Carter Davis became a household name in Coral Gables the moment his 47-yard field goal sailed through the uprights to beat Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff. That single kick turned the Miami Hurricanes placekicker from a quiet transfer story into one of the most talked about names in college football.
Carter Davis started his college journey far from the spotlight, redshirting at New Mexico Military Institute before grinding through three seasons at Florida Atlantic. His path to Miami was built on patience, technique, and a Kohl’s Kicking pedigree that goes back to childhood. This profile covers his career stats, personal life, physical details, and the family that has supported him from Fort Lauderdale to the Playoff stage.
Who Is Carter Davis the Miami Hurricanes Placekicker
Carter Davis is the starting placekicker for the Miami Hurricanes football program, wearing No. 38 for head coach Mario Cristobal’s roster. He arrived on campus as a graduate transfer from Florida Atlantic and immediately won the starting job in a competitive camp battle.
As of 2026, Davis is regarded as one of the more reliable placekickers in the Atlantic Coast Conference, known for a calm pre-snap routine and a strong leg on kickoffs. He also handled kickoff duties for much of his college career, giving him a rare dual role that most specialists never carry.
Carter Davis Quick Facts and Career Snapshot
Here is a fast look at the basics before the full breakdown of his career, personal life, and physical profile.
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Carter Davis |
| Nickname | Not publicly disclosed |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of Birth | February 25, 2003 |
| Age (as of 2026) | 23 |
| Birthplace | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA |
| Hometown | East Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
| Current Residence | Coral Gables, Florida (University of Miami) |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Not publicly disclosed |
| Religion | Not publicly disclosed |
| Education / Degree | University of Miami (major not publicly disclosed); reported 3.958 GPA |
| Profession | College Football Placekicker |
| Languages Spoken | Not publicly disclosed |
| Hobbies & Interests | Placekicking training, kicking camps |
| Marital Status | Not publicly disclosed |
| Spouse / Partner | Not publicly disclosed |
| Children | Not publicly disclosed |
| Father’s Name | Oliver Powers |
| Mother’s Name | Karen Davis-Powers |
| Siblings | Not publicly disclosed |
Early Life Growing Up in Fort Lauderdale Florida
Carter Davis grew up in the East Fort Lauderdale area of Florida, where he first picked up placekicking at age six through the NFL Punt, Pass and Kick program. That early introduction shaped a technical, repetition-heavy approach to the position.
His parents, Karen Davis-Powers and Oliver Powers, supported his kicking development throughout his youth, and both were present for his biggest moments on the field years later. Davis has described his upbringing as close-knit, with football becoming a family affair long before Miami entered the picture.
High School Football and Recruiting Journey
Davis attended three different high schools during his prep career: South Plantation High School, Chaminade Madonna College Preparatory School, and Western High School, where he finished his senior season. Splitting time across programs is unusual for a specialist, but it gave him varied coaching and game experience.
He trained extensively through Kohl’s Kicking camps, a well-known national circuit for specialists, and graduated during the disrupted 2021 recruiting cycle shaped by covid. His performance at camps earned him a scholarship offer from New Mexico Military Institute rather than a direct FBS offer out of high school.
Carter Davis College Career at New Mexico Military Institute
Carter Davis began his college football journey at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI), a junior college program known for developing overlooked specialists. He redshirted his first year, using the time to refine his technique and add leg strength.
The JUCO route is common for kickers who need extra development time, and Davis used it well. His work at NMMI built the foundation that Florida Atlantic coaches noticed when they recruited him out of the transfer portal.
Breakout Seasons with the Florida Atlantic Owls
Davis spent three seasons, from 2022 through 2024, with the Florida Atlantic Owls in Boca Raton. He served primarily as the team’s kickoff specialist, totaling 109 touchbacks across his FAU career, including 45 touchbacks on 61 attempts during his standout 2024 season.
As a field goal kicker at FAU, he went 4-for-11 across his tenure, with a career-long 51-yard field goal during his junior year in 2024. Those numbers show a specialist still growing into full-time field goal duty, which is exactly what happened next at Miami.
Transfer to Miami and Senior Season Impact
After entering the transfer portal, Carter Davis committed to the Miami Hurricanes for his final season of eligibility. He briefly intended to join Iowa State before ultimately choosing to return to Florida Atlantic and then landing with Miami for 2025.
In his only season as a Hurricane, Davis converted the vast majority of his field goal attempts and posted a perfect extra point rate. As of 2026, his ESPN profile lists career figures of 70.8 percent on field goals and 100 percent on extra points during his Miami tenure, with a long of 53 yards.
The Legendary Notre Dame Game Winning Kick
The signature moment of Davis’s career came against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff, when he split the uprights on a 47-yard field goal with just over a minute left on the clock. The kick sent Miami through and turned Davis into an overnight story across college football media.
By his own account, Davis reacted to the moment with total calm, saying he simply went home and slept afterward. That composure under pressure is now central to how analysts describe his game.
Playing Style Strengths and Kicking Technique
Davis is best known for a repeatable, technically sound kicking motion built through years at Kohl’s Kicking camps. His dual experience as both a field goal kicker and kickoff specialist makes him a versatile special teams weapon for Miami’s coaching staff.
His composure in high-leverage moments, most visibly the Notre Dame kick, has become the defining trait of his game. That said, the 2025 Playoff run also included a rough outing against Texas A&M, where he missed three field goals in a single game, a reminder that even reliable kickers face tough nights.
Awards Records and Career Achievements
While Davis has not collected major individual awards, his statistical résumé speaks for itself. As of the 2025 season, he set an unwanted College Football Playoff record for field goal misses in a single game during the Texas A&M matchup, a data point often cited alongside his game-winner against Notre Dame.
His three-year run at Florida Atlantic, including 109 career touchbacks, established him as a durable, high-volume specialist well before he ever wore a Miami uniform.
Life Off the Field Academics and Family
Off the field, Davis has publicized a strong academic record, referencing a 3.958 GPA on his social media profile during his time as a student athlete. Details about his specific major or degree program have not been made public.
His parents, Karen Davis-Powers and Oliver Powers, remain closely involved in his career and were reportedly overwhelmed with emotion watching the Notre Dame kick from the stands. Beyond his parents, Davis has kept most personal and family details private.
Personal Information of Carter Davis
This section gathers the confirmed personal details available about Carter Davis. Where information has not been made public, that is noted directly rather than guessed.
Full Name
Carter Davis’s full name is Carter Davis.
Date of Birth
Carter Davis was born on February 25, 2003.
Age
As of 2026, Carter Davis is 23 years old.
Birthplace
Carter Davis was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Nationality
Carter Davis holds American nationality.
Ethnicity
Carter Davis’s ethnicity has not been publicly disclosed.
Religion
religion has not been publicly disclosed.
Education
Carter Davis attended the University of Miami; his specific major has not been publicly disclosed, though he has referenced a 3.958 GPA.
Hobbies
enjoys placekicking training and attending specialist kicking camps.
Marital Status
marital status has not been publicly disclosed.
Spouse or Partner
has not publicly disclosed a spouse or partner.
Children
has not publicly disclosed having any children.
Parents
father is Oliver Powers and his mother is Karen Davis-Powers.
Siblings
has not publicly disclosed information about siblings.
Physical Appearance
Carter Davis has the build typical of a college placekicker, combining a lean frame with lower-body strength. Several details below have not been made public and are noted as such rather than estimated.
Height
Carter Davis stands at 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm).
Weight
listed playing weight has ranged from 190 to 220 pounds (86 to 100 kg) across recent official rosters.
Eye Color
eye color has not been publicly disclosed.
Hair Color
hair color has not been publicly disclosed.
Body Type
Carter Davis has an athletic, lean build consistent with a placekicker’s training regimen.
Skin Tone
skin tone has not been publicly disclosed.
Shoe Size
shoe size has not been publicly disclosed.
Tattoos
not publicly disclosed having any tattoos.
Piercings
not publicly disclosed having any piercings.
Distinctive Features
Carter Davis is best known for his composed pre-kick routine and his poise in clutch, high-pressure moments.
Social Media Profiles
Carter Davis maintains a public presence on Instagram and X.
@c.davis36
X (Twitter)
@CarterDavis2021
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Carter Davis?
Carter Davis stands 6 feet 0 inches tall, a common height for a college placekicker. His listed height has stayed consistent across recruiting and official team rosters throughout his career.
How much does Carter Davis weigh?
Reported playing weight for Carter Davis ranges from 190 to 220 pounds depending on the source and season, with his most recent Miami listing closer to the 210 to 220 pound range.
Where is Carter Davis from?
Carter Davis is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he grew up and began kicking footballs at age six through a Punt, Pass and Kick competition.
What college does Carter Davis play for?
Carter Davis plays for the Miami Hurricanes as of the 2025 season, after previously playing for Florida Atlantic and New Mexico Military Institute earlier in his college career.
What is Carter Davis’s field goal percentage?
As of 2026, Carter Davis’s ESPN profile lists a 70.8 percent field goal rate and a 100 percent extra point rate during his time with the Miami Hurricanes.
Did Carter Davis play for Florida Atlantic?
Yes. Carter Davis spent three seasons, from 2022 to 2024, with the Florida Atlantic Owls, primarily serving as the team’s kickoff specialist before transferring to Miami.
What happened with Carter Davis against Notre Dame?
Carter Davis kicked a game-winning 47-yard field goal with about a minute remaining to beat Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff, instantly becoming one of the tournament’s biggest storylines.
What happened with Carter Davis against Texas A&M?
Carter Davis missed three field goals in the Playoff matchup against Texas A&M, setting an unwanted College Football Playoff record for misses in a single game by one kicker.
Who are Carter Davis’s parents?
Carter Davis’s parents are Karen Davis-Powers and Oliver Powers. Both have been visibly supportive throughout his kicking career, including during his biggest Playoff moments.
What is Carter Davis’s Instagram?
Carter Davis is active on Instagram under the handle @c.davis36, where he shares updates connected to his football career and life at the University of Miami.
What class is Carter Davis in college?
As of the 2025 season, Carter Davis was a senior, playing his final year of college eligibility after transferring from Florida Atlantic to Miami.
Is Carter Davis eligible to return in 2027?
Public reporting has not confirmed additional eligibility for Carter Davis beyond his senior season, so any return would depend on official NCAA eligibility rulings not yet disclosed.
Conclusion
Carter Davis went from a three-high-school prep career and a JUCO redshirt year to a game-winning kick that decided a College Football Playoff matchup. His path through New Mexico Military Institute and Florida Atlantic shows how much development goes into a specialist before the spotlight ever finds them.
Carter Davis’s Miami tenure has been defined equally by that Notre Dame moment and by the humility to bounce back from a rough outing against Texas A&M. For fans wanting to follow his next chapter, the best move is tracking his official Miami Hurricanes roster page and his Instagram for real-time updates as his senior season plays out.
