The process took longer and became more involved than hoped, but Ivan Maric eventually achieved his goal of becoming a place-kicker in college football.
The McLean High School graduate was the starting kicker during the 2024 season for the Division III University of Mount Union football team (14-1) in Alliance, Ohio — a squad that finished second in the NCAA playoffs.
The sophomore had a strong season for the Purple Raiders. He made 11 of 16 field goals, including a team-record longest of 51 yards. Maric also booted field goals of 40, 41 and 43 yards.
He made 72 of 74 extra points, including his last 64 without a miss, and handled the kickoff duties.
In the national-championship game, Maric booted a 30-yard field goal and made two extra points in Mount Union’s 41-25 loss to North Central College.
“I had a pretty decent season and look forward to being back there next season,” Maric told FFXnow. “It took me a while to get to this point.”
Indeed it did, as Maric faced some tough luck along the way.
Mount Union is Maric’s fourth college since leaving McLean.
He initially attended Division I Indiana University, hoping to make the team as a walkon, but that did not pan out. Next was Division I Eastern Michigan University, where an injury sidelined him for 10 months, ending his chances of making that team.
Maric’s third school was Notre Dame College in South Euclid, Ohio, but that institution shut down after he got there. Maric kicked in one game before the closure.
Entering the college-football transfer portal hoping to find another school, Maric was contacted by coaches at Mount Union. He was happy for another opportunity, and beat out five other kickers to earn the No. 1 kicking job for the 2024 season.
“At first I wanted to kick at a big school, but now I just wanted the chance to kick somewhere,” Maric said.
Maric has two years left of college-football eligibility, then has a goal to kick for a professional team.
“With kickers, you never know,” Maric said. “There aren’t many positions professionally, and there are a lot of good kickers out there for just a few spots. But there are opportunities.”
Maric’s place-kicking career began when he joined the freshman football team at McLean, which did not have a kicker.
A former youth-soccer player, Maric offered his services and became the Highlanders’ freshman kicker, learning the position by watching YouTube training videos.
Place-kicking at McLean continued for the remainder of his high-school career — on junior varsity as a sophomore, then as the varsity kicker as a junior and senior.
Maric booted a 50-yarder his senior year, when he was chosen all-district and all-region. He made six of seven field goals that season, and 15 of 16 extra points.
“I fell in love with kicking right away and really took it super-serious after my sophomore season,” said Maric, whose older brother, Stefan, preceded him as McLean’s place-kicker.
John Scholla was Ivan Maric’s head football coach at McLean. He became frustrated because the McLean coaches had trouble getting any colleges interested in Maric as a kicker when he played there.
“Ivan was a really good kid and very reliable for us,” Scholla said. “I’m glad it has worked out for him. He was determined.”
