Storm Ruiz Named to Fred Mitchell Award October Watch List
11/3/2017 5:28:00 PM | Football
Sophomore place-kicker Storm Ruiz is one of only eight FCS players to appear on October Watch List for the Fred Mitchell Award
Fred Mitchell Award Watch List release
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Sophomore place-kicker Storm Ruiz has been placed on the October Watch List for the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award after appearing on the September watch list last month, the committee announced Thursday night. Since 2009, the Fred Mitchell Award has been given annually to the nation's top place-kicker in FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community.
A total of 41 place-kickers appear on the October watch list, up from the 31 who were on the September version, for their performance on the field throughout the month and for continued community service during the offseason. Ruiz is one of just eight place-kickers at the FCS level who is on the October list. The only representative from the Southland Conference, Ruiz joins fellow place-kickers from Texas schools, senior Sergio Sroka from NCAA Division II Tarleton State and sophomore Tanner Wright of NCAA Division III McMurry University. He is one of just 11 sophomores to be named to the October watch list that is comprised of 27 upperclassmen.
A native of League City, Texas (Clear Springs H.S.), Ruiz ranks second in the Southland and fourth nationally in field goal percentage (.857), having gone 12-for-14 through nine games this season. Ruiz' 1.33 field goals per game ranks him fourth in the conference and 14th in the nation, while he is a perfect 20-for-20 on extra-point attempts. Leading Stephen F. Austin in scoring with 56 total points this season, Ruiz is averaging a 6.2 points per game to rank among league leaders in that category as well.
He has hit both of his field goal attempts from beyond 40 yards, making a 42-yarder against No. 11 Sam Houston State in the annual Battle of the Piney Woods and drilling a season-long 43-yarder against the wind in the Lumberjacks' 34-7 win at Lamar. Ruiz has also gone a perfect 5-of-5 from short range and made five field goals between 30 and 40 yards out.
Off the field, Ruiz helped out with the Big Event project this past April, an annual campus-wide community service project where members of the football program cleanup the local community by doing work on houses for in-need families. He is also a part of SFA football's Read to Succeed program, where members of the team read to elementary-age children at local schools on Fridays in the fall.
A number of previous Fred Mitchell Award winners and top-10 finalists have gone on to kick in the NFL and CFL. Last year's award winner was Matt Davis from Division II UNC Pembroke.
The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community. Details are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com. The season's watch lists and updates may also be found on Facebook (@fredmitchellaward), and on Twitter (@kickeruww)
-SFA-
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Sophomore place-kicker Storm Ruiz has been placed on the October Watch List for the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award after appearing on the September watch list last month, the committee announced Thursday night. Since 2009, the Fred Mitchell Award has been given annually to the nation's top place-kicker in FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community.
A total of 41 place-kickers appear on the October watch list, up from the 31 who were on the September version, for their performance on the field throughout the month and for continued community service during the offseason. Ruiz is one of just eight place-kickers at the FCS level who is on the October list. The only representative from the Southland Conference, Ruiz joins fellow place-kickers from Texas schools, senior Sergio Sroka from NCAA Division II Tarleton State and sophomore Tanner Wright of NCAA Division III McMurry University. He is one of just 11 sophomores to be named to the October watch list that is comprised of 27 upperclassmen.
A native of League City, Texas (Clear Springs H.S.), Ruiz ranks second in the Southland and fourth nationally in field goal percentage (.857), having gone 12-for-14 through nine games this season. Ruiz' 1.33 field goals per game ranks him fourth in the conference and 14th in the nation, while he is a perfect 20-for-20 on extra-point attempts. Leading Stephen F. Austin in scoring with 56 total points this season, Ruiz is averaging a 6.2 points per game to rank among league leaders in that category as well.
He has hit both of his field goal attempts from beyond 40 yards, making a 42-yarder against No. 11 Sam Houston State in the annual Battle of the Piney Woods and drilling a season-long 43-yarder against the wind in the Lumberjacks' 34-7 win at Lamar. Ruiz has also gone a perfect 5-of-5 from short range and made five field goals between 30 and 40 yards out.
Off the field, Ruiz helped out with the Big Event project this past April, an annual campus-wide community service project where members of the football program cleanup the local community by doing work on houses for in-need families. He is also a part of SFA football's Read to Succeed program, where members of the team read to elementary-age children at local schools on Fridays in the fall.
A number of previous Fred Mitchell Award winners and top-10 finalists have gone on to kick in the NFL and CFL. Last year's award winner was Matt Davis from Division II UNC Pembroke.
The recipient of the Fred Mitchell Award will be announced in mid-December based on performance on the football field and in the community. Details are provided at www.fredmitchellaward.com. The season's watch lists and updates may also be found on Facebook (@fredmitchellaward), and on Twitter (@kickeruww)
-SFA-
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