The role of a kicker may seem straightforward to outsiders—come in, make a few key kicks, and then enjoy the celebration with the rest of the team. However, for Arkansas kicker Kyle Ramsey, the reality is far more demanding.
Offensive lineman Josh Braun encapsulated the pressure of the position well when he told the kickers earlier this week, “‘I would not trade positions with you guys for any amount of money. There’s nothing you could give me to be a kicker. That’s so much pressure and anxiety I would not want to deal with.'”
Ramsey’s performance against Oklahoma State had been underwhelming, as he missed two field goals under 50 yards and missed another critical kick, impacting the playcalling and contributing to a loss in overtime. Despite these setbacks, Ramsey showed remarkable resilience and redemption in Arkansas’ recent 37-27 victory over UAB.
Although Ramsey missed another field goal during the game, he successfully converted three others, including a crucial 51-yard kick at the end of the first half. This kick ensured that the Razorbacks went into halftime tied at 20 and was a key highlight of his bounce-back performance.
Coach Sam Pittman praised Ramsey’s mental fortitude, noting, “Ramsey is the one I had to stand up in front of the team because he got ridiculed last week. He hit the ball all week, so I thought he’d have a pretty good game, and he certainly did.”
Ramsey faced a similar challenge as the previous week when he needed to convert a 40-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to extend Arkansas’ lead. This time, he succeeded, and his teammates were quick to commend his ability to overcome adversity.
“The dude knows how to battle adversity,” said defensive end Landon Jackson. “He had a game he wasn’t happy with last week, but he went to work all week and turned it around. We need more guys on the team who are willing to take criticism, get coached, and correct their mistakes.”
While Pittman has yet to definitively end the kicking competition, Ramsey’s strong performance has likely secured his starting role, at least for now. As the Razorbacks prepare to start their SEC slate against Auburn this Saturday, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN, Ramsey’s resilience and growth will be crucial for Arkansas’ success moving forward.
