore
Sean Mills taking over those important roles, respectively.
"Jalen takes pride in what he does and has done really well even though he had never held before this season," Vest said. "Sean has come a long way too after transferring here from Illinois. Things were a little bit shaky in May when we first started working together, but we've really came together as a unit and gotten better."
It's that type of commitment to be the best that makes Head Coach
Jason Candle value the kicker that Vest has become since arriving on campus.
"I really appreciate Jameson's attention to detail and approach to being a really good player," the 2017 MAC Coach of the Year said. "He definitely is an offensive weapon for us. We put a lot on his shoulders and trust him to make kicks in big moments. Jameson has proven that throughout his career and his routine is very consistent. The way he's perfected his craft is as good as any player we've had."
Vest hopes his consistency and reliability make him attractive enough to catch on with an NFL team and follow in the footsteps of several of his former teammates.
"My first option after our season is over is to try kicking at the next level and see how far I can take this," said Vest, a mechanical engineering major who is scheduled to graduate in December. "I know I have a good Plan B if I don't make it, and that I'll be able to get a good job with my degree."
