Noah Ruggles will go down as one of the most accurate kickers in Ohio State history. They have always had a great kicker.
He was hailed as a hero when he kicked the winning field goal to win the Rose Bowl against Utah.
But he will always be remembered for on key failure. For failing to send the Buckeyes into the College Football Playoff national title game, with an embarrassing miss against No. 1 Georgia.
Sadly, he took a lot of heat and scrutiny on social media for the missed kick.
On Saturday, he said goodbye to Buckeye Nation by heading to kick on Sundays.
“I hoped for another storybook ending like in 2021. I had the highest ever accuracy percentage in Ohio State history and in all of college football for 2021. My effort and desire is always the same for each game, but the same storybook ending was not to be in the 2022 season. The Lord makes no promises that our paths will be easy.
However, I remember God has a plan, and I trust Him. He has given me this ability. For this reason, I will be pursuing my next goal to make an NFL roster. To those of you who have given me unwavering support, I hope to make you proud. Thank you,” the Florida native announced.
THE NOAH RUGGLES FILE
PLAYER PROFILE
- HEIGHT 6-2
- WEIGHT 190
- HOMETOWN ODESSA, FLA.
- LAST SCHOOL STEINBRENNER / NORTH CAROLINA
- YEAR GRADUATED
Ohio State Overview
• Noah is in his sixth season after playing four years for North Carolina and 2021 with Ohio State
• The 2022 season will be his final season of eligibility
• He joined the Ohio State football program in June of 2021 as a graduate transfer with his degree in sports management from UNC
• Handled all of the kicking placements for Ohio State last season and was outstanding, being named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award and earning first-team All-America status by ESPN
• Ranked No. 1 nationally among kickers in 2021 with 10.3 ppg and was fourth among all players in scoring average
• Connected on 20 of 21 field goals to rank in a T2nd with a .952 success rate
• His .952 field goal percentage is an Ohio State single season and career record
• Scored 134 points to rank T7th nationally in points scored
• Converted on all 74 of his extra point attempts and has made 119 of 119 extra points as a collegian (45 of 45 at UNC)
• Set an Ohio State record for kickers with 134 points scored, a total that is sixth-most among all players at Ohio State
• His 20 field goals made are fourth-most in Ohio State history
• Connected on 16 consecutive field goals – second-longest streak in school history – before missing on his only attempt vs. Michigan State
• Big Ten co-special team’s player of the week after kicking four field goals in the Penn State win
• Followed Penn State game with four field goals vs. Nebraska to become first Buckeye to convert 4-of-4 field goals in consecutive games
Honors & Awards
2021: First-team All-American (ESPN); Lou Groza Award finalist; Second-team all-Big Ten Conference
At North Carolina
• Ruggles’ best season with the Tar Heels came in 2019 when he appeared in all 13 games and was fifth in the ACC in scoring with 102 points.
• Made 19 of 27 field goals and connected on all 45 of his PATs.
• His 19 made field goals and 45 extra points were both fifth most in single-season program history.
• Made a 40-yard field goal with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter which was the winning score in a 20-17 victory over rival Duke.
• He also connected on a 49-yard field goal – a career long – versus Wake Forest.
• Redshirted as a true freshman in 2017 and appeared in one game during the 2018 season before earning the starting kicker duties in 2019.
• His 2020 season was limited to just one appearance, a made PAT versus Western Carolina.
• For his career, Ruggles was 48-for-48 on extra points and 19-for-27 on field goals with 10 makes from between 30 and 49 yards.
More on Noah
• Attended Steinbrenner High School and was the nation’s No. 9 ranked kicker by 247Sports following his prep career.
• A first-team Class 8A All-State selection, Ruggles was the Offensive MVP of the Hillsborough All-Star Game.
BIOGRAPHY COURTESY OF OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
