Ricky Schmitt
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| San Francisco 49ers — No. 1 | |
| Punter | |
| Date of birth: August 17, 1985 | |
| Place of birth: Virginia Beach, Virginia | |
| Height: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | Weight: 192 lb (87 kg) |
| National Football League debut | |
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| No regular season or postseason appearances | |
| Career history | |
| College: Shepherd University | |
| Undrafted in 2007 | |
Teams:
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| Current status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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Ricky William Schmitt (born 17 August 1985 in Virginia Beach, Virginia) is an American football punter for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Shepherd University.
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[edit] Early years
Ricky Schmitt is a 2003 graduate of Salem High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia but did not play high school football until his senior season. A four-year varsity letterman in soccer, Schmitt only went out for football due to Sun Devil’s need for a kicker. He was named an all-Beach District punter/kicker his senior year. He also played basketball. Schmitt was offered a scholarship to play soccer for Virginia Tech.
[edit] College career
Schmitt played college football at Shepherd University, a Division II school in West Virginia. He was one of the premier punters/kickers in the NCAA. In 2006 he would have been among the leaders of all divisions in punting statistics however his offense only allowed him to punt 41 times (not enough to qualify for the leaders). In spring testing Schmitt was one of the fastest members of the Shepherd University squad recording 40 yard dash times in the low 4.5’s. He is a three-time first team All-WVIAC selection as a punter and a two-time first team selection as a kicker. 2006 Daktronics Division II First Team All-Northeast Region selection and a second-team All-American in 2006.
Additionally Schmitt holds virtually all Shepherd kicking records including:[citation needed]
- All-time leader in career kick scoring (250 points)
- All-time leader in career field goals (33)
- Most extra points in a career (151)
- Most extra points in a season (50-54, 2005)
- Most kick scoring points in a season (80, 2005)
- Most consecutive extra points in a career (60)
- Most consecutive extra points in a season (43)
- 2006 Single-season extra point percentage (100% 43-43)
- Career extra point percentage (.926 - 151-163)
- WVIAC Record in 2006
Schmitt punted 41 times for a 44 average, with a long of 77, and 12 punts inside the 20 in 2006. A master of directional punts, with a 5 sec. hangtime only 17 of his punts were returned. He had eight kickoffs for touchbacks.
[edit] Professional career
Ricky Schmitt was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Arizona Cardinals, minutes after the 2007 NFL draft. He has excelled in training camp, garnering attention because of his athleticism and football abilities. His punting and kicking has been awe inspiring. Ricky has been booming kicks well over 50 yards with 5 second hang times in practice, as well as launching kickoffs out of the end zone.[citation needed] Additionally, he was one of the top conditioned Cardinals reporting to camp, and excelling in the Cardinals Run test.[citation needed] Was released by the Cardinals on August 27, 2007. He punted three times in two preseason games with an average kick of about 38 yards.
On January 15, 2008, Schmitt became the first Free Agent signed with the San Francisco 49ers for the 2008 season. Schmitt will compete for a roster spot, and serve as the second-team punter & place kicker.
