As West Virginia readies for ole Mizzou and then the strength of the Big 12 conference it has a weapon with a heavy foot that can possibly get it a close win or two this season.

Native Texan Josh Lambert has become a college placekicker extraordinaire.

Lambert is a redshirt senior from Garland, Texas. And after just a month or six weeks of games he will be breaking all-time WVU kicking records this season.

Already Lambert has made 68 field goals, placing him second on WVU’s all-time list. He needs seven more field goals this year to own the record.

Lambert’s 337 career points have him third on WVU’s all-time list. With another 48 points he plants his name atop the career scoring list.

His 133 extra points have Lambert in fifth place on the WVU all-time list.

As a sophomore in 2014, Lambert was given second-team All-America honors by one organization. His 135 points that season were the second-highest in the nation.

Last season, he scored 116 points and was first in the Big 12 in field goals made per game.

Lambert also was first in the Big 12 in total field goals made.

The one-point WVU win over Arizona State in the Cactus Bowl saw Lambert kick three field goals. At Kansas State in the regular season finale and also against Iowa State, he had three field goals.

In his three-year stand as WVU’s kicker, Lambert has made six field goals of longer than 50 yards.

If the Mountaineers are to win more conference games than they lose, there will be more than one game where the margin of victory is one, two or three points. Lambert can be the difference-maker in a number of close games.

If West Virginia has a bona fide All-America candidate this season, it’s placekicker Josh Lambert.