Being recognized individually for a job well done sometimes can be good and bad at the same time.

Such is the case for UC Davis punter Colton Schmidt, who was honored as the Great West Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.

Schmidt averaged 45.7 yards – including a 64-yarder – and landed two punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.

However, his nine punts were a byproduct of a season-opening 48-14 loss at Arizona State on Thursday.

Schmidt may have performed well when called upon – and he was called upon a lot – but teams never want to be forced to punt nine times in a game.

The 5-foot-11, 210-pound junior was taken aback by the honor, but for a different reason.

"I was honestly surprised that I got it because I didn't think I punted too well," Schmidt said after practice Monday. "It was really a hit-or-miss day for me where I had really good ones and then average or below-average (punts)."

The Aggies hope they won't have to use Schmidt too much Saturday, when they visit Montana State (0-1) at 12:05 p.m..

Punting didn't come easily for Schmidt. After playing youth soccer for eight years, he tried a new sport.

"I just got really burned out on it, and I wanted to switch it up, so I played football," Schmidt said. "Hey, I can kick; I played soccer."

He said he began working hard at punting as a freshman at Liberty High School in Bakersfield but didn't win the varsity punting job until his senior season. He said one day, it just clicked.

"During camp my senior year, I woke up one day, and all the dots connected," Schmidt said. "I practiced; I knew what to do; it just wasn't coming together. Then it just came together naturally."

Schmidt is in his third year as the Aggies' punter. His first start as a freshman came against Fresno State. He said it was much different than punting in high school.

"The speed (of the players) was a lot faster going straight from high school … to playing against Fresno State," he said.

Schmidt continued to improve during his sophomore season. UC Davis dropped the opener to Cal 52-3 as Schmidt punted 10 times. Later in the season against North Dakota, Schmidt booted a school-record 78-yarder in a 35-16 victory. The punt from inside his own end zone sailed past returner Josh Murray's outstretched arms.

"It was a good kick, and it caught that guy over his head and took off," Schmidt said.

The GWC honored Schmidt three times last year as its Special Teams Player of the Week.

UC Davis coach Bob Biggs said Schmidt has professional potential. Biggs said Schmidt doesn't just kick the ball as far as he can; he has also improved his hang time and accuracy.

"He's doing an excellent job," Biggs said. "In my mind, he's got an NFL leg. He really does. He's got the kind of technique and the steps to get the ball off quick and not sacrifice on both direction on the height and on distance."

Schmidt said he always tries to kick every ball perfectly. The best punts, he said, are the ones in which his right foot doesn't feel the ball when he kicks it.

"It just goes," he said. "There's a sweet spot. When you kick it and you don't really feel anything, you just look up, and you're like, 'Whoa.' "

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