Kansei “Tokyo Toe” Matsuzawa, a 27-year-old kicker from Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan, was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft. During his college career at Hawai‘i, he connected on 39 of 45 field goal attempts (86.7%) and went 72-for-72 on extra points, earning Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year and becoming Hawai‘i’s first consensus All-American.
Matsuzawa will compete with Matt Gay for the Raiders’ starting kicker job, following the team’s decision to move on from Daniel Carlson. He credits his rise to the NFL to his time at Hawai‘i and his persistent self-driven learning, including studying NFL kickers on YouTube when he had no coach. His journey began with inspiration from watching an Oakland Raiders game in 2018, which reinforced his dream of playing in the NFL as a kicker. The Raiders begin offseason training in early May, with minicamp scheduled for mid-May, and Matsuzawa is set to report to the team this weekend.
Key Highlights:
– Undrafted free-agent signing: Matsuzawa adds international talent and a high-accuracy college track record.
– College achievements: 86.7% field goals, perfect 72-for-72 on extra points; Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year; Hawai‘i’s first consensus All-American.
– Competition context: Eyed as a potential starter to challenge Matt Gay after the Raiders released Daniel Carlson.
– Personal development: Self-taught path via YouTube and mentorship from NFL kickers; motivated by childhood Raiders inspiration.
Key Takeaways:
– Matsuzawa’s proven accuracy and award-winning college performance position him as a serious contender for the Raiders’ kicking job.
– His international background and self-driven development story enhance his profile as a compelling, marketable NFL acquisition.
– Raiders’ offseason schedule provides an immediate opportunity to showcase his skills in competition and practice.
