Ohio State Kicker Noah Ruggles Named Lou Groza Award Semifinalist

The North Carolina graduate transfer is perfect on field goal and extra point attempts so far this season.

Author:
Andrew Lind
Nov 4, 2021 3:53 PM EDT

Ohio State fifth-year senior kicker Noah Ruggles was named on Thursday as one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award, which is presented annually to college football’s top placekicker.

Ruggles, who joined the Buckeyes this offseason as a graduate transfer from North Carolina, is 11-for-11 on field goals and 47-for-47 on extra point attempts in eight games so far this season.

He recently earned Big Ten co-special teams player of the week honors after he converted all four field goal attempts, including a long of 35 yards, in the 33-24 win over Penn State on Saturday.

His 15 total points – including three PATs – made the difference in a nine-point victory, which is why he also named Ohio State’s special teams player of the game.

Ruggles is looking to become just the second Buckeye to win the Lou Groza Award, which is named after the former Ohio State and Cleveland Browns kicker, joining Mike Nugent in 2004.

Other Big Ten kickers still in the running for the award include Iowa’s Caleb Shudak and Michigan’s Jake Moody.

-----

Be sure to check out our new message boards, Buckeye Forums. We'd love to have you part of the conversation during the season.

-----

You may also like:

Ohio State's Ryan Day Believes 7-On-7 Hurts Quarterback Development

Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud Separated AC Joint In Season Opener At Minnesota

Ohio State Freshman Walk-On RB Cayden Saunders Loses Black Stripe

Jerron Cage Not Reminiscing On Touchdown, Focused On Next Opportunity

Building The Buckeyes Discusses Xavier Nwankpa, Zion Branch And More

Ohio State Freshman Walk-On DL Bryce And Zach Prater Lose Black Stripes

-----