Storm Ruiz Named to Fred Mitchell Award “Kick-Off” Watch List
8/16/2017 12:05:00 PM | Football
Storm Ruiz is one of only seven FCS kickers named to the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award “Kick-Off” Watch List after a strong freshman campaign
Fred Mitchell Award Watch List release
NACOGDOCHES, Texas – Sophomore placekicker Storm Ruiz has been named to the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award "Kick-Off" Watch List as announced Monday evening. Since 2009 the Fred Mitchell Award has been given annually to the nation's top placekicker in FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community.
A total of 36 placekickers appear on the watch list including seven from the FCS level. Ruiz is the only kicker from the Southland Conference to be named to the award's watch list and is only one of two players from a Texas school. Tanner Wright from NCAA Division II McMurry University in Abilene also appears on the watch list.
A native of League City, Texas (Clear Springs H.S.), Ruiz was SFA's primary placekicker as a true freshman in 2016 as he went 13-for-17 on field goal attempts and was a perfect 41-of-41 on extra points. Ruiz led the Southland Conference in points per game (7.3), field goal percentage (76.5%) and PAT percentage (100%). Additionally, Ruiz ranked 27th nationally in field goal percentage and 34th in points per game. Ruiz led the team in scoring as his 80 points were 18 more than starting quarterback Zach Conque.
During his freshman campaign, Ruiz had three field goals of 40 yards or longer, including a season-long 44-yarder in the home opening win against West Alabama. His first collegiate made field goal came on 43-yard attempt at FBS Texas Tech in his Lumberjack debut. He also hit a 40-yard field goal in the upset win at 13th-ranked McNeese State. Ruiz made his first six field goal attempts of the season and finished out the year by making his final four.
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. This fall he will participate in SFA football's Read to Succeed reading program, where he will read to elementary-age children at local schools on Fridays.
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 NCAA 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 placekicker Storm Ruiz has been named to the 2017 Fred Mitchell Award "Kick-Off" Watch List as announced Monday evening. Since 2009 the Fred Mitchell Award has been given annually to the nation's top placekicker in FCS, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and NJCAA for excellence on the football field and in the community.
A total of 36 placekickers appear on the watch list including seven from the FCS level. Ruiz is the only kicker from the Southland Conference to be named to the award's watch list and is only one of two players from a Texas school. Tanner Wright from NCAA Division II McMurry University in Abilene also appears on the watch list.
A native of League City, Texas (Clear Springs H.S.), Ruiz was SFA's primary placekicker as a true freshman in 2016 as he went 13-for-17 on field goal attempts and was a perfect 41-of-41 on extra points. Ruiz led the Southland Conference in points per game (7.3), field goal percentage (76.5%) and PAT percentage (100%). Additionally, Ruiz ranked 27th nationally in field goal percentage and 34th in points per game. Ruiz led the team in scoring as his 80 points were 18 more than starting quarterback Zach Conque.
During his freshman campaign, Ruiz had three field goals of 40 yards or longer, including a season-long 44-yarder in the home opening win against West Alabama. His first collegiate made field goal came on 43-yard attempt at FBS Texas Tech in his Lumberjack debut. He also hit a 40-yard field goal in the upset win at 13th-ranked McNeese State. Ruiz made his first six field goal attempts of the season and finished out the year by making his final four.
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. This fall he will participate in SFA football's Read to Succeed reading program, where he will read to elementary-age children at local schools on Fridays.
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 NCAA 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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