Kickers were the story in the first college football game of the 2024 season, but not in the narrative that typically manifests at the college level.
Florida State and Georgia Tech got stellar efforts from their kickers in their tightly contested battle in the Aer Lingus Classic.
The Seminoles saw their kicker, Ryan Fitzgerald, nailed two kicks from 50-plus yards in the first half. That included a 59-yard make in the final seconds of the first half that was good for the second-longest kick in FSU history.
But it was Georgia Tech’s kicker, Aidan Birr, who ultimately had the last laugh in the ACC battle. He made a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give the Yellow Jackets their first win over the Seminoles since 2020.
GEORGIA TECH TAKES DOWN FLORIDA STATE IN IRELAND pic.twitter.com/SB1MoiKXqO
โ Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) August 24, 2024
Here’s what to know about Birr after his kick snapped Georgia Tech’s 15-game losing streak against top-10-ranked opponents.
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Who is Aidan Birr?
Birr is a redshirt sophomore who became Georgia Tech’s primary kicker during the 2023 season. He was a three-star prospect out of Kennedale High School in Texas and was an All-State selection in his final two college seasons.
Birr found success quickly during his lone season as the Yellow Jackets’ starter, as his 89.5 field goal percentage was the second-best for a single season in program history. He also made seven field goals of 40 or more yards during his first season, the most since Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made eight from that distance as a senior in 2016.
Birr added another field goal of 40-plus yards to his resume on his game-winning kick against the Seminoles. Next up for him will be making one from 50-plus yards.
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Aidan Birr stats vs. FSU
- Field goals: 1/2 (50%)
- Long: 44 yards
- Extra points: 3/3 (100%)
Birr actually missed his first field goal of the season against FSU. The Yellow Jackets had him try a 51-yard field goal on their first drive of the second half. He missed it wide right.
Birr’s second field goal attempt was much better, as it split the uprights to give Georgia Tech the victory. The second-year starter made all three of his extra points to give him a solid 4-for-5 day on his kicks to start the season.
Considering that Birr’s lone miss came from 51 yards away, that’s a pretty good start to his season.
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Aidan Birr stats
Birr missed just three of his 57 kicks during his first season at Georgia Tech. Below is a look at his stats from his college career to date:
| Year | FGM | FGA | FG % | XPM | XPA | XP % |
| 2023 | 17 | 19 | 89.5 | 37 | 38 | 97.4 |
| 2024 | 1 | 2 | 50 | 3 | 3 | 100 |
If Birr can continue to be as accurate as he has been, he could eventually establish himself as a pro-level prospect. It will be interesting to see if he can continue to expand his range to encompass 50-plus yards as his college career continues.
