The past two seasons Mark was an outstanding placekicker. As a junior he connected on 5 of 9 FG attempts, and in his senior year he nailed 7 of 12 attempts. Mark made headlines last year when he boomed a 61-yard FG. He tried a 74-yarder, but it came up five yards short.

Mark is also a solid punter. As a junior he averaged 39.5 yards per kick. Last season he averaged 42.5 yards per kick.

Mark says that 83% [29 of 35] of his kickoffs went for touchbacks.

Q&A

TI: First of all, we’d like to discuss your plans for next season.

MW: Right now it looks like I’ll be going to Alabama as a walkon.

TI: Is that subject to change?

MW: It’s not likely to change. But if a good scholarship offer comes along, it would be tough to turn it down. LSU has called me a few times recently and said they think they may have a scholarship for me. But I’m not sure that’ll happen. I’m almost positive I’ll be at Alabama.

TI: Did any schools offer you a scholarship?

MW: UCF called on signing day and said they had one available if I was interested. I really wasn’t very interested. Auburn had offered me at one time and then backed out.

TI: What happened?

MW: I really don’t know. They offered me a scholarship and set me up for an official visit and then canceled the whole thing. I didn’t even visit there. It bothered me a little that they did that -- but that’s part of recruiting. I’m not bitter about it.

TI: How did Alabama get involved?

MW: Well, Coach [Jeff] Rouzie saw me kick last Spring and liked what he saw. He kept in touch throughout the recruiting process and showed a lot of interest. But he told me up front that Alabama did not plan to sign a kicker this year. I decided that if I was going to be a walkon, Alabama would be the best place for me.

TI: Do you think you’ll have the opportunity to kick next season?

MW: I think so. Alabama needs somebody who can come in and win the job. They have a few kickers already there, but I don’t think any of them are established yet. I’ll have the opportunity to go in and prove myself early on.

TI: What about the 61 yarder you hit last season? Were you surprised when you made it?

MW: No, I wasn’t really surprised. I’ve hit from 70 yards a few times in practice, so I was confident that I could make it. I hit it really well. I knew it was good when I hit it.

TI: Is it true that you tried a 74 yarder?

MW: That’s true. We were getting beat pretty bad and I asked my coach to let me try it. I hit that pretty good too. It was right down the middle. It just came up about five or six yards short. It would’ve been good from at least 67 or 68 yards.

TI: Did you use a tee in high school?

MW: I used a one-inch tee.

TI: Are you concerned about not being able to use a tee in college?

MW: Not really. It may cut a couple yards off the distance. But where it really hurts is the height you get on the kicks. They don't get up as well without the tee. I’ve worked without a tee and my kicks were pretty good. I’m not really worried about it.

TI: What’s your mental approach to kicking?

MW: The mental part is so important. I picture myself making the kick before I even attempt it. I never worry that I’m going to miss it. I just think positive thoughts.

TI: Do you also expect to punt at Alabama?

MW: I can. But I don’t think I will. I’ve never worked hard at punting. If I had time to devote to it, I think I could be a pretty good punter. But most of the time I’m concentrating on placekicking.

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