Stampeding Through the 2025 USF Football Roster: #42 K Adam Zouagui

PLAYER: Adam Zouagui

POSITION: Kicker

YEAR: Redshirt junior

HEIGHT/WEIGHT: 5’11”, 175 lbs.

HOW DID HE GET HERE? Zouagui went to Herndon High School, just outside DC on the Virginia side. He played two years of college ball at FCS Davidson College, where he saw work as both a kicker and punter. His freshman season was quite a success, as he made 7 of 9 field goals, handled kickoff duties for the Wildcats, and was named Honorable Mention All-Pioneer League. Things didn’t go quite as smoothly in his sophomore season last year, but he did step up his workload to include punting as well. He entered the transfer portal after the season and signed with the Bulls in December.

HOW WAS HIS 2024 SEASON? A special teams renaissance man, Zouagui handled field goals, kickoffs, and punts for Davidson in 2024. His field goal accuracy took a dive (4 of 16 on FGs), but here’s the thing: Zouagui can boot the heck out of the ball. Per PFF, he kicked off 66 times for the Wildcats in 2024, and 46 of those were touchbacks. That’s a 70% touchback rate! If we include kickoffs that were fair caught outside the end zone, then the number rises to 74%. For comparison: Nico Gramatica handled most kickoffs for USF last season, and he had a 45% touchback rate and a 60% touchback + fair catch rate. Ty Ippolito handled a few kickoffs as well, and his rates were 22% and 44%, respectively.

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN 2025? USF’s leading field goal kicker, John Cannon, transferred to Western Kentucky after the season, leaving Gramatica and his monster leg as the heir apparent. Barring injuries, I don’t think we’ll see Zouagui on field goals or punts - he was almost certainly brought in to be the kickoff specialist, or at least to compete for the job. It’s a very winning-in-the-margins move from the Bulls, and I love it.