Oklahoma State University Athletics
Kicking Off With Jason Ricks
August 14, 2004 | Cowboy Football
“Actually, I had been playing soccer my whole life and seventh grade rolls around with middle school football. My eighth grade year, coach told me to come out and give it a shot and play a little wide receiver. Then I went to a camp and started kicking the ball and coach noticed me and said, ‘You are kicking son.'”
What are some of the changes for you coming into college football?
“It has definitely been the speed. You have guys running a 4.4 or 4.3 coming off the corner and coming at you. You have to get the ball off in 1.3 or 1.4 seconds. Everything just seems faster and in more of a rush.”
How exciting is it to have the opportunity to compete for playing time immediately?
“Well I definitely have some big shoes to fill. Luke (Phillips) left a big impression here and he did a great job. Right now, it is between me and Luke Roberts and we are just working day by day on the basics and leaving the decision to Coach Miles.”
How is Division I football different from high school football?
“There are huge guys out here. You see them on T.V. and they don't look that big and they are even faster, so it is a little scary.”
What aspects of your game do you need to work on?
“I am just going to have to work specifically on form and the basics of kicking. Coach DeForest really get on us when we watch film. We really have to work on our plant foot, location and things like that.”
How did you decide on Oklahoma State?
“I came up here for a weekend and loved it. This is where I wanted to be.”
Do you think people realize the importance of kickers?
“We get it a little bit sometimes because we don't go through the same workouts. When it comes down to it and you talk to anyone around here, you talk about Luke Phillips and Cole Farden. They will tell you they are big time and that is what we need, so it is a big deal.”
Did you play anything else in high school?
“I played wide receiver, ran track and played some soccer.”
How do you think playing other sports has benefitted you as a kicker?
“The speed work and it has been great with flexibility. Kicking with soccer helped and playing wide receiver kept me in shape and kept me strong.”
