Ryan Shoemaker commits to Auburn

[bayoutider]

On Friday Oak Mountain kicker/punter Ryan Shoemaker will decide between walking on at Alabama or Auburn. He would be an invited walk-on at both schools. Auburn likes him as a punter, Alabama as both punter and placekicker.

Ryan averaged 39.8, 42.5 and 41.5 yards per punt, respectively, in his last three years. As a placekicker, he hit four of five attempts of over 40 yards his junior season, and this year he was good on 14 of 20 attempts, with a long of 49 yards. In his last two seasons, he put 80% of his kickoffs into the end zone.

 

[Crimson Hawk]

Don't know about placekicking, but we BAD need a good punter!

 

[Bodhisattva]

Shoemaker. Now that's a great name for a kicker.

 

[bamahippie]

Is there anyone on here that knows and has seen our current crop of kickers and punters for '06? Are there any legit candidates to take over and be an improvement? Is Friedman for real? Can Fitzgerald boom it? We need to improve, and I don't know that you can lay all the blame on Ungerer. Gotsta have players...

 

[Love the Ping]

Fitzgerald can boom it. Then he can shank one twelve yards the next time. I expect that with repetition, his consistency will improve, and our punting situation will be better next year. Our PK should improve with maturity and experience. I think Christinsen will be better next year than he was this year and will probably hold the position, though. He's got a huge leg, he just has to get more consistent. I think he will. Remember how much Bostick struggled as a junior (his first year kicking out there)? Then he was tremendous as a senior. Hopefully JC works hard and makes similar strides, we could have a good one.

 

[Tide49]

Would love to see a high quality punter come in. Finishing 87th in the NCAA punting average just doesn't cut it on a team that plays field position as much as Bama.

 

[cbi1972]

Wonder what Leigh Tiffin thought of the ending of the Cotton Bowl?

 

[bamabryan]

I've read that Fitzgerald has a great leg.

Is he considered the odds on favorite to be the punter next year?

 

[Love the Ping]

I've read that Fitzgerald has a great leg.

Is he considered the odds on favorite to be the punter next year?

I would say that he is.

 

[bamahippie]

Fitzgerald can boom it. Then he can shank one twelve yards the next time. I expect that with repetition, his consistency will improve, and our punting situation will be better next year. Our PK should improve with maturity and experience. I think Christinsen will be better next year than he was this year and will probably hold the position, though. He's got a huge leg, he just has to get more consistent. I think he will. Remember how much Bostick struggled as a junior (his first year kicking out there)? Then he was tremendous as a senior. Hopefully JC works hard and makes similar strides, we could have a good one.

I heard that on PJ's punting. I think you're right on the reps for him, and another year of working on it certainly won't hurt for Christensen. Neal Thomas didn't too so bad as a senior either. OK, my hope has risen a little. :tongue:

 

[PattheCatinSaudi]

Shoemaker. Now that's a great name for a kicker.

Sounds like a jockey to me

 

[Bodhisattva]

Sounds like a jockey to me

I guess the most obivious career for Shoemaker would be as a shoe maker ... but then he'd have to change his name to Cobbler.

 

[bamaboy22]

Any News on Leigh Tiffin

I'm wanting to know the status of Leigh Tiffin does anyone have an update on him? If you do thanks in advance.

 

[bayoutider]

I'm wanting to know the status of Leigh Tiffin does anyone have an update on him? If you do thanks in advance.

Last I heard Leigh was waiting till close to NSD to see if any scholarships are available but also said there was a good possibility he would be wearing crimson.

 

[bamabryan]

Is Tiffin a highly regarded kicker? I don't know much about him other than who is Dad is.

Anyone have any numbers on him?

 

[bamahippie]

Is Tiffin a highly regarded kicker?
Anyone have any numbers on him?

Both good questions. Who else is recruiting him? And is he accurate?

 

[bamapair]

A couple of articles on Tiffin this past season

Link
Link2

 

[cbi1972]

Van Tiffin said his son's leg strength is more powerful than it was during this stage in his career.

"I wasn't as powerful as Leigh is right now," said Van Tiffin, who kicked at Red Bay.

"I got stronger when I got to college. Right now, he's probably as strong as I was in college. He does a few things differently, and probably better than I would have."

 

[Tide49]

Shoemaker commited to the Barn this afternoon... They apparently offered a scholly.

 

[bamahippie]

Shoemaker commited to the Barn this afternoon... They apparently offered a scholly.

Oops, I had forgotten he was announcing today. Well, good for Auburn, they can give schollies to kickers. Maybe he can doink a few for 'em for years to come!

No, seriously, best of luck to him (except when they play us). Bliss isn't bad...