Hawaii’s Kansei Matsuzawa named Walter Camp first-team All-American

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa walks with his family during Senior Night festivities after the NCAA football game against the Wyoming Cowboys on Nov. 29 in Honolulu.

University of Hawaii kicker Kansei Matsuzawa today was named to the 136th annual Walter Camp Football Foundation’s All-America first team.

Walter Camp is one of the five All-America teams that the NCAA recognizes for college football. The Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News will release their All-America teams over the next few days.

“It’s not just my success, it’s our success, it’s the team’s success,” Matsuzawa told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser this afternoon.

Special teams coordinator Thomas Sheffield, who recruited Matsuzawa, said: “I’m really excited for Kansei and the work he’s put in. I’m excited for the University of Hawaii because it puts the logo on a list that is recognized nationally. It’s so cool for the University of Hawaii to be in that position because of Kansei and the rest of the boys and the football team and what we’ve been able to do this year.”

Matsuzawa grew up in Japan and was inspired to be a place-kicker after attending an NFL game during a vacation. He made a tee, ordered footballs online and practiced kicking in a park before receiving an offer to play at Hocking College in Ohio.

This season, his third at UH after initially joining as a walk-on, Matsuzawa converted his first 25 field-goal attempts. He missed a 30-yarder in the fourth quarter of the regular-season finale against Wyoming.

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“I want to thank my teammates, the coaches,” Matsuzawa said. “We did an amazing job this season.”

Sheffield assembled the snapper-holder-kicker connection this summer. Long-snapper Jack Mowrey transferred from James Madison in July. Backup quarterback Caleb Freeman won the holder’s job a week ahead of training camp. Sheffield said offensive linemen, two tight ends and running back Landon Sims “stepped up to protect him. They did their jobs.”

Matsuzawa also credited a sports psychologist, as well as 29-year-old freshman punter Billy Gowers.

“Having Billy Gowers (in the special teams meetings) was really important and meaningful to me,” Matsuzawa said. “He helped me in amazing ways. He’s optimistic.”

Matsuzawa also was a finalist for the Lou Groza award. That award went to Oklahoma’s Tate Sandell.

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