We here at Sons of Montezuma are putting into focus our top San Diego State Aztecs football players for you to to know in the upcoming 2025 season. Next up is Kicker, Gabriel Plascencia.
Name: Gabriel Plascencia
Position: Kicker
Class: Senior
Height / Weight: 6′0″, 230 lbs
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Previous School: College of San Mateo
And now to the part of the list that all Aztec Nation is absolutely geared up for—special teams! SDSU has been an absolute BEAST in the world of College Football when it comes to this side of the ball guys, just admit. From Punt Gods, to LongSnapper-U, San Diego State has benefitted very much with exemplary play that has made more than just a mark in the games, they’ve made a difference.
Last year was no exception.
Gabriel Plascencia enters his senior season as San Diego State’s primary place‑kicker following a 2024 campaign in which he connected on 92.9 percent of his field‑goal attempts (13 of 14) and 94.7 percent of extra points (18 of 19), compiling 57 total points with a long of 50 yards.
His accuracy and consistency earned him Second‑Team All‑Mountain West honors at the end of last season.
Plascencia’s key strength is his accuracy from beyond 30 yards. He demonstrated a calm, repeatable kicking motion under pressure, routinely splitting the uprights in critical moments. His reliability on extra points also stabilizes the special‑teams unit and lifts momentum when the offense stalls.
One area for improvement is kickoff distance and hang time. While Plascencia’s field‑goal range is strong extending just passed 50 yards from what we’ve seen, his kickoffs have not regularly produced touchbacks. His touchbacks rank at 92nd nationally at just 46% of the time. This tends to allow opponents the opportunity to start closer to midfield. Expanding his leg strength or refining ball trajectory could help him control field position more effectively.
But let’s face it guys, Plascencia is a key factor in this team’s abilities to improve this season. Aztec Nation all recounts bitterly last season in a crucial road contest against Central Michigan, missing several field goals without having Plascencia handling the field goal duties. It was a tough pill to swallow.
In 2025, Plascencia is expected to handle all field‑goal and extra‑point duties while taking on increased kickoff responsibilities. With experience and confidence from his junior campaign, he should maintain or exceed his high conversion rates and work on his kickoff depth.
His continued consistency will be crucial in close games and could play a decisive role in San Diego State’s push for a Mountain West title.
Stay tuned as we list more crucial Aztec Warriors that will be looking to make a big impact this 2025 season. The list isn’t in any specific order—but let us know in the comments what you think of each player as the list unfolds.
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