I also talked to Ryan Wright for the first time since I interviewed him on the phone right after he committed to Tulane last year. He is 10th nationally with an average of 45.4 yards since supplanting senior Zach Block. Of course, Block still attempts the pooch kicks, which helps Wright's average.
HIs average will be the third highest in school history if it holds up and he punts 13 more times to meet the minimum requirement of 35, ranking behind Brad Hill's 46.2 in 1997 and Ross Thevenot's 45.8 in 2008.
Here's what he had to say:
How has your confidence grown this year?
"The first game was a little tough. I think that was just nerves of starting for the first time, especially at Ohio State, but now I feel comfortable. I've got my op team a little faster now, so I feel really comfortable out there. I'm just trying to do my job so we can get good field position for the defense."
How good do you feel you are punting?
"I don't like talking about my rankings too much, but right now I'm number 10 in the country I believe. We'll see how that goes. That can change with one punt."
What was hardest adjustment from high school to college?
"It's not really any different. It's just a lot faster pace, but I got that down in the summer."
When did you start to feel more comfortable?
"I believe the first time I felt comfortable punting in a college game was against Memphis. My first punt was I believe over 50 yards and I just felt really comfortable after that."
The long return you gave up against Tulsa came after a punt that went right down the middle. Was that not where it was supposed to go?
"No. It was supposed to get to the numbers. It just dropped inside, so in my leg cross this week at practice I've been really focusing on just staying straight and getting the ball outside the numbers."
Why don't you like talking about rankings?
"I believe success is more a thing that comes after the season more than midseason. We still have four games left, and like I said, rankings can always change every punt. Some guys can do really good and some guys can do really bad. It just depends."
You don't look like the typical punter because you're so big (6-3, 245). How much does that help you?
"It doesn't affect. My size comes from playing quarterback in high school. I've just always been a big dude I guess."
How did you get into punting?
"I played soccer up until 10 years old. I've always punted for my team, had a strong leg. I didn't really start punting for Kohl's Kicking until my sophomore years, and they really got me to where I needed to be."
So you played QB all through high school? How many fake punts did you have?
"No, I'm surprised we never ran one."
HIs average will be the third highest in school history if it holds up and he punts 13 more times to meet the minimum requirement of 35, ranking behind Brad Hill's 46.2 in 1997 and Ross Thevenot's 45.8 in 2008.
Here's what he had to say:
How has your confidence grown this year?
"The first game was a little tough. I think that was just nerves of starting for the first time, especially at Ohio State, but now I feel comfortable. I've got my op team a little faster now, so I feel really comfortable out there. I'm just trying to do my job so we can get good field position for the defense."
How good do you feel you are punting?
"I don't like talking about my rankings too much, but right now I'm number 10 in the country I believe. We'll see how that goes. That can change with one punt."
What was hardest adjustment from high school to college?
"It's not really any different. It's just a lot faster pace, but I got that down in the summer."
When did you start to feel more comfortable?
"I believe the first time I felt comfortable punting in a college game was against Memphis. My first punt was I believe over 50 yards and I just felt really comfortable after that."
The long return you gave up against Tulsa came after a punt that went right down the middle. Was that not where it was supposed to go?
"No. It was supposed to get to the numbers. It just dropped inside, so in my leg cross this week at practice I've been really focusing on just staying straight and getting the ball outside the numbers."
Why don't you like talking about rankings?
"I believe success is more a thing that comes after the season more than midseason. We still have four games left, and like I said, rankings can always change every punt. Some guys can do really good and some guys can do really bad. It just depends."
You don't look like the typical punter because you're so big (6-3, 245). How much does that help you?
"It doesn't affect. My size comes from playing quarterback in high school. I've just always been a big dude I guess."
How did you get into punting?
"I played soccer up until 10 years old. I've always punted for my team, had a strong leg. I didn't really start punting for Kohl's Kicking until my sophomore years, and they really got me to where I needed to be."
So you played QB all through high school? How many fake punts did you have?
"No, I'm surprised we never ran one."