PHOTO - UK Athletics
It’s not often that the holder for extra point and field goal attempts is an All-American. However, that’s exactly what Kentucky has this year. All-American punter Max Duffy is the new holder this year, which was not comforting at first to kicker Matt Ruffolo who won the staring job after coming to UK as a walk-on.
“He is doing great. I was a little worried at first and he’s never held before,” Ruffolo said. “He is doing a great job. I feel comfortable with him. Having a new snapper (sophomore Cade Degraw) and holder, you have to build trust and we definitely have that trust.”
Ruffolo, a senior, got the starting job last year after Chance Moore missed some key kicks. He called it a “relief” to know he has the job. He says the confidence coach Mark Stoops and his staff have in him “gives me more confidence that I can make the kick” this season.
Ruffolo worked on extending his range during the offseason even though he says he always has “had the leg” to make long kicks.
“Overall I feel pretty confident from 50 (yards) in. Definitely more confident this year than last year with 50 plus,” Ruffolo said.
He did miss two extra points in a game against Missouri last year that taught him a valuable lesson.
“As a kicker you have to tell yourself you can make this kick. I went back for the second one and thought, ‘Oh crap. If I miss this one it is not good’ instead of saying the last one was just a fluke.”
Ruffolo says he is more “mentally tough” this year and that should help him handle limited fans in the stands that will make game day a lot different for players.
He says he wants fans there and knows it adds pressure but is used to pressure daily in practice.
“In practice coach Stoops stands right over me, so that is pretty intimidating,” Ruffolo said.
