Ryan Wolcott

[StangEsq]

Anyone know if Wolcott is considering coming here as a walk on?

Didn't rivals have him as a top 5 kicker at one point, or was that just my imagination?

[d_pony]

the coaching staff would love him to walkon

[No Quarter]

I don't know what the family economics might be although I understand that he went to HP, but I fail to understand a grandson of Doak Walker not being offered.

[d_pony]

we already have two kickers on scholarship -we are close to the 85 total scholarship number and according to earier posts we may have only nine scholarships available for next year

[Pony Up]

I agree - there's no need for another scholarship kicker.

And family genetics should not ensure the offer of a scholarship. I'm not saying this guy doesn't deserve one. I've never seen him kick. But the only time I think someone should get a scholarship based on their family tree is if they have a brother who is (or will be) viewed as a can't-miss prospect. If Eric Dickerson had had an older brother with marginal ability, I could see offering him a scholarship to improve the chances of getting E.D. to Dallas.

We all love Doak Walker and everything he was to the university, but we can't throw scholarships to everyone in his family tree just because they're related. If they earn a scholarship based on their ability and potential, great. If not, there are worse stigmas to bear than to go through life knowing that your grandfather was one of the greatest of all time.

[INFINITYRR]

Maybe it would be best to look at his stats. 12/14 FG 86%, 62% touchback rate, 41 yard punting average for 2002. Compare that to what happend last year, then make a decison if it would upgrade the position and help win games. I was under the opinion winning games helps with recruiting and we need to win games the next two years.

[Mickey]

What? I saw at least 5 HP games and he had ZERO touchbacks. He must have had some great kicks those 9 other games. I was specfically watching how deep he kicked off as I knew SMU was recruiting him. I was impressed with his accuracy on PAT's and FG's but was less than impressed with his leg strength.

[Pony Fan]

I went to every HP game and his accuarcy is phenomenal but distance is an issue.

[Stallion]

McMurtry gets somewhat of a bad rep about his leg. I know because I paid close attention to his KO in the last 4 games of the year after many of you complained. At least 75% of his KO in those games(not including planned short kicks) easily made it to the endzone. FG kicking may be a question however.

[INFINITYRR]

I thought we were interested in having someone put the ball through the uprights? He was 6/6 FG during the playoffs. After talking to parents he was 4/4 FG between 40-45 yards last year, Tell me how many 40 yard FG we made last year, on second thought tell me how may Bennett past up, based upon watching the fall scrimages I don't blame Bennett for not atempting them.

I also saw about 8 HP games and his FG's againts Ennis, Lincoln, Sulpher Springs would have been good from 50+. Kickoffs in the Ennis game were all skykick, must have been coaches decisions.

[d_pony]

the problem remains the same - we have only 1 or 2 scholships left so do you give one to a kicker giving you 3 on scholarship of save 1 for a Kerilake Martin, a Thomas Derrecks or a Anthony Schlegel

[PerunaPunch]

HPfan,

Do you know anything about Ryan's status and what direction he's leaning? Also, please give us a scouting report, as I assume you know his game better than almost anyone.

I personally think McMurtry can get the job done, although having Wolcott seems like short and medium range FGs and all PATs would be like money in the bank. Do you realize our longest successful FG last year was 32 yards?!? Yeck!!

But as far as giving one of our last scholarships to a kicker, all of our losses were by 10 points or more... Meaning that even 3 additional succesful FGs per game wouldn't have made a bit of difference.

Just something to ponder.

[No Quarter]

INFINITYRR-

As I remember, in the 2001 playoff game HP kicked off to Ennis at the start of the game and Ennis made a long runback and HP was a TD down before everyone was sitting down.

I'm not surprised that HP skykicked in the 2002 Ennis game, but they sure did not have so many chances.

[INFINITYRR]

I like to go to HS playoff games as they are good cheap entertainment. 2001 Kickoff was about to the 3 about 2 yards from the sideline, number of missed tackles and two flags, flags were picked up. As I remember Wolcott was about 1/1 FG and 5/5 PAT.

In 2002 Ennis returned a punt for a TD. Line of scrimage was from the 4 and Wolcott punted from his endzone. Ennis return was 48 yards for a TD after a few missed tackes right after the Ennis returner got the ball. Wolcott was 2/2 FG and 1/1 PAT.

[hpfan]

we have watched wolcott for years and he continues to get better every year. He has a whole menu of kick types and a strong and accurate leg. This season he has been in the top five of all national polls and truly a scolarship player. If no room at SMU someone will take him and Smu will be sorry. No way he should walk on as he deserves a scolie..