Football
Turano On a Roll,
Locks Up Punting Job
By John Porentas

Coach Tressel said it was Luke Fickell's idea.

"I asked Luke Fickell today if we were punting today what would we do. He said he thought we needed to have three full speed rushes against Josh and three against Kyle and then lets decide," said Tressel at his press luncheon on Tuesday describing just how close the competition for the punting job is between Kyle Turano and Josh Huston.

Fickell got his way, and despite the announcement earlier this week that Turano would most likely be the Buckeye punter, that competition took place.

"Today we had three pressure kicks to see who would start," Turano said after practice on Tuesday.

"They were going to got by stats to see who would start and I'm pretty sure I won."

Turano will in fact most likely be the starter for the Buckeyes on Saturday. What's interesting is that it isn't so much that Huston has been a disappointment, but that Turano has suddenly gotten hot as a punter.

"Right now I'm crushing the ball," said Turano.

"I had two sixty yard punts yesterday and I had an 84 yard punt last week in practice.

"Right now I'm crushing the ball. I had a very good kick scrimmage.

"I think I had one bad punt and seven good ones. I think I had a 55 yarder in that, too."

According to Turano, even his bad kicks have gotten better.

"I had a bit of a tendency to slice the ball because I was trying too hard to kill it," said Turano.

"Now I'm more relaxed and I'm not doing that.

"Even when I don't hit it well, it's still not a real bad kick. I think today I hit one that wasn't real solid, and it still went 44 yards."

Turano has been punting well and has been rewarded. Not only was he named the starter this week, but he also was granted a scholarship.

"I've dreamt this since I was six years old and finally my last year it's all coming together," he said.

"It's a dream and it's an honor and its a privilege and its a responsibility.

"My parents are real excited about that," said Turano of the scholarship he now has.

"They were paying for my school before.

"I was kind of on their scholarship before, but now they get a little break.

"It feels good. I don't have the walk on label on me anymore. I notice a little difference."

Turano is on cloud nine, but also feels the pressure of carrying on a growing punting tradition at OSU. Turano succeeds B. J. Sander who was recognized as the best of the best last season when it came to punting.

"The Ray Guy, it doesn't get any bigger than that. He had 37 punts inside the 20 and a 43 yard net average. I've got to raise my bar up to that," said Turano.

Return to O-Zone Columns and Features

Return to O-Zone Front Page