Scarlet Sunrise: Kicker Noah Ruggles reflects on adversity, Buckeyes career in farewell message

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Kicker Noah Ruggles reflects on adversity, Buckeyes career in farewell message

Place kicker Noah Ruggles finished his two-season Ohio State career with the highest field goal percentage in school history. He made 37-of-41 field goals, or 90.2%, after transferring from North Carolina ahead of the 2021 season. One of those 37 makes was a 19-yard, game-winning kick in last year’s thrilling Rose Bowl win over Utah.

But one of those four misses came in the Peach Bowl against eventual national champion Georgia. Ruggles had a chance to send the Buckeyes to the title game. Except, after making a season-long 48-yarder earlier in the College Football Playoff semifinal, the Odessa, Florida, native hooked the game-ending 50-yarder, which would have been a career long.

It was a tragic conclusion to an otherwise storybook Ohio State career for Ruggles, who has family from Ohio and was inspired by his grandfather to someday kick for the Buckeyes.

Ruggles took to Instagram to post a video farewell message Saturday.

“If there is one thing I’ve learned from my journey, it is no matter how dark life seems at times, moments of adversity have provided me an opportunity for unimagined growth, humility and appreciation,” Ruggles said in the video. “I am grateful to my teammates and coaches who have inspired me through their own trials; to my family who has sacrificed, loved and supported me; to all the people behind the scenes who serve others selflessly; to the media who tell the stories of failures and comebacks that inspire us; and to the true fans of The Ohio State University who are the backbone of this great football program.

“From my very first kick as a Buckeye to my very last, I put my faith in God, praying to give Him all the glory. Though I may not see what He is going to do next, I have learned to trust Him with all of it. I’m a Buckeye for life.”

Ruggles included in the written portion of his Instagram post that he will be pursuing a career in the NFL.

Roster Reset: Buckeyes reloading at key spots along offensive line

The biggest storyline for Ohio State this offseason is the quarterback competition between Kyle McCord and Devin Brown.

The second biggest Buckeyes offseason storyline, however, is centered around who will be blocking for either of those two quarterbacks. Ohio State has to replace three starters up front. That includes a two-year starting center and a pair of first-team All-American offensive tackles.

So how will the Buckeyes and second-year offensive line coach/run game coordinator Justin Frye do it? Lettermen Row explores in our latest edition of our “Roster Reset” series.

Check it out here.

Michigan writer previews matchup with Ohio State, predicts final score

Ohio State hoops (11-11, 3-8 Big Ten) is back on the road, this time for rivalry week to face rival Michigan (12-10, 6-5) Sunday afternoon at Crisler Center.

Losers of eight of their last nine games, the Buckeyes continue to look like a shell of themselves offensively. Ohio State is coming off a 65-60 home defeat to Wisconsin, during which head coach Chris Holtmann was ejected late in the first half.

Michigan, meanwhile, ended a two-game losing streak with a 17-point win at Northwestern.

Lettermen Row reached out to The Wolverine’s Clayton Sayfie to learn more about this year’s Michigan team ahead of the showdown in Ann Arbor. For his inside scoop on the Wolverines, go here.

Notebook: Another slow start haunts Ohio State in defeat to Badgers

‘We all need to do better’: Spiraling Buckeyes still searching for more leadership

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Indiana: 209 days

Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 293 days

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