How Alejandro Mata is embracing his senior season

Alejandro Mata is hoping to have his best season yet in year four under head coach Deion Sanders. (Photo By Talus Schreiber/Sko Buffs Sports)

Before coaching the Colorado Buffaloes was a thought, Deion Sanders formed a special bond with a freshman kicker at Jackson State University.

Now, heading into his final year of college, Alejandro Mata has gained the full trust of Colorado’s coaching staff and love from fans. 

Spending four years with one of sport’s most polarizing personalities has certainly worn off on the kicker, guiding him through his senior year. Seeing the growth of the culture amongst highs and lows, Mata has become a prominent presence in the locker room. 

“Coach Prime has made sure to keep the same mentality with the team, and that’s to dominate,” Mata told Sko Buffs Sports. “Whether it’s off the field or on the field, classes or in the game. That’s something that I appreciate about him; He stays consistent with what he preaches.” 

Consistency has kept Mata with Sanders, even through the era of NIL and the transfer portal. A perfect rating on extra points in 2024 and a career 85 percent on field goals have made him reliable for both Colorado and JSU. 

Climbing the ladder of success hasn’t always been easy for Mata during his time with Sanders, but it’s those experiences of loss that have grown their relationship. 

“Even during the 4-8 season, we still had that mentality, after loss after loss, that we were going to come in and dominate,” Mata said. “Nothing changes, no matter what the record is, what the score or predictions are.”

Buying into the culture, the Buffs earned nine wins last season, but the victories off the field have been equally as important for Mata. Taking time to talk with teammates and the coaching staff, bonds grew tight. 

“All those team meetings that he has with us, all those talks that he’s had with us, have definitely made me into a better man,” Mata said. “Which has made me a better son, a better brother and overall human. I’m thankful for that." 

Representing at Big 12 Media Day and during fall camp media availability, he has built on his vocal presence with the fans. With one final chance to realize his college goals and advance on, Mata has taken his leadership role seriously. 

"It’s a blessing, definitely something I’m not taking for granted,” Mata said. “It’s a big deal knowing that he handpicked me to come here and represent the team.”

Under the new strength and conditioning coach, Andreu Swasey, Mata and the Buffs have ramped up their off-season training regimen. Putting maximum effort into his diet and conditioning, Mata has worked to get leaner for Georgia Tech. 

“I’m comparing it to like a track team or soccer team, to be honest, the conditioning part. They’re running the crap out of us,” Mata said. “Everyone [runs]. Just because you're a specialist doesn't mean you're special. We’re a part of the team.”

Being the senior in the room means having a group of young guys to lead and teach. Even transfers battling for the same position have been able to learn from Mata and appreciate his craft. A testament to his selflessness, he has embraced that trust. 

“It comes down to competition. Competing against each other but also making sure everybody gets better throughout practice,” Mata said. “I’m one of the leaders of the specialists room, and I know that it’s my job to keep the freshmen and sophomores accountable for what the standard is.”

As a human and college student, Mata carries responsibilities off the field that are often not remembered in big moments. Being a kicker comes with the expectation to perform regardless of the circumstance. Especially under the watchful eyes of a nationally televised audience, Mata has blocked out the noise. 

“I’ve always thought of pressure as an imaginary thing. It’s pressure if you think it is,” Mata said. “It's a regular kick just like you practice on Tuesday. Just because 50,000 people are watching doesn’t mean you change anything else.”

Ahead of Friday, Mata will take the field in Week 1 for the final time as a Buffalo and with Sanders. With more confidence and in the best shape of his career, he will do so with an improved mindset and trust from the coach who took a chance on him. 

“Being a kicker is more of a mental game, which means I have to deal with negative things all the time, and stay locked in, stay positive, and look to the future,” Mata said. “If I miss a kick, I can’t be stuck on that. We want to move on, keep going and make sure that the next kick is better than the one before.”