Graham Gano

Graham Clark Gano (born April 9, 1987) is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL).

He captured three state titles in track at the 2005 FHSAA 3A District 1, winning the 100-meter dash, with a time of 10.55 seconds, the 200-meter dash, with a time of 21.70 seconds, and the 400-meter dash, with a time of 48.00 seconds.

Gano attended Florida State University from 2005 to 2008, playing as a kicker and punter for the Florida State Seminoles.

During his senior year in 2008, Gano finished first in the FBS for field goals made, percentage of field goals converted and 50-yard field goals made, and was the Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's top kicker.

He was one of only two kickers in college to make over 90% of his field goal attempts in the 2008 season.

He was the highest scoring kicker in America and fourth overall in the FBS in scoring.

He was a Rivals.com, Scout.com, and CBS Sports first-team All-American.

Gano was listed as Walter Camp, Associated Press, Sporting News, SI.com, and Phil Steele second-team All-American.

He earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) First-team honors as well.

Gano was four-time ACC Specialist of the Week for his kicking performances against NC State, Virginia Tech, Clemson, and Maryland.

He also was a two-time Lou Groza Star of the Week honoree for his performances in Florida State's victories over NC State and Clemson.

He was named offensive special teams player of the year for the Seminoles as selected by the Florida State coaching staff.

He led the ACC in field goals per game with a career-high 2.2 field goals per game average.

Gano has the highest field goal percentage in the ACC; in 2008, he made 92.3 percent of his field goal attempts (24 of 26) and led the league in field goals made with 24.

He was also the ACC's leading scorer with 105 points and a 9.5 points per game average.

Gano is the only kicker in FSU history to convert over 90% of his field goals in a season.

He is one of only two punters ever to be named the MVP of a bowl game, when he was named the Most Valuable Player in the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl.

He holds the Seminoles single season record for 50+-yard field goals, completing five straight attempts from 50 yards or longer.

Despite only kicking for one season, Gano finished second in career 50-yard field goals at FSU behind two time Lou Groza Award winner Sebastian Janikowski.

He played college football at Florida State and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009.

Gano has also played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League (UFL), the Washington Redskins and the Carolina Panthers.

Gano signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent immediately after the 2009 NFL Draft.

After the Ravens named Steve Hauschka as their kicker, they waived Gano on September 5.

Gano was signed by the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League after being cut by the Ravens.

He earned the first points for the league after converting a 32-yard field goal, and hit a then-UFL record long field goal of 53 yards.

He was responsible for the winning field goal which gave the Locomotives the first ever UFL championship.

He finished the season leading the league in scoring and field goals made.

On December 8, 2009, Gano was signed by the Washington Redskins, replacing veteran Shaun Suisham.

He successfully connected on his first career NFL field goal attempt, a 46-yard attempt against the Oakland Raiders on December 13, 2009.

He appeared in three games in the 2009 season.

Gano continued to play for the Redskins in the 2010 season.

During his time with the Panthers, he achieved the franchise's record for longest field goal at 63 yards in 2018.

Gano's father, Mark, was a United States Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and Vietnam veteran who was stationed at Canadian Forces Base, Gander, Newfoundland when Gano was born.

Gano has a long line of ancestors who served in the military, including his great grandfather Richard Gano, and grandfather Raymond of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Gano grew up in Cantonment, Florida, near Pensacola, Florida and attended J. M. Tate High School, Home of the Mighty Mighty Aggies, where he was a two-sport star in football and track.

In high school football, he was an All-American First-team selection by USA Today and the nation's third-ranked kicker by Rivals.com.

Gano played in the CaliFlorida All-Star game, completing a 50-yard field goal in the game.

During his senior season, Gano kicked three field goals over 55 yards (57, 64, and 65 yards) and had a 71-yard field goal made which was negated by a penalty.

A total of 36 of his 38 kickoffs were touchbacks and he averaged better than 42 yards per punt as a senior.

As a standout track & field athlete, Gano was one of the state's top performers in the sprinting events.