It was the opening drive last fall, when hopes were still high, that the trouble began.

After the first 10 plays led to 57 yards, the Cowboys found themselves facing a fourth-and-8 from the West Florida 23. Jacob Abel set up for a 32-yard field goal try that would give McNeese State the lead.

He missed to the left, badly. The kicking game never recovered.

Poor kicking, and even worse handling of the kicking game, forced McNeese into strange decisions and played a part in at least three of the Cowboys’ losses, including the opener, during a 4-7 campaign.

“I heard all about how we needed a kicker from everybody,” first-year Cowboys coach Gary Goff said. “I never heard so much talk about the kicking game.”

Enter Garrison Smith, a power-legged transfer from Ohio State who thus far in practice has made things look easy. He is not alone as the Cowboys have added junior college transfer C.J. Moya and Brandon Hayden from Louisiana College to the mix.

But it is Smith whose kicks look the truest early and have a different sound to them.

“I love that dude,” Goff said. “He has a big leg. Can he be consistent enough? I don’t know, but I’m excited to put him out under pressure and see what he can do.”

Smith accepted a scholarship from McNeese after one year as a walk-on with the Buckeyes. He has heard all about the previous kicking woes.

“Yes, people have told me,” Smith said. “I don’t think about that. I came here just to compete. I didn’t feel I would get a shot at Ohio State.”

Smith enters the season as a redshirt freshman, giving him four years of eligibility remaining. While he didn’t play last fall he did boot a 38-yarder in the Buckeyes’ spring game. He also said his season playing for his home state was a huge benefit.

“I learned so much there in one year,” Smith said. “I learned and saw what hard work can do for players.”

Smith said he went from 160 to 190 pounds thanks to the training staff and coaches, including adding distance to his kicking range. He also said there is not much difference between coaching staffs.

“The coaches here are just as intense and just as professional,” Smith said. “They are just as demanding in practice and get after you. The expectations are the same.”

For Smith that expectation is to become an offensive weapon, which is not a problem for him. He said he can make a kick from 60 yards but is comfortable anywhere from 55 and in.

That means McNeese is in scoring position abouut the opponent’s 40-yard line. That’s a big difference from a year ago when often the offense stayed on the field on fourth downs rather than even attempting kicks.

More important to Smith is that the Cowboys coaches believe in him.

“When a school puts money on you, it’s different,” Smith told the Sandusky Register when he decided to leave OSU. “As a walk-on, you are paying for your chance. With a scholarship, they are paying for your chance.

“In my eyes, it’s different when you are given the money to compete instead of paying to compete.”

That could add pressure to Smith but says he isn’t worried.

“I don’t really feel any pressure,” he said. “I don’t feel it when I kick either. I really don’t hear anything out there, I just focus on the kick.”

Smith added that both Mayo and Hayden have been solid in camp as well.

“They are both kicking really good and we are pushing each other,” Smith said. “The competition has helped all of us.”

Still, Goff has put the Cowboys’ money on Smith so he will get the first look.

It will go a long way to steady the program’s nerves if Smith pays on the investment.