 Schmitt with theArizona Cardinals in 2007 | |||||||||
| No. 2 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Punter/Placekicker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | (1985-08-17)August 17, 1985 (age 39) Virginia Beach, Virginia | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 213 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| College: | Shepherd (WV) | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2007 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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| Stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |||||||||
Ricky William Schmitt (born August 17, 1985) is a formergridiron footballpunter andplace kicker. He was signed by theArizona Cardinals as anundrafted free agent in 2007. He playedcollege football atShepherd University.
Schmitt was also a member of theSan Diego Chargers,Pittsburgh Steelers,Oakland Raiders,San Francisco 49ers,Tennessee Titans,Saskatchewan Roughriders, andBC Lions.
Schmitt graduated fromSalem High School inVirginia Beach, Virginia in 2003, but did not playfootball until his senior year. A four-yearvarsityletterman insoccer, 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 playedbasketball. Schmitt was offered ascholarship to playsoccer forVirginia Tech.
Schmitt playedcollege football atShepherd University, aDivision II school inWest Virginia. He was one of the premier punters/kickers in theNCAA. In2006 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 recording40-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-teamAll-American in 2006.
Additionally Schmitt holds virtually all Shepherd kicking records including:
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.
Schmitt was signed as anundrafted free agent by theArizona Cardinals following the2007 NFL draft. He was cut on August 27. During the Cardinals preseason, Ricky punted 3 times for 114 yards, for an average of 38 yards.
Schmitt signed with theSan Francisco 49ers on January 15, 2008. He was cut on August 30. During the 49ers preseason, Ricky kicked off twice with both going fortouchbacks, punted 3 times for 131.1 yards, with 2 landing inside the 20 and a long of 54, for an average of 43.7 yards, and went 3 for 4 on field goals.
Schmitt was signed to thepractice squad of thePittsburgh Steelers on October 28, 2008. He was released on November 1.
Schmitt was signed to thepractice squad of theOakland Raiders on December 15, 2008. On December 30, he signed a two-year contract with the Raiders. He was cut on September 5, 2009. During the Raiders preseason, Ricky punted 18 times for 729 yards, with 5 landing inside the 20, for an average of 40.5 yards, and went 6 for 6 on extra points.[1]
Schmitt re-signed with theSan Francisco 49ers on December 22, 2009. In his first regular season game against theDetroit Lions on December 27, Ricky kicked off 5 times for 325 yards with 1 touchback, for an average of 65 yards, and also went 2 for 3 on field goals (1blocked) and 2 for 2 on extra points. He was placed oninjured reserve with a groin injury on January 2, 2010. On March 5, he became a free agent.
Schmitt was signed by theTennessee Titans on March 15, 2010. He was cut on August 31. During the Titans preseason, Ricky kicked off 3 times for 205 yards with 2 touchbacks, for an average of 68.3 yards, and punted 2 times for 110 yards, with 1 landing inside the 20 and a long of 65, for an average of 55 yards. He did not attempt any field goals or extra points.
Schmitt was signed by theSan Diego Chargers on January 20, 2011. He was cut on September 3. During the Chargers preseason, Ricky kicked off 14 times for 830 yards, with 8 touchbacks and 1 landing out of bounds, for an average of 59.3 yards, and punted 5 times for 215 yards, with 1 landing inside the 20 and a long of 50, for an average of 43 yards. He did not attempt any field goals or extra points.
Schmitt re-signed with theArizona Cardinals on May 14, 2012. He was cut on August 24. During the Cardinals preseason, Ricky kicked off 5 times for 339 yards with 2 touchbacks, for an average of 67.8 yards, and punted 12 times for 537 yards, with 3 landing inside the 20 and a long of 56, for an average of 44.8 yards. He did not attempt any field goals or extra points.
Schmitt was signed by theSaskatchewan Roughriders on November 2, 2012. He played in the first round of the CFL playoffs. Saskatchewan lost to Calgary 36-30.
During the 2013 CFL season, Schmitt punted 136 times for 6114 yards, for an average of 45 yards. He had a long of 74.
Schmitt won the101st Grey Cup with the Roughriders in 2013. In 2014, Schmitt became a free agent.
On February 20, 2014, Schmitt signed with theBC Lions[2] After playing one season for the Lions, the option year on his contract was not picked up and he became afree agent.[3]
