Jackson Kennedy '24 And A Smooth Operation

ITHACA, N.Y. — Minutes before he made the biggest kick of his career — a 30-yarder as time expired to help Cornell beat Yale at the Yale Bowl for the first time since 2009 — Jackson Kennedy knew his team wouldn’t make the moment any more significant than an extra-point in the first quarter. 

Gavin Heintschel would accurately snap the ball back to Ayden McCarter. McCarter would put the ball down — laces out, of course — in time for the approaching Kennedy. Kennedy would strike the ball and send it through the uprights. 

“When they called the field goal team out there, everyone and all the coaches were like, ‘Everyone come together and do your job.’ I am like, ‘No, it is the same kick. You can’t just put more pressure on it.’” 

Kennedy's trust in Heintschel and McCarter has helped him produce impressive numbers as the Big Red’s kicker and punter over the last two seasons. No matter the situation — even the most pressure-packed — he knows the operation will be smooth, allowing his kicks to be good and his punts to travel far more often than not. 

“It’s a relationship that isn’t talked about (enough),” Kennedy said. “There is chemistry there. Even if the snap is high, I know Ayden is going to get the ball down no matter what. I am going through at the same speed because Ayden is magical with the way he gets the ball down with the laces out. Gavin puts it (the snap) on my hip every time for punts.”

A second-team All-Ivy League performer in 2022, Kennedy has made it a point to share the spotlight — and his milestones — with his long-snapper and holder, critical roles that often go unnoticed unless things go wrong. There has been plenty for the trio to celebrate this season. 

Kennedy, a senior, became the 25th Big Red player and the sixth kicker to reach the 100-point mark for his career against Princeton this past week. He also tied the Cornell single-season record for made field goals (14) and moved into fourth place in career field goal makes (21).

As a punter, Kennedy, who’s been named Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week three times in seven weeks, is averaging nearly 40 yards per attempt. Eight of his punts have landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, and four have traveled 50 yards or more. He boomed an 81-yard punt in Cornell’s Week 1 victory over Lehigh, the second-longest in program history. 

“I can trust them on the field, and I think that comes from the relationship we have outside of it,” Kennedy said. “We’re probably together seven out of seven days per week. We’re texting in our group chat all of the time.

“I know once football is over for all of us, we’re still going to be best friends.” 

They have three more games together in the Big Red uniform. Perhaps they will add more milestones to their list. 

“I love them personally,” Kennedy said. “They are all great guys.”

Cornell kicker/punter Jackson Kennedy shares the spotlight — and his milestones — with his long-snapper and holder, roles that often go unnoticed unless things go wrong. There has been plenty for the trio to celebrate this season.