ORANGEBURG, S.C. – These past two seasons of college football have been memorable in more ways than one for Nico Cavanillas.
Coming off a NAIA national title and another NAIA title game appearance with Keiser, the 6-foot, 175-pound kicker has certainly made the most of his two-year experience in Palm Beach County. In 23 total games, the junior from Redmond, Ore. (Redmond High School alum) recorded the following statistics:
•22-of-28 in field goal attempts (78.75 conversion rate); 11-of-13 in field goal attempts (85.0 percent) with long of 39 yards in 2024; 11-of-15 field goal attempts (73.33 percent) with long of 38 yards in 2023
•99 point after attempts (PAT’s) made; 58-for-59 (98.30 conversion rate) in PAT’s for 2024 season; 41-for-42 (97.61 conversion rate) in PAT’s for 2023 season
•165 total points
•77 kickoffs for 4,374 yards; 56.8-yard kickoff average
•10 touchbacks
Cavanillas earned the following honors this past season at Keiser:
- CSC Academic All-District selection for the first time
- Garnered a 3.90 in business administration – management
- Second-team all-conference selection
- Ended the 2024 season ranked at No. 25 in the nation in points with 91
- Set single-season school record in extra points made with 58; No. 10 in the nation
- Two-time Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Week
Cavanillas garnered more honors that came from his first season at Keiser in 2023. They were as follows:
- 7-of-7 (100 percent) on FG attempts between 20 and 29 yards
- Scored 74 points during the 2023 season
- Responsible for a season-high 12 points at Ave Maria (Oct. 28, 2023)
- Tied school record for extra points made with eight (twice)
- Recorded 3,922 yards on kickoffs
- Named the Sun Conference Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 13, 2023)
- NAIA National Champion
We have a highlight to show you with Cavanillas in action during Keiser’s playoff run this past season.
We also have a clip to show you with Cavanillas reflecting on his time at Keiser and more.
All of this has given Cavanillas the opportunity to enter the transfer portal and take his talents to the next level.
Cavanillas went on to earn two scholarship offers from Stetson and South Carolina State.
After mulling between the two institutions, he went with SC State and explained his decision.
“It was that great progam that Coach [Chennis] Berry has established, what they’re all about, and their mentality,” the kicker said.
Cavanillas shared his appreciation for all that Keiser has done for him over the past two championship seasons on the NAIA level.
“Keiser opened their doors to me when I needed a place to grow as both a player and a person,” Cavanillas said. “I will always be grateful for that, but sometimes you need to look for new challenges, and that’s what I did. Both Coach [Doug] Socha and Coach [Myles] Russ were great coaches, and I’m truly thankful that they believed in me every step of the way for these past two seasons.”
PHOTO CREDITS: South Carolina State Football
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