Ohio State football: Rose Bowl hero to return for 2022
By Del Barris
With all of the announcements of coaching firings and hirings, and players deciding to stay with the Ohio State football program, one bit of news kind of flew under the radar. Rose Bowl hero kicker Noah Ruggles has decided to return for another season with the Buckeyes.
When you looked ahead to the 2022 season immediately after the Rose Bowl, there was a very real possibility the Buckeyes were facing a situation of having a new long snapper and placekicker. It didn’t take long for All-American long snapper Bradley Robinson to announce his return-he did so less than a week after the win over Utah.
Ruggles made us wait a bit longer, but the news is no less happy. With punter Jesse Mirco back for his second season with the Buckeyes, an area that looked to be a question mark heading into next season has now become a decided strength.
When Ruggles transferred from North Carolina in early June, it sent barely a ripple through Buckeye Nation. I and a lot of other fans believed Jake Seibert would take over after filling in for three games in 2020, including the national championship game.
However, during preseason practice in August, Ruggles seized the job and went on to exceed all expectations. He hit on all 74 extra-point attempts and 20 out of 21 field goals with a long of 46 yards. His 95.2 field goal percentage was good for second among all FBS kickers.
Ruggles, a native of Odessa, Florida who has Ohio family ties, was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, which is given to the nation’s top kicker. He was also named as a first-team All-American by ESPN and the FWAA (Football Writers Association of America).
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Because of his consistency, Ruggles was a weapon for the Ohio State football team in 2021. If he can extend his range to beyond fifty yards he will become even more of a weapon and turn himself into a legitimate NFL prospect. Regardless if he makes it onto an NFL roster, Ruggles will always be remembered as a Buckeye hero for his Rose-Bowl-winning kick.