LSU sophomore wide receiver Russell Shepard described senior kicker Josh Jasper as “the best-kept secret in the SEC.”
 
But it’s no secret how crucial Jasper’s performance was Saturday against Mississippi State, in which he kicked five field goals and scored 17 total points — both LSU records.
 
Jasper, who earned Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors Monday, accounted for all of LSU’s first half points by connecting on field goals of 44, 32, 51 and 37 yards. He then  tacked on a 21-yarder in the fourth quarter, breaking the school record of four field goals in a game, which he tied in 2009.
 
The 17 kicking points in a single game tied a record set by David Browndyke in 1986.
 
Jasper said he realized how close he was to cracking the record books at halftime Saturday.
 
“I was hoping I’d get one more at halftime so I could break it,” Jasper said.
 
Jasper missed his first field goal attempt of the season, a 44-yard attempt on LSU’s first offensive series against North Carolina.
 
Since that missed kick, he has been a perfect in field goals on extra points. Jasper has never missed an extra point in his career, converting all 48 tries.
 
Jasper also serves as a punter on the LSU special teams unit and pooch punted once against Mississippi State. Jasper, who doubled as a soccer player in high school, prides himself on his versatility.
 
“I’ve never been the kind of person to do just one thing and be done,” Jasper said. “I’m glad I’ve become a better pooch punter over the years to help out the team there. I’m really happy I get to help the team on multiple levels.”
 
Jasper made six of eight field goals from 40 yards or more in the 2009 season, including a long of 52 yards. He is No. 1 in LSU history with a field-goal percentage of 86.7 percent.
 
LSU coach Les Miles said Jasper’s dependability makes him quick to send Jasper out even for long field goals.
 
“Think about what he did for us. He came out and put our first four scores on the board,” Miles said. “We turned to him. When you have that reputation of ‘Just ask me, Coach, and let’s get it done,’ it’s a very confident one.”
 
Jasper said the key to being a successful kicker is to treat every kick seriously.
 
He gave the example of the North Carolina game, in which the Tar Heels crept back into the game in the second half and had two chances to win the game in the final seconds.
 
“The North Carolina kick didn’t seem very important at the time, but they ended up coming back,” Jasper said. “It wouldn’t have even been a game if I had made that [field goal]. You can’t go out there and not care about a certain kick because it could end up biting you.”
 
Jasper exhibited his versatility in high school as a running quarterback and wide receiver in addition to kicker. His first career field goal was a game-winner as a freshman against Briarcrest Christian School, the alma mater of Michael Oher, subject of the 2009 movie “The Blind Side.”
 
Shepard said he is “so proud” of Jasper’s ability to be a reliable kicker for LSU.
 
“He really is our best offensive weapon,” Shepard said. “People like to see the running backs and receivers, but your kicker is really your best friend. It’s a hit or a miss, and he has the most pressure on his back.”
 
Shepard said Jasper is an easy-going player with a unique personality.
 
“He’s a small dude, one of the smallest dudes we have on the team, but he has a huge personality,” Shepard said. “He thinks he’s about 330 [pounds] and says he wants to do Big Cat [drills]. He’s somebody I truly think of as a friend and a brother I’ll have for the rest of my life.”
 
 
 
—-
Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]