Bubba Baxa said the opportunity to play for a great program and win a championship was why he came to Miami. Entering his sophomore season as the Hurricanes starting kicker, that opportunity has been realized.

“It was very helpful playing my first year,” Baxa said. “I have so much more confidence than I did last year. It’s like having that one year you get under your belt is a huge help to your next year, your next year and next year.”

Baxa hit the ground running as a freshman last year. His first kick came in the season opener against a Top-10 team in LSU at one of the biggest stadiums in the world, the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

“That’s my first college play ever, first field goal attempt ever,” Baxa said. “It’s really the most pressure I’ve felt.”

Baxa finished the 2018 season having made 9-of-12 field goal attempts with his longest being 47 yards. His sweet spot is within 30-39 yards, as he made 6-of-6 field goals. He also made 45-of-46 extra points.

Baxa’s last game in 2018 was at a bowl game against Wisconsin at Yankee Stadium, where he score the Hurricanes’ only three points. Playing football games in baseball stadiums has been a recent trend. The Hurricanes will play FIU at Marlins Park in November.

“It’s not that big of a difference,” Baxa said comparing kicking in a football field and baseball field. “Really what’s different is the grass, the baseball grass instead of football grass. It’s a little bit more slick but that’s really about it.”

Baxa said he’s improved a lot over the summer thanks to first year strength and conditioning coach David Feeley. He has increased his power clean max to to 250 lbs, 405 lbs at the squat rack and 255 lbs at bench press.

“I’m way stronger. I’ve lost some fat. I’ve gotten much faster,” Baxa said. “It’s everything what coach Feeley has done. It’s been awesome.”

The Hurricanes will need to see an improved Baxa starting Saturday against the No. 8 Florida Gators in Orlando.