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Kickers rarely leave school early for the NFL Draft.
After a recent rule change, kickers - just like all NCAA football players - can also play up to five seasons regardless of whether they’ve redshirted.
Those two facts could put Clemson football in a good spot at a key position, according to Tigers coach Dabo Swinney.
Speaking July 16 at ACC Kickoff, Swinney revealed that Clemson is hoping to keep starting placekicker Nolan Hauser on the team for three more seasons after the NCAA’s “5 for 5” rule change, which went into effect earlier this summer.
Hauser, a junior, had previously entered 2026 with two years of eligibility remaining because he started immediately as a true freshman and didn’t redshirt. Now, he could play up to three more seasons with Clemson in 2026, 2027 and 2028.
“Super excited to have Nolan Hauser back. ... Hopefully, we can keep him a couple more years with the new five-year deal we’ve got going,” Swinney said.
Hauser has been a key offensive weapon for Clemson and Swinney. Across two seasons and 27 career games (all starts), he’s made 35 of his 45 career field goal attempts (77.8%) and 97 of 98 extra points (99.0%) for the Tigers.
Those stats look even better when you remember five of his 10 career missed field goals (and his only career PAT miss) were blocked at the line of scrimmage.
As a true freshman, Hauser hit a 56-yard game-winning field goal in the 2024 ACC championship game to help Clemson beat SMU and reach the College Football Playoff. It was the longest walk-off field goal in FBS conference title game history.
Although his percentages slipped a bit as a sophomore (he missed four field goals excluding blocks, up from just one as a freshman), he remains a reliable kicking presence for Clemson at a position that’s often inconsistent at the college level.
Now, the Charlotte-area native and Hough High School graduate has the opportunity to play three more seasons instead of two and help the Tigers even longer.
How NCAA ‘5 for 5’ rule helps Clemson football
Swinney was a big fan of the NCAA’s “5 for 5” proposal, which went into effect in June and begins with the 2026-27 season. Under the new rule, college athletes get five years of continuous eligibility with limited exceptions.
The rule eliminates the concept of redshirting. College football players could previously play in up to four games and the postseason and still redshirt.
The rule change is a “game-changer” for a lot of Clemson’s players, Swinney said last week. He specifically highlighted players like offensive lineman Harris Sewell and safety Ronan Hanafin who didn’t redshirt as true freshmen.
Technically, Hauser could leave Clemson early after his junior or senior season to enter the NFL Draft. But kickers rarely go pro until their eligibility expires. Unless Hauser decides to transfer, he’ll likely play another three years for Clemson.
That’s not a bad outcome for the Tigers, considering Hauser was a freshman All-American and will likely challenge for the program’s career scoring record.
“It just creates a lot of opportunity for some of these guys,” Swinney said.
