P A.J. Trapasso (Official Thread)

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Notebook
Fake punt overcomes drop
Trapasso picks up first down despite taking off too soon
Sunday, September 30, 2007 3:55 AM
By Tim May, Ken Gordon and Bob Baptist


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

CHRIS RUSSELL | Dispatch
Ohio State's Marcus Freeman brings down Minnesota's Duane Bennett in the first half.



MINNEAPOLIS -- Ohio State punter A.J. Trapasso finally got the fake punt call he'd long been awaiting, and he almost blew it.
Actually, "He dribbled it," coach Jim Tressel said.
Trapasso ran a split second too early on a fake punt during the Buckeyes' first possession last night and dropped the ball. But he picked it up and ran 18 yards, courtesy of a punishing block by Marcus Freeman, to the Minnesota 42, keeping in motion the Buckeyes' first scoring drive in a 30-7 win.

Continued......

 

[GoodLifeSean]

Trapasso showed some wheels on that fake...
Dare I say third string RB till Saine gets back in the lineup

 

[EastSide]

I am sure that is what he has really wanted all along. i think AJ could hold his own if called upon. They will have to get him some TB reps in practice this week. That was kind of like the first quarter changing moment.

 

[ScriptOhio]

I was a great day for the kickers doing something other than kicking. Ryan Pretorius made a great (possible TD saving) tackle on a kickoff return.
:osu:

 

[BB73]

From the media session yesterday.

official.site

[URL="https://admin.xosn.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87743&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059324"]A.J. Trapasso[/URL], junior, punter

On his punting during the Minnesota game

"I got a couple lucky bounces out there last week. One of them landed and bounced straight left. When you have a coverage team like we have it makes it easy, too."

On the punt coverage team

"I play a little part in it as far as the hang time and where the ball ends up on the field, but our coverage guys have to be up there with the best in the country, if not the best in the country. So, it makes it real easy for me. We take a lot of pride in our punt team. If you want to be on it you have to be an athlete. We practice at it everyday and it shows on Saturday."

On Purdue's punt returners

"They have two really good returners. They're not to be taken lightly. I don't think it?s the best idea to challenge them and kick it straight down the field and see what happens. We respect them and we're going to work hard to be ready for them."

 

[EastSide]

Trapasso Up To The Challenge So Far

One of the many threats Ohio State will face this weekend at Purdue is the return prowess of speedy receiver Dorien Bryant. However, the Buckeyes also boast a special teams weapon in the form of junior punter A.J. Trapasso, an All-Big Ten candidate in his own right.

BN

Tressel talks about Purdue's special team threat and that we got to read their scheme and he has confidence that AJ will be up for the challenge.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I was glad to see AJ Having fun. That was one happy kid after his run. and then he makes a huge tackle. And he was laughing and high 5 ing.
He made me smile. :tongue2:

Uh, that was Pretorius that made a saving tackle on a kickoff. I'd be smiling too if I were on Alzheimer's medication...

 

[BB73]

BN

Currently, Ohio State ranks 11th in the nation and second in the conference just behind Penn State with a net punting average of 39.9 yards, just a hair below the preseason goal of 40 per punt.

?I take more pride in the net than I do the average,? Trapasso said. ?Any good punter can just stand back there and whale on the ball, but it takes a team effort to get that net as high as we have it.

?We take a lot of pride in our punt team, and if you want to be on it you have to be an athlete. Those guys work hard at it every day. We practice at it every day, and it shows when it comes time for it on Saturday.?

It hasn?t come often. In fact, Trapasso?s 18 punts mark the least by a league team so far this season. In a 58-7 thrashing of Northwestern Sept. 22, he never had to take the field.

Actually, A.J. punted once in the Northwestern game.

A net average close to 40 yards is excellent.

 

[BB73]

Congrats to A.J. on his second selection as Big Ten Special Teams Player of the Week.

ozone.bigten

Trapasso was named the Big Ten Special Teams Player of the week. Trapasso placed three of his five punts inside the 20-yard line and still averaged 43.4 yards per boot against Michigan State. The junior punter totaled 217 punting yards on the day with a long of 58 yards and also recorded two touchbacks on his five kickoffs. Trapasso collects the second weekly laurel of his career after being previously honored on Sept. 11, 2006.

The last OSU player to be named the league special teams player of the week was PR Brian Hartline on Oct. 15, 2007.

 

[MD Buckeye]

Punter/Kicker of the year :tongue2:

 

[Colvinnl]

Most important was his 58 yard bomb...couldn't have come at a better time. I think that is a punter's equivalent to a GW field goal.

 

[Buckskin86]

Trapasso a semifinalist for Ray Guy Award
Thursday, November 1, 2007 1:49 PM


Ohio State's A.J. Trapasso is among 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, awarded to the nation's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council.

Trapasso is averaging 41.9 yards a kick with a long of 63 yards. Fifteen of his 30 punts have been downed inside the 20-yard line.

The complete list of semifinalists:

Durant Brooks, Georgia Tech
Keenyn Crier, Arizona
Kevin Huber, Cincinnati
Brett Kern, Toledo
Andrew Larson, California
Chris Miller, Ball State
Tim Reyer, Kansas State
Louie Sakoda, Utah
A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State
Ben Woods, Buffalo

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Trapasso a semifinalist for Ray Guy Award

 

[buckeyes_rock]

Congrats to AJ! Well deserved!

 

[NFBuck]

A.J. has been great since taking over. I still call him one of the unsung heroes of last years Texas game. He was constantly pinning the 'Horns deep in their territory.

 

[BB73]

A.J. talks about his firefighting father in a feature in the program.

program.Trapasso.pdf