Hawaii field goal kicker Matsuzawa had ‘humble beginnings’

Before the legend of the “Tokyo Toe,” before the hot-selling jersey with the surname in kanji, before the record streak and all those watch lists, there was the video.

Kansei Matsuzawa’s form needed polishing in 2022, and the competition at Hocking College was befitting of a junior college. But Matsuzawa’s powerful right leg was evident on highlight videos.

Thomas Sheffield, Hawaii’s special teams coordinator, learned of Japan-reared Matsuzawa’s back story of watching YouTube for pointers, practicing for hours at a community park, and pestering junior colleges for a shot.

UH already had a dependable kicker in Matthew Shipley.

“We always need kickers,” UH head coach Timmy Chang said.

In receiving permission to add Matsuzawa to the Warriors’ 2023 class as a preferred walk-on, Sheffield