Gamecocks sign Kicker Ethan Sanchez
COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina football and head coach Shane Beamer announced the signing of kicker Ethan Sanchez on Thursday. The fifth-year player spent three seasons at Old Dominion (2022-24) and last season at Houston (2025), where he earned All-Big 12 honors and was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award.
With the Cougars, Sanchez was 21-of-26 (80.7%) on field goals with a season-long made field goal of 52 yards in a 36-20 victory over Colorado (9/12/25). His 21 made field goals were the second most for a single season in program history. Sanchez’s three-game winning field goals (kicks under 3 minutes in regulation or overtime) tied a Big 12 record. He was one of just six kickers in FBS last season with multiple games with four or more made field goals. Sanchez was a perfect 43-of-43 on extra points for the Cougars in 2025.
In three seasons with the Monarchs, Sanchez appeared in 36 games, going 35-of-46 (76.1%) on field goals and 101-of-106 (95.3%) on extra points. His 91.7% (11-of-12) field goal conversion rate (minimum of 10 attempts) in 2024 was No. 12 in the country.
In four seasons of college football, Sanchez has played in 49 games, going 56-of-72 (77.8%) on field goal attempts and 144-of-149 (96.6%) on extra points for 312 career points scored.
A native of Dallas, Ga., Sanchez prepped at North Paulding High School, where he earned first team all-county and all-region honors. He participated in the 2022 Polynesian Bowl.
