Christopher Dunn reflects on NC State career so far, FSU win
Christopher Dunn has already established himself as one of the best kickers in NC State history. He’s the program’s all-time leading scorer and holds the record for total field goals, but the fifth-year graduate student has taken things to a new level this season.
After making 13 field goals as a senior in 2021, he decided to return for one more season with the Wolfpack, putting in the work that helped him start the season a perfect 11 for 11. Most recently, Dunn nailed all 4 of his field goal attempts against Florida State, accounting for 12 of 19 points scored in the victory for NC State.
Dunn’s 2022 season is noticeably different, and he acknowledged that Tuesday afternoon.
“I feel like I’m getting in my zone this year a lot more than I have in the past,” Dunn said. “I feel like it’s just about getting to a spot where you feel comfortable and confident in yourself and being able to go out there each rep, whether it’s an extra point, a 50, and just getting in that same mindset that you’re gonna make the kick straight down the middle.”
The NC State star kicker received ACC Specialist of the Week honors after his performance against the Seminoles. From the game-saving onside kick against North Carolina, to a critical field goal against Clemson, Dunn is a key member of many beloved moments in recent Pack football history. He said drilling the 53-yard field goal against Florida State was comparable to those other experiences.
“I’d relate it to the thrill of the onside kick,” Dunn said. “I’d say I’d relate it to the 49 at Clemson, I’d relate it to every time I get to go out and kick in Carter-Finley, honestly, and hear all the people cheer. It’s an amazing feeling. The adrenaline rush, it’s unmatched, and I’m just trying to soak up every moment I can with the year I have left.”
While Dunn was absolutely one of the stars of Saturday’s win, and one of the most consistent presences on the team this year, the kicker made sure to shout out the rest of the team for stepping up during the 14-point comeback.
“We had so many guys step up and just really perform to the level and the standard that we’ve set,” Dunn said.
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Dunn began kicking for the Wolfpack during the 2018 season, so he played through the Pack’s last place Atlantic Division finish in 2019. The kicker was effusive in his praise of the positive atmosphere that NC State’s coaches and athletes have built since then.
“I love the guys on this team,” Dunn said. “The culture that we’ve built here at State over the last really two-and-a-half years, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve been on a team where we won three or four games my sophomore year, and we had a lot of selfish guys back then. But I feel like everyone genuinely wants what’s best, not only for each player, but for the team, and I feel like coach [Dave] Doeren’s just done an amazing job bringing guys in that support every one full heartedly.”
NC State and Dunn’s next challenge will be a ranked matchup against Syracuse. The JMA Wireless Dome is a unique stadium to kick in, but Dunn is not worried. He has experience kicking against the Orange, and he has put in the work to be confident in his abilities inside any venue.
“I’ve played there twice before,” Dunn said. “There’s a lot of crowd noise. A lot of people have said that before. I think they do the train horn, it’s just going to echo, so nothing really changes. I’ve kicked on turf, they’ve got turf. The uprights are going to stay the same.”
