MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Fifteen months ago, when placekicker Jack Cassidy arrived on the campus of Western Kentucky University, he didn’t grasp on when he was to kickoff.
“I didn’t understand the rules of the game,” Cassidy said. “I try to watch as many games as I can, be it college, NFL or whatever it is to understand and grasp, so I never really mess up.”
A native of Derry, Ireland who grew up playing Hurling and Gaelic Football, Cassidy showcased a strong leg in his lone season with the Hilltoppers, recording touchbacks on 51 of 72 kickoffs and making all three of his field-goal attempts from 41, 53 and 55 yards.
That caught the attention of West Virginia, where Cassidy is now excelling during his redshirt senior season. Cassidy has upped his touchback percentage to just south of 85 having booted one on 28 of 33 kickoffs, and he’s made all four field-goal attempts while knocking in 24-of-24 point-after kicks.
“I didn’t know anything about the sport and became fully set on trying to take this journey I’m on as far as possible. I wanted to play at the highest level,” Cassidy said. “West Virginia is a massive football program, so once they came knocking, it was a no-brainer for me to come here, compete and play on the biggest stage and see how far I can take this career. I’ve loved every minute of it so far.”
While American football wasn’t part of Cassidy’s upbringing as he continued a family tradition and played the national sports of Ireland, he discovered it could be as fellow countrymen began to earn opportunities at the highest level.
“It meant a lot to me, and to be honest, I kind of thought that I was going to spend the rest of my years there,” Cassidy said. “But through playing Gaelic football, I was pretty decent at kicking a ball.
“I later came across kicking on social media. At the time, a couple of people with a similar background to me who played Gaelic football were going to the NFL combine, and then Charlie Smyth signs with the [New Orelans] Saints. Through that and social media, I attended a few sessions, and very quickly realized that this is something I can do. I didn’t think it would happen as fast as it did. I fully bought in January of 2025, and by May, I had signed to Western Kentucky University. So it happened very fast.”
In a way, so, too, has Cassidy’s ascension as a key component of West Virginia’s special teams.
He won a preseason kicking competition with teammates Nate Flower and Peter Notaro, though Cassidy notes it was anything but lopsided.
“I had some dark days during fall camp, but everything is always new,” Cassidy said. “How can I deal with it, adapt, and overcome any challenge that comes? Just always trying to get better every day.”
Cassidy’s touchback percentage is 19th among all FBS kickers, which stands out to WVU head coach Rich Rodriguez.
“The first thing we were looking for in a kicker was a guy that could kick it out of the end zone on kickoffs most of the time to try and relieve that worry, and he’s been really good at that,” Rodriguez said. “And then the field goal part of it, somebody that could be pretty consistent. He and Nate Flower had a great competition. Nate’s still there, but Jack’s been really good. I don’t think he’s missed one, has he? His kickoffs have been really good. He’s been really consistent in practice, too, and he’s been a great addition for us.”
Continuing to showcase the consistency that’s critical to success for any kicker would allow Cassidy to make the most of his lone campaign in Morgantown and increase the chances of an opportunity at the next level he so desires.
That won’t be a tough selling point despite going against family tradition.
“I can safely say I didn’t know college football existed probably two years ago. My friends try to understand. My family and my girlfriend have been to a few games, so they’re starting to wrap their head around it,” Cassidy said. “They stay up until 4 o’clock in the morning to watch some of the night games. They’re obsessed with it. My little cousins as well. But I don’t think people really understand the scale of it. The most people I played in front of back home was 40,000, and now it’s like week after week, you’re playing in front of 60,000 and it’s just the regular. From where I come from, it’s not normal, but you just kind of have to take it day by day and appreciate every chance you get.”