K Jack Willoughby (Academic All-American)

[MD Buckeye]

http://www.dukechronicle.com/articl...sh-out-college-career-ohio-state#.VS_afs5ZEUV

Duke football kicker Jack Willoughby to finish out college career at Ohio State

Just like projected NFL Draft picks Laken Tomlinson and Jamison Crowder, another graduating Duke football player plans to continue his career with a new team.

The Blue Devils’ kickoff specialist last season, Jack Willoughby, will be suiting up for reigning national champion Ohio State in the fall. Willoughby made an unofficial visit to Columbus and met with head coach Urban Meyer Sat., April 4 en route to Indianapolis to watch Duke men’s basketball play in the Final Four.

“I made a list of every team in the country that I would want to play for in the big conferences and then started to narrow down based on who had a senior kicker graduating or who could use someone like me to step in and compete for kicking duties,” Willoughby said. “I reached out to a bunch of coaches and ultimately Ohio State was the best fit from a football and an academic standpoint.”

The Princeton, N.J., native chose Ohio State in part because of the possibility of winning the job as the team’s primary field goal kicker in addition to being the kickoff specialist. Ohio State started freshman kicker Sean Nuernberger last season, who made just 13 of his 20 field goal attempts and never attempted one over 50 yards.

“Ohio State had a senior kickoff specialist last year, who graduated. He was great for them and has left big shoes that I’m excited to try to fill,” Willoughby said. “They also have a talented young field goal kicker who was a true freshman last year and will be back for his sophomore year. But I know that Ohio State is very committed to winning and to putting the best players on the field, so I know that I’ll get a fair chance to compete to kick field goals. If I’m that best player, then I’ll play and if I’m not, then I won’t play. That’s all I can ask for.”

Contd....

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

Where's that 'head scratch' emoticon?

 

[Redhawk]

Well if you've already got a degree from Duke, why not jump at the chance to win a NC?

 

[Buckeyebred97]

Averaged 62.2 yards per kickoff last season good for 7th in the country.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

How good is he at kicking just one ball out of bounds each game?

 

[Redhawk]

How good is he at kicking just one ball out of bounds each game?

http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...inish-collegiate-kicking-career-at-ohio-state

According to CFBStats.com, the New Jerseyan appeared in 13 games last season. 28 of his 73 kickoffs went for touchbacks (38.36%). More importantly for OSU fans, none of Willoughby's kicks went out of bounds. (It should be noted, however, I didn't watch enough Duke football last year to discern if Duke angles its kickoffs like Ohio State's.)

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...inish-collegiate-kicking-career-at-ohio-state

By comparison, 33% of Kyle Clinton's 117 kickoffs went for touchbacks last year. He kicked seven balls out-of-bounds.

I call shennanigans on that. It seemed like closer to 77.


(I actually love that we're so cut throat that we pick out a 20 x 5 yard window to land kickoffs in.....effectively cutting off an entire side of the field while forcing a return)

 

[Zurp]

(I actually love that we're so cut throat that we pick out a 20 x 5 yard window to land kickoffs in.....effectively cutting off an entire side of the field while forcing a return)

Agreed. I liked Jim Tressel and his philosophy, but I really like Urban Meyer and his aggressive playcalling. "I'm going to get the other team down at the 15 yard line if all works well. They get out to the 40 if it doesn't."

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

How good is he at kicking just one ball out of bounds each game?

 

[dragurd]

Is he becoming a walk-on or on scholarship? Because if it's scholarship it tells you all you need to know about our scholarship situation.

 

[Bestbuck36]

I love it. If you think your job is safe at Ohio State, think again.

 

[Bill Lucas]

OK. I'll say it. Welcome to Buckeye Nation, Jack!

 

[mattynokes]

Haha, we're so attractive that we get kickers to transfer knowing they're only in line to do kickoffs. I think the challenge should be to get 3 kickers on the Groza watch list.

 

[brodybuck21]

 

[ScriptOhio]

While the news of Duke kicker Jack Willoughby transferring to Ohio State this spring flew under the radar for most fans, there's a very good chance that they will be seeing quite a bit of him this season.

The Buckeyes are in need of a new kickoff specialist, which is exactly what Willoughby did at Duke. And when it comes to a recruiting draw, Ohio State is basically a dream location for somebody who loves to kick off.

However, Willoughby may not just be a kickoff specialist.

"We lost Kyle Clinton, our kickoff guy, so I think we have him starting at kickoff right now," Urban Meyer said on Sunday. "But he's in a battle for the field goal spot, too. Sean Nuernberger is a fine kicker. He was a freshman so we don't want to panic too much. He's got a strong leg, great guy, but the competition is good, and he's been a good, good worker."

Entire article: http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/All-...Football-Notebook-Is-Apple-Picking-on-Braxton