{"id":786320,"date":"2026-05-10T10:23:18","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T10:23:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/786320\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T10:23:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T10:23:18","slug":"ny-giants-rookie-minicamp-udfa-pk-dominic-zvada-off-to-strong-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/786320\/","title":{"rendered":"NY Giants rookie minicamp: UDFA PK Dominic Zvada off to strong start"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. \u2014 Undrafted free agent <strong>Dominic Zvada<\/strong> put down the first marker of the New York Giants\u2019 three-way placekicking competition during Saturday\u2019s rookie minicamp practice. Zvada went 5 of 5 on field-goal attempts, the last two coming from 50 and 55 yards, to conclude the workout.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Zvada, from Michigan, joins <strong>Ben Sauls<\/strong> and seven-year veteran <strong>Jason Sanders<\/strong> as kickers on the 90-man roster. Saults kicked for the Giants for the final three games of 2025. Sanders was with the Miami Dolphins for seven seasons, but missed last year with a hip injury.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a competition for sure right out of the gates. It already started,\u201d head coach John Harbaugh said after Saturday\u2019s workout. \u201cYou saw Zvada. That was his first iteration of that competition. Then we come in next week we\u2019ll be kicking field goals. We go to OTAs. We\u2019ll kick field goals pretty much every other practice. We may be kicking them every practice because we\u2019ve got three guys to kick.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cWe\u2019ll just see how it shakes out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Zvada had two outstanding seasons as a collegiate kicker, and two mediocre ones.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">In 2022 at Arkansas State, Zvada made 17 of 18 field-goal attempts (94.4%).<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">In 2023 at Arkansas State, Zvada made just 15 of 20 field-attempts (75%).<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">In 2024 at Michigan, his best season, Zvada made 17 of 18 field-goal attempts (94.4%). He was also 7 of 7 from beyond 50 yards that season.<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">In 2025, though, Zvada was just 15 of 22 (68.2%) on field-goal attempts.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">For his career, he went 64 of 78 (82.4%) on field-goal attempts, 135 of 137 on extra points (98.5%) and 10 of 12 83.3%) on field-goal tries from beyond 50 yards.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cReally talented. He\u2019s big, tall, rangy kind of guy. Big for a kicker you might say. Really strong leg,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cMore than anything just the consistency. He\u2019s got a vertical swing pattern as we call it. He does a nice job of getting downfield through the kick. Because of that he tends to kick a straight ball consistently. If you do that you\u2019ll probably have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">It would certainly appear Zvada does.<\/p>\n<p>Bustin\u2019 out the Hood celebration<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Second-round pick <strong>Colton Hood<\/strong> made the play of the day on Saturday, ripping a pass away from tryout running back Miles Davis for an interception.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cI just broke on the ball and made a play,\u201d Hood said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">He didn\u2019t want to but Hood ended up breaking the \u2018Hood\u2019 celebration he has become known for at the urging of defensive backs coach Addison Lynch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cIt\u2019s practice. I\u2019m not really going to celebrate on my teammates. It\u2019s definitely going to come out when the season starts, for sure,\u201d Hood said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Harbaugh said of Hood that he \u201cloved him in press\u201d and thought he \u201clooked really good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Real strong\u2019 start for Malachi Fields<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Third-round pick <strong>Malachi Fields<\/strong> was a favorite target of the tryout quarterbacks aiming to impress on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cYou see him on those slants today,\u201d Harbaugh gushed. \u201cHe made every catch yesterday. Made one high catch over top of a corner one time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cReal strong. It\u2019s a good start for him.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bigblueview.com\/new-york-giants-rumors\/161729\/john-harbaugh-nothing-imminent-with-odell-beckham-jr\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Giants coach John Harbaugh: Nothing imminent with Odell Beckham Jr.<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Harbaugh thought 10th overall pick<strong> Sisi Mauigoa<\/strong> had a \u201cfantastic\u201d day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cLooked like a natural at guard,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cSometimes things happen a little quicker. You\u2019ve got to get out of your stance a little quicker. We\u2019ll see when the pads come on. That\u2019ll be another thing for him. Just seeing him go on their guard for the first time, I thought he looked really good. Looked like he\u2019d been doing it his whole life.<\/p>\n<p>Something in the way he moves<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">No. 5 overall pick Arvell Reese showed the Giants what they hoped to see over the past two days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cYou saw it on tape or you saw it at the workout at Ohio State. When you see it in person in your setting it\u2019s more,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cI thought he moved well. He\u2019s 6-4 plus. About 240 some pounds. Yet, he moves like a smaller guy. He moves his feet. He can flip his hips. Very natural looking mover off the ball. Which was something we saw on tape. Now we saw it on the practice field. So we feel better about it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">Harbaugh was also impressed with how well Reese handled his assignments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cPicks things up really quick. Very serious minded. Very diligent about the assignments,\u201d Harbaugh said \u201cI don\u2019t think he got one assignment wrong throughout the two days.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lookin\u2019 good at defensive tackle<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The Giants have been active since the draft in adding to their defensive tackle room. They have signed D.J. Reader, Shelby Harris and Leki Potu, and claimed Zacch Pickens off waivers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">The position was a concern coming out of the draft.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cI\u2019m very happy about it. I felt like it was part of our process. It\u2019s not that we wouldn\u2019t have drafted a defensive tackle or signed one sooner if they had become available or kept Dexter [Lawrence] if that was something we could do. Those were all things that were on the table,\u201d Harbaugh said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cBut as it went, I thought we did a good job of kind of responding to the situation as it unfolded. And now we feel really good about our group in there. Our room looks good to me. I\u2019m excited about it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"duet--article--dangerously-set-cms-markup duet--article--standard-paragraph _1nfb3k4i _16w9vov1 _16w9vov0 ls9zuh1\">\u201cI think we\u2019ve got the guys we need.\u201d<\/p>\n<ul class=\"duet--article--unordered-list _1nfb3k4i feuejx0 ls9zuh1\">\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">Harbaugh wants to make the Giants bigger, stronger, and more physical. Tryout guard Guy Gilyard might be taking that to an extreme. Out of East Stroudsburg, Gilyard is listed at 6-foot-8, 410 pounds.<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">There was confusion over whether offensive tackle Dodji Dahoue was a signed UDFA or a tryout player. He is a tryout player, though listed incorrectly on the roster handed out to media.<\/li>\n<li class=\"feuejx1\">The Giants did some 11-on-11 work Saturday, and drafted players did participate. That is a change from the Brian Daboll era, when drafted players did not work during team periods in rookie minicamp. \u201cwe\u2019ve always done that,\u201d Harbaugh said. \u201cI feel like rookie mini camp is a chance to prepare these guys, all the guys, for what\u2019s next.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. \u2014 Undrafted free agent Dominic Zvada put down the first marker of the New York&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":786321,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[43],"tags":[1318,1317,1315,1316,80990,22969,62,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-786320","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-ncaa-football","8":"tag-football","9":"tag-ncaa","10":"tag-ncaa-football","11":"tag-ncaafootball","12":"tag-new-york-giants-preseason","13":"tag-new-york-giants-news","14":"tag-sports","15":"tag-united-states","16":"tag-unitedstates","17":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116549793091471666","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786320","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=786320"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/786320\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/786321"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=786320"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=786320"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=786320"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}