A consistent kicking game has eluded Jim McElwain in his first season as Florida’s head coach.

The kicker McElwain inherited was Austin Hardin, the No. 1 kicking prospect of the class of 2012 according to ESPN. But this season, Hardin had the lowest field goal percentage (35.7) in the FBS.

When Hardin missed time with an unspecified injury, McElwain turned to K Jorge Powell. When Powell injured his leg against LSU, sidelining him for the rest of the season, McElwain announced open tryouts for walk-on kickers during UF’s bye week.

After more than 200 students tried out, Neil MacInness emerged as the top kicker, earning a spot on the team. McElwain dubbed the senior materials science and engineering major and pre-dental student “the dentist.”

Despite all the hoopla surrounding the open tryout, MacInness was barely used this season, and is out for the Citrus Bowl with a knee injury. He missed his first extra point attempt in Week 10 against Vanderbilt, and did not kick again until the SEC Championship Game, when he made an extra point. MacInness did not attempt a field goal this season.

After a 27-2 loss to FSU, McElwain promised the kicking situation would be better next season.

“We’ll get a kicker,” McElwain said. “That’s our responsibility. We’ll get a good one.”

On Tuesday night, top JUCO kicker Eddy Pineiro committed to Florida following his decommitment from Alabama. All is solved for the orange and blue when it comes to the kicking game, right? Not so fast.

Former UF kickers Judd Davis and Frankie Velez are skeptical of Pineiro’s ability to kick in college.

Davis and Velez make fair points. Pineiro is on a soccer scholarship at ASA College in Miami. He started training as a placekicker once he decided he wanted to pursue football, but has not kicked for his school’s football team. Pineiro performed kickoffs and extra points as a high school senior, but not field goals.

In videos with Kornblue Kicking, where Pineiro trains, he’s demonstrated the ability to make field goals in excess of 70 yards, albeit in non-pressure, no-defense situations.

The Gators have certainly landed a big leg with Pineiro, but might not be able to count on immediate contributions next season from a kicker who has never made a field goal in a football game. If necessary, Powell should be back and QB commit Feleipe Franks is also 4-of-7 kicking field goals this season for his high school team, including a long of 47 yards.