Ricky Schmitt
Encyclopedia
Ricky William Schmitt is an American football
punter
who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
at Shepherd
.
Schmitt has been a member of the San Diego Chargers
, Pittsburgh Steelers
, Oakland Raiders
, San Francisco 49ers
, and Tennessee Titans
.
in Virginia Beach, Virginia
in 2003, but did not play football
until his senior year. A four-year varsity
letterman in soccer, Schmitt only went out for football due to the Sun Devils' 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.
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 4.4’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:
Schmitt was the all-time leader in career kick scoring (250 points); however, his record was surpassed by current Shepherd kicker Eric Dobratz on October 22, 2011 against West Virginia State. Schmitt punted 41 times for a 44 average, with a long of 77, and 22 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 eighteen kickoffs for touchbacks.
following the 2007 NFL Draft
. He punted three times in two preseason games with an average kick of about 38 yards. He was waived by the Cardinals on August 27, 2007.
. He led the team in punting yards average with 43.7 on three punts. Two landed inside the 20-yard line and he had a long of 54. He went 3-for-4 in field goals and had one blocked. He successfully kicked all five PATs. Against the Chicago Bears
on August 21, Schmitt had two kickoffs that went through the back of the endzone, which led to touchbacks. He had two tackles on kickoffs.
He was waived by 49ers on August 30 during final cuts.
on October 28, 2008. He was released on November 1.
on December 15, 2008. On December 30, he signed a two-year contract with the Raiders. He was waived during final cuts on September 5, 2009. In the 2009 pre-season, Schmitt was a top ranked punter in th NFL. He punted 18 times for a 40.5 average with five punts inside-the-20 yard line. Additionally, he was perfect as a kicker on extra points going 6-for-6. On September 5, 2009, Schmitt was waived during final roster cuts.
on December 22, 2009. In his first regular season game against the Detroit Lions
on December 27, Schmitt went 2-for-3 on field goals with one blocked, 2-for-2 on extra points, and kicked off five times with an average of 65 yards. He was placed on injured reserve
with a groin injury on January 2, 2010. On March 5, 2010, Schmitt became a free agent.
on March 15, 2010. Had 2 punts for 55 yrd gross average and 50.5 net average. Both led the NFL in Preseason. Also had 3 kickoffs, 2 going for touchbacks. Ricky was 1 of 5 players to be released on August 31, 2010, in the roster cutdown to 75.
on January 20, 2011. He was cut on September 3. During the Chargers preseason, Schmitt kicked off 13 times for 805 yards (62 yard average) with 8 touchbacks and punted 5 times for 215 yards (43 yard average).
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter
Punter
The word punter may refer to:* A speculator in the stock market* A gambler, particularly an amateur betting on horse racing or a player in the game of Baccarat* A beginner skier or snowboarder, especially one with particularly bad style...
who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Shepherd
Shepherd University
Shepherd University, formerly Shepherd College, is a state-funded university in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, United States. The University currently serves more than 4,200 students.- Accreditation :...
.
Schmitt has been a member of the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, and Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
.
Early years
Schmitt graduated from Salem High SchoolSalem High School (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Salem High School is a secondary school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.The school recently added a Visual and Performing Arts Academy; one of several magnet programs in Virginia Beach...
in Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
in 2003, but did not play football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
until his senior year. A four-year varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
letterman in soccer, Schmitt only went out for football due to the Sun Devils' 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
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to play soccer for Virginia Tech.
College career
Schmitt played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Shepherd University
Shepherd University
Shepherd University, formerly Shepherd College, is a state-funded university in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, United States. The University currently serves more than 4,200 students.- Accreditation :...
, a Division II school in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. He was one of the premier punters/kickers in the NCAA. In 2006
2006 in sports
2006 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* January 2, Fiesta Bowl – Ohio State 34-20 Notre Dame* January 2, Sugar Bowl – West Virginia 38-35 Georgia...
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
40 yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time in the 40 can have a heavy impact on his prospects in college or professional football...
times in the 4.4’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:
- 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 was the all-time leader in career kick scoring (250 points); however, his record was surpassed by current Shepherd kicker Eric Dobratz on October 22, 2011 against West Virginia State. Schmitt punted 41 times for a 44 average, with a long of 77, and 22 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 eighteen kickoffs for touchbacks.
Arizona Cardinals
Schmitt was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Arizona CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
following the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He punted three times in two preseason games with an average kick of about 38 yards. He was waived by the Cardinals on August 27, 2007.
First stint with 49ers
On January 15, 2008, Schmitt signed with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. He led the team in punting yards average with 43.7 on three punts. Two landed inside the 20-yard line and he had a long of 54. He went 3-for-4 in field goals and had one blocked. He successfully kicked all five PATs. Against the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 21, Schmitt had two kickoffs that went through the back of the endzone, which led to touchbacks. He had two tackles on kickoffs.
He was waived by 49ers on August 30 during final cuts.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Schmitt was signed to the practice squad of the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
on October 28, 2008. He was released on November 1.
Oakland Raiders
Schmitt was signed to the practice squad of the Oakland RaidersOakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on December 15, 2008. On December 30, he signed a two-year contract with the Raiders. He was waived during final cuts on September 5, 2009. In the 2009 pre-season, Schmitt was a top ranked punter in th NFL. He punted 18 times for a 40.5 average with five punts inside-the-20 yard line. Additionally, he was perfect as a kicker on extra points going 6-for-6. On September 5, 2009, Schmitt was waived during final roster cuts.
Second stint with 49ers
Schmitt re-signed with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
on December 22, 2009. In his first regular season game against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
on December 27, Schmitt went 2-for-3 on field goals with one blocked, 2-for-2 on extra points, and kicked off five times with an average of 65 yards. He was placed on injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
with a groin injury on January 2, 2010. On March 5, 2010, Schmitt became a free agent.
Tennessee Titans
Schmitt was signed by the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
on March 15, 2010. Had 2 punts for 55 yrd gross average and 50.5 net average. Both led the NFL in Preseason. Also had 3 kickoffs, 2 going for touchbacks. Ricky was 1 of 5 players to be released on August 31, 2010, in the roster cutdown to 75.
San Diego Chargers
Schmitt was signed by the San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 20, 2011. He was cut on September 3. During the Chargers preseason, Schmitt kicked off 13 times for 805 yards (62 yard average) with 8 touchbacks and punted 5 times for 215 yards (43 yard average).