Placekickers: Hero Or Villains
- Sarah Hoylman
- Feb 21, 2022
- 3 min read
Kickers are a football teams most underrated asset. For those of you that know me, you'll know I have more bias than most when it comes to respecting and appreciating kickers.
Over the past two years, I've had the pleasure of dating a College Football kicker. With that said, I've witnessed the greatness that comes with a winning field goal kick and becoming the hero. But, I've also witnessed the gut-wrenching losses that were technically "the kickers fault" and immediately watching them become the villain.
Noah Ruggles kicking for Ohio State.
I think to be able to fully respect a kicker for their job on the football field, it is imperative to understand the mechanics behind simply kicking the ball off the ground and placing it between the poles. You have to think about the holder, long snapper and the entire line blocking for the kicker. But, there's also the side of kicking that is more than just kicking; you have to be mentally tough enough to handle the outcome.
Kickers have one job; kick the ball in between the poles and give your team one or three points. Sounds easy, right? If you understand sports at all, you know it's not that easy. There is so much preparation that comes with being a kicker. Its stretching every day, making sure your posture is as straight as an athlete 24/7, sleeping a specific way to take care of your back, and hitting 30+ field goals on your off days.
It's also a lot of mental preparation. Your only job is to walk out on the field in front of thousands of fans to kick the ball. If you're not playing at home, everyone is screaming and rooting against you. If you are at home, everyone is cheering for you, but if you miss, you're the villain.
I've seen both sides. My boyfriend, Noah Ruggles, spent his last four years trying to navigate his way through kicking field goals at UNC. After spending four years at UNC and being benched his senior year, Coach Ryan Day and The Ohio State Buckeyes took a strong notice to his perseverance and talent. As a grad transfer kicker at one of the most respected College Football schools in America, Noah was forced to assimilate and figure out how to kick the best he possibly could, prepare to the best of his ability, and give himself breaks when he felt like it was too much.
Noah emotional after being offered a full-scholarship to kick at Ohio State.
Noah tied for the second-best field goal percentage in the entire Football Subdivision for the 2021 season, while also making the game-winning field goal to win the Rose Bowl for The Buckeyes. He made all but one of his 21 field goal attempts. None of that was easy for him, however. Yes, he was doing his job, but he was also the villain multiple times throughout his kicking career. Literally, the villain. People were sending him inhumane messages and constantly counting him out.
Noah's teammates celebrating his game-winning kick against Utah in the Rose Bowl.
link: https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/4240678/noah-ruggles
It was his mental toughness that transcended all the bad; he believed in himself when no one else did and he practiced like he was the best kicker in the nation.
Noah kicking field goals during his time in the transfer portal asking for opportunity from coaches.
Link: https://twitter.com/noahruggles/status/1381304825535623168
Noah is using his final year of eligibility to play one more season as the placekicker for The Buckeyes. Now that he is one of the top kickers in College Football, the only thing left for Noah to do is to remain consistent. That consistency is created through his mental and physical preparation. His relentless desire to be the best and his on -and-off the field preparation is what makes him shine so bright.
Let's root for kickers, not villainize them. Just like the star quarterback, or the OBJ of wide receivers, kickers mess up too. So let's bear with them, respect them and appreciate them for what they do.
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