Former Buford High School kicker Alejandro Mata announced Tuesday, Dec. 27, via Twitter that he has decided to sign with the University of Colorado football program after recently entering the transfer portal.
Mata played a solid freshman year as the kicker for Jackson State University under the guidance of head coach Deion Sanders. Mata earned the nickname “Auto-Mata” after he made 12 out of 13 field goal attempts and 50 of his 51 extra point kicks. The two missed kicks were blocked.
During the 2022 SWAC Championship Game, Mata made both of his field goal attempts helping Jackson State to a 43-24 victory over Southern. He earned third-team FCS Freshman All-American and second-team all-conference honors for his freshman collegiate season.
While at Buford, Mata was the starting kicker for two years and he proved crucial to the Wolves winning two state championships his junior and senior years. During his senior year at BHS, Mata made 9 out of 13 field goal attempts and 60 of his 63 extra point attempts.
Mata will follow Sanders from Jackson State to Colorado, as will former Collins Hill top recruit Travis Hunter. Sanders was announced as the new head coach at Colorado on Dec. 3. Mata will also join former Buford teammates running back Victor Venn and linebacker Aubrey Smith.
FEATURED PHOTO: Alejandro Mata kicks the extra point after Buford scores a touchdown against Lanier during Mata’s senior year. Photo by Alicia Payne.
