The fans know it, the media knows it, the players know it and even the coaches know it; head coach Dan Mullen has struggled to find a kicker that could hit the ball through the uprights. However, after Saturday night, he may have finally found his man in Jace Christmann. 
Coming into the season there was a three way position battle between Chistmann, Jacob Lawless and Tucker Day.
Day, a true freshman who was an US Army All-American in high school, was one of the top ranked punters in the country coming onto the team. He was moved to kicker to start the season in hopes he would fix the team’s kicking woes.
Day had won the job for the first game of the season, but after going 1-3 on field goals against Charleston Southern and missing two extra points against Louisiana Tech, Mullen decided to work Christmann in on some extra points instead of Day.
Christmann, a walk-on freshman, went 3-3 on extra points against Louisiana Tech. He said he was told on Friday he would be the starting kicker against LSU.
“I knew he (Day) was going to be the guy going into the beginning of the season,” Christmann said. “So I just prayed and prayed and prayed that one day I would get my opportunity and I did. From there you just have to take advantage of it.”
Christmann made the most of his opportunity. Mississippi State University was tied with LSU at seven, and both teams had just had touchdown downs. The momentum could have gone either way at that point in the game.
The pressure was on for the Houston, Texas, native to walk out and hit a 30-yard field goal.
As he stepped up to take the kick, the stadium collectively held their breath. Unfazed, Christmann knocked the ball through the uprights.
Mullen said player can make field goals all day in practice, but he can he never know how the huge crowd will effect a player on gameday.
“You just kind of relax and know this is what I do all day, every day,” Christmann said. “So just trust the snapper, the holder, the o-line and just knock it through.”
He also credited his ability to stay calm to his holder Logan Cooke, who is also MSU’s punter.
“He makes me feel comfortable. He just tells me I got it and puts it down,” Chrismann said. “He was right.”
Christmann handled himself pretty well on Saturday, making the mentioned 30-yard field goal and following it up with 45-yard and a 27-yard field goals. The crowd cheered loudly for each one.
“It was pretty awesome,” Christmann said. “You know, because Mississippi State last season kind of struggled on that side of the game. So this year, being able to hit three of them tonight and hear the crowd erupt like that, it was a dream come true and a blessing.”
Christmann dressed out some games last season but never saw time and was redshirted. He played in the spring game, missing a 27-yard field goal.
Going into this season he said changed his approach, which has made the big difference.
“I think my biggest issue all of last year was that, I think, I was going at the ball way too fast,” Christmann said. “I just slowed down and really figured out that I should trust my leg.”
Christmann will get another opportunity to shine in MSU’s matchup with No. 11 University of Georgia on Saturday. The game is in Athens, Georgia, and ESPN will broadcast the game. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.