Western Illinois kicker Owen Valek showed true freshman poise with a booming leg
In the 2023 season, Owen Valek was Western Illinois’ starting kicker in all 11 games, leading the team with 30 points while going 6-for-10 on field goals, 12-for-14 on extra points, and drilling a long of 49 yards. He looks like a developmental specialist with real range and in-game confidence, especially from distance, but the missed kicks suggest he was still finding consistency. For a team needing a young leg with upside, Valek’s combo of size, experience, and upside is interesting; for one demanding automatic week-to-week reliability, he was still more promise than polish.
