By Heath Bradley.

By Heath Bradley

CLEMSON – Prior to Clemson’s victory over Duke last week, quarterback Tajh Boyd said he wished the Tigers never had to settle for field goals. It was nothing against placekicker Chandler Catanzaro, who is one of the nation’s best; just a goal of Boyd’s to have one of the most efficient and explosive offenses in the country.

Well Boyd got his wish. In the 56-20 victory over the Blue Devils the Tigers did not attempt a field goal, leaving Catanzaro’s only duty to kick extra points after eight touchdowns. When asked earlier this week, Catanzaro was happy for the success of the offense, saying he will fill whatever role is needed, whether it is kicking field goals or extra points.

“I enjoy watching the offense succeed like they are,” he said. “They are unbelievably talented and it is fun to watch. I am there whenever they need me to put it in the uprights for them.”

Catanzaro is one of the best in the nation at putting it through the uprights, recently being named a semifinalist for the Groza Award as the nation’s top placekicker. This year, the junior has connected on 12 of 13 field goals, and at one point made 20 straight dating back to last season.

“It is an honor to be a semifinalist, but I am focused on being my best and at the end of the season I will see where I stack up,” Catanzaro said.

While the miss at Wake Forest on Oct. 25 is still fresh in mind, he is proud of the record he was able to set at Clemson, is using the positives of the streak to hopefully start a new streak the next time he is called upon.

“Missing is never a good thing,” he said. “I was really disappointed about it. You have to look at the positives of what I accomplished, twenty kicks in a row is a milestone. It is pretty cool to look back and see my road from the game winner against Wake Forest to Wake Forest this year.”

There was a time a few years ago at Clemson where fans dreaded seeing a kicker run on to the field. They would pray he would find a way to make the kick. Those days are long gone, and Catanzaro has joined David Treadwell, Bob Pauling, Obed Ariri, Donald Igwebuike, Chris Gardocki, Nelson Welch and Aaron Hunt as one of the more consistent kickers in Clemson history.

It’s a group he is very proud to be a part of.

“That is what I have been trying to develop here,” he said. “I believe that I did not come to Clemson to be just another kicker. I came here to change perceptions, to leave a legacy, and that is what I believe I am doing.”