I think I just try to think about the next kick and you know, if I miss in practice, I put it in the back of my mind and focus on the next one, said Ratke. Annalicia Goodman shines in Dukes' win over Tribe, 67-39. I feel like anywhere from 52 (yards) and in, Id want to go out for. Draft projection: Undrafted free agent. Staff writer Will Moran breaks down what to expect from the 2-2 Bobcats during what looks to be a rainy Family Weekend at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday. There was an error processing your request. JMU sixth-year, graduate long snapper Kyle Davis is wrapping up his last year as a Duke after starting in purple and gold for four years and serving as "the glue," as former JMU punter Harry O'Kelly (2017-21) called it, of the Dukes' special teams unit for multiple seasons. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. More than that: Ratke is just five points behind the FBS scoring leader for any position, former Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, and just 19 points behind the FCS scoring leader for any position, former Villanova running back Brian Westbrook. Even at the biggest programs, college kicking can be cause for concern. We are powered by Three Notch'd! Ethan Ratke, James Madison - Round Grade: PFA 8. Despite the attendance disparity, kickers from lower divisions of college football have found success in the NFL. Even still, they were his shoes, his cleats, after all, which he said he wanted to roll with the whole season. This is the . The indoor facility had to be opened up for Ratke to have enough room. Im not sure the fit makes a ton of sense on either team, but it appears theres at least NFL interest surrounding Johnson. Dane Bruglers draft guide says Greenes 40 time checks in at over five seconds. With the score tied at 28 and one second left in the fourth quarter, former JMU head coach Mike Houston trots out redshirt freshman kicker Ethan Ratke to attempt a 46-yard field goal, the longest of his career. Ratke, who is preparing for his sixth season with the Dukes, has already put together a storied career. Potential Hall of Famer Adam Vinatieri played college ball at South Dakota State back when the Jackrabbits competed in Division II. By the end of Week 3, the 33 kickers whove attempted a field goal are 79.7% on 174 attempts. Get the latest news, stats, videos, highlights and more about place kicker Ethan Ratke on ESPN. Ratke's kick was true, sparing the Dukes overtime, extending their winning streak to 25 games and propelling them to a 4:30 p.m. Saturday semifinal against visiting South Dakota State. NEWARK, Del. (Stats Perform) - The FCS college football season is passing the midseason mark this weekend, although some teams have played over half of their schedule, depending on bye weeks. Ratke working to add more distance as he closes in on record, Dog found dead under suspicious circumstances, SCSO says, ACSO looking for suspicious man in the Weyers Cave area, Pilot identified in fatal plane crash near Hillsville, Charlie Obaugh RV & Outdoor Student Athlete of the Week. William and Mary 25, Albany 22: Shon Mitchell ran for a late go-ahead touchdown that gave the Tribe a win over the Great Danes at Zable Stadium in. After throwing for 3,779 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only four interceptions last season, its clear Johnson can make a variety of throws and lead an offense. He hit 5-of-7 from 50+ this past season, and offers consistent mechanics with a confident strike. Kyles big on that because Kyle really has no superstitions at all. But they have attempted 31 field goals and made 28. Ethan Ratke kicked a school record five field goals to back a sturdy defense and James Madison smothered Delaware 22-10 on Saturday. He was recruited to the position at JMU. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office ends affiliation with Reelz TV show 'On Patrol: Live', Former Virginia basketball coach Terry Holland dies after battling Alzheimer's, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Former NFL star Chad Johnson says he saved money by living inside Cincinnati Bengals stadium for 2 years. Being selected in the NFL Draft isnt a common occurrence for JMU football players, but that trend can certainly change in coming years with the Dukes moving to the FBS. Hes never been them most accurate kicker, but has avoided longer slumps and has shown good mental toughness. Ratkes most notable kick came in the quarterfinals of the 2017 FCS Playoffs when his 46-yard field goal as time expired gave the Dukes a dramatic win over Weber State at Bridgeforth Stadium. The Cowboys determined that DiNucci was worthy of a seventh-round pick, and theres no reason to believe a team couldnt take a flier on Johnson. or. James Madisons process brings nothing but comfort. Connor Culp, Nebraska - Round Grade: FA. Justin Tucker, the best kicker in the NFL? All rights reserved. Why are we including a section on a kicker who never made a field goal of 50 yards or longer in an NFL Draft story? Contact BNB Football with any questions, comments, suggestions, or business inquiries. Andrew Mevis, Iowa State - Round Grade: PFA, 7. Hes close to becoming the FCS all-time field goal record-holder. No. On December 8, 2013, Broncos placekicker Matt Prater hits on a 64-yard field goal towards the conclusion of the first half. Ratke getting drafted would be a shock, but his accuracy makes him a prime candidate to earn a tryout with a team. Jack and Bennett discuss the insanity that is SBC Basketball and look at how the Spring sports are faring a few weeks into the season. He made a 48-yarder last year and a 47-yarder this year. Cameron Dicker, Texas - Round Grade: PFA, 4. That was the moment Ratke solidified his place in JMU football history. In 2019 and 2020, the Dukes had players (Jimmy Moreland and Ben DiNucci) taken in the seventh round of their respective draft years. JMU led 23-0 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. He began the year as the fourth-string kicker, to be fair. His longest made field goal at JMU was the 46-yarder versus Weber State in the FCS quarterfinals. It would just kind of be like a tear, and it just slowly opened up even more from just the impact on the ground, Ratke said. But the cleats accumulated holes. Kicking woes are seemingly at an all-time high this year. I mean, there's one other good team every year, but really, were the dominant force.. It was the NFL's longest field goal in history. Success! JMU, which has not faced another program more often than W&M, is headed to the FBS and the Sun Belt Conference and begins its football transition next season with a non-CAA schedule. According to an article published by Zach Miller on Medium, JMU averaged 20,017 spectators from 2015 to 2019 the third highest at the FCS level during that time. Ethan Ratke kicked a school-record six field goals and set two NCAA records in James Madison's 32-22 victory over William & Mary on Saturday. Please subscribe to keep reading. Im in a position now where Ive been in kind of every kind of game you can imagine, Ratke said. Ive missed big kicks, and Ive made big kicks. Find who might be worthy of a draft pick, and who is nothing more than a training camp body. I hear about it from other guys all the time. The hope with a late-round pick is that they can either eventually push for playing time or provide consistent services as a backup. Michigan finally did. We were in position to really dominate, and they made a few plays in the second half. Sports writer Jackson Hephner details what the system can learn from the FCS and what changes can be made. Former JMU kicker Ethan Ratke (2016-21) potentiates his right foot on an extra point against Montana in the FCS quarterfinals Dec. 5, 2021. 13-for-15 FG, 49-for-50 XP. Hes a short stepper with a quick kick and decent elevation, while maintaining above average accuracy. New Orleans, Washington and Detroit have each used four different kickers. Mathis hadnt started since Sept. 11 and faced a Dukes defense ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (15.3 ppg). James Madison's success rate has made Ethan Ratke, the kicker in question, the Colonial Athletic Association's special teams player of the year. Since the rule change, kickers have become less automatic with their point after touchdowns (PATs). His holder, Miller, described Ratkes on-the-field demeanor as level-headed.. JMUs Kris Thornton slipped behind William & Marys Ryan Poole for a long completion Saturday at Zable Stadium. Your email address will not be published. Mike Greene showed why he's one of the top NFL prospects on the @JMUFootball roster during Pro Day on Wedneday. Ratke remembered that Dec. 8 Friday night as very cold, he said in a text to The Breeze. Here are some of the highlights and the Fargodome before the game. #NFLDraft. Jonathan Doerer, Notre Dame - Round Grade: FA, 14. The No. The Draft Scout Database provides Many different Functions, Sorts, Exports & More for more than 25 Major Clients the past 15 Years. Percy Agyei-Obese 1 yd run (Ethan Ratke kick) 1: James Madison Dukes: Jake Brown 21 yd pass from Ben DiNucci (Ethan Ratke kick) 2: Monmouth-New Jersey Hawks: Terrance Greene Jr. 32 yd pass from Kenji Bahar (Matt Mosquera kick) 2: James Madison Dukes: Ben DiNucci 6 yd run (Ethan Ratke kick) 2: James Madison Dukes: Ethan Ratke 39 yd FG: 2: James . Sep 17, 2021 Ethan Ratke, who sealed James Madison's 31-28 win over Weber State in the FCS playoffs in 2017 with a 46-yard field goal with no time remaining, is still the starting kicker for. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. Saturday (April 24) at Bridgeforth Stadium. Thinking of distance as an issue is not something I think about, Ratke said. Its Dec. 8, 2017. Here are our draft kicker rankings which will give you a look at how we view the prospects that will be entering the 2022 NFL Draft. Ratke needs just four more field goals to break the record of 75 held by Montanas Dan Carpenter. Given Johnsons lengthy collegiate career and offensive knowledge he played under multiple coaches and coordinators he seems like a good guy to have around as a reserve. 10 Stony Brook in JMUs first matchup in the 2017 FCS playoffs. Obviously, when you walk off the field frustrated after a road win against a top 25 team, youve got a pretty good program, said JMU coach Curt Cignetti. Greene checks in at closer to 280 lbs, making his agility and speed results at JMUs Pro Day important. George Bray. Ratke attributed the missed kicks to his cleats, one being the only missed extra point of his career that wasnt blocked. Wise is more relaxed, while Ratke worked himself up before many kicks. Ratke went a combined 4-for-6 on field goals and extra points. York has truly special leg strength, and was consistently trusted from 50+ at LSU. Featuring the latest in news, opinion, culture and sports from The Breeze. This year has been a whirlwind of events for JMU sports. NFL kickers are usually responsible for kickoff duties in addition to field goals and PATs. On senior day in 2021, when JMU wore all black, Ratke still sported his white cleats. Ratke has made all nine of his field attempts during the 2021 spring season and has been a perfect 20-for-20 on extra points. The seventh-ranked Dukes improved to 6-1 on the year and 4-1 in CAA play, while the Blue Hens fell for the . Either of them. In the 2021 season, Ratke went seven of eight on field goals between 30 and 39 yards and eight of nine on field goals of 40 yards or more. The Tribe elected to play junior Mathis at QB rather than freshman Darius Wilson, who had been the starter for all but one game this season. Nick Sciba, Wake Forest - Round Grade: PFA, 6. John Feinstein: Dont underestimate Deion Sanders and dont take your eyes off him. Davis said Ratke wanted the specialists to sit in the same seats on the sideline or in meeting rooms. Mechanicsville man charged with 10 child porn counts, Virginia State Superintendent Jillian Balow resigns, Dan Snyder is under investigation over line of credit taken out by Commanders, Mike Rhoades after VCU clinched A-10 regular-season title, Lionel Messi named men's Player of the Year at the 2022 Best FIFA Awards. Ratke had kicks of 30, 37 and 47 yards but the Dukes trailed 10-9 at the half. He stayed by the sidelines heaters most of the time, he said, and adrenaline pumped to the point he didnt feel the frigidness. Sports editor Savannah Reger shares her experiences and what it was like to cover everything this season. For a time as he developed as a kicker, Ratke needed security blankets. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He has a very strong lower body and really showed up at the Kohls Pro Combine, hitting a 67-yarder to show the lack of deep opportunities in college doesnt define his leg strength. JMU womens basketball defeated William & Mary 67-39 in its first game of 2022. Wilson completed 12 of 24 with an interception in the Tribes 24-3 loss at Delaware last Saturday. The depth in this class doesnt seem to be great, and Ive struggled to find many small school gems which is unusual for the kicker spot. , JMU averaged 20,017 spectators from 2015 to 2019 the third highest at the FCS level during that time. He didnt wear the new pair all week. He posted at least a 90% field goal percentage in the past two seasons, including a perfect 14-of-14 spring 2021 campaign. Could he handle kickoffs reliably? 5-10 / 186 Hometown Mechanicsville, Va. High School Atlee Major Public Administration Bio Related Stats Historical Biography JMU & FCS Career Records Ethan Ratke, James Madison - Round Grade: PFA, 8. Davis guessed they amassed 5,000-6,000 snap-hold-kick reps together. Ratke reached 100 career field goals, extending his own FCS record and breaking the NCAA record of 96 held by Arizona State's Zane Gonzalez (2013-16). "J-M-U!" Ethan Ratke talks with Dave Thomas. According to an article published by Zach Miller on. With the score tied at 28 and one second left in the fourth quarter, former JMU head coach Mike Houston trots out redshirt freshman kicker Ethan Ratke to attempt a 46-yard field goal, the longest of his career. Staff writer Craig Mathias details who should win what and the key players from the 2021 NFL season. Ratkes experience on kickoffs was limited over his career, but he was successful as JMUs kickoff specialist. The biggest question for Shudak is his untested mental fortitude. As the College Football Playoff approaches, it's once again the yearly conversation about the format for the FBS. Ratke is one of four specialists who defined an era of JMU special teams: OKelly, holder Alex Miller (2018-21) and graduate long snapper Kyle Davis, the only one still rostered by JMU in 2022. We are presented by Three Notch'd Brewing! Ethan Ratke made 86.3% of his field-goal attempts while at JMU, thats why. All 10 FBS commissioners are unanimous in their support for three proposed rules changes that aim to shorten the length of college football games, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips told ESPN. A young Ratke disputed that. Hall of Fame coach Chris Ault has been named to the College Football Playoff selection committee, along with Miami (Ohio) athletic director David Sayler and Washington athletic director Jennifer Cohen. His longest made field goal at JMU was the 46-yarder versus Weber State in the FCS quarterfinals. 2020, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS JMU kicker Ethan Ratke, a former first team All-Metro honoree in his junior and senior seasons at Atlee, made a record five field goals for the Dukes Saturday. I know what to expect. NEWARK, Del. The kick splits the uprights, and JMU wins 31-28 to advance to the FCS semifinals. The 2023 NFL Combine begins in less than a week, and every year we see a handful of prospects shoot, The 2022 NFL Draft class is unique in its lack of top end talent but ridiculously strong depth. Ratke only served as the kickoff specialist for one year, as kickoff duties were handled by former JMU kicker Tyler Gray in 2018, redshirt sophomore Connor Madden in 2020 and redshirt sophomore Camden Wise in 2019 and 2021. Longs of the seven drafted and undrafted 2022 rookies in their last years of college? Sports Editor Grant Johnson and Breeze TV Anchor Joshua Dixon go inside the fan and on-field environment in Boone, North Carolina, and what it meant to the JMU players to have the support it did on the road. One of them, senior Tribe safety Gage Herdman, was ejected after being flagged for targeting on a Johnson first-half scramble. Even though no more than 3 will get selected in the draft, several more are signed as free agents, and many more receive a training camp invite. Over the span of all those kicks, stressed and not, Ratke said the top of his right foot and toes swelled; it didnt hurt, he said. Im guessing Greene will have a line of suitors when teams start signing undrafted free agents. Head coach Curt Cignetti never told him to change them, Ratke said. Once a week, Ratke said hes practicing 60-yard kicks and feels comfortable hitting them. I thought special teams overall was good and Ratke made some long field goals tonight, said Cignetti, following Fridays practice. 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