MSU's Vaes learned kicking technique from YouTube

Midwestern State kicker Ritse Vaes is not close to reaching his full potential.

That statement seems odd, considering the sophomore has made 15-of-17 field goals in his brief 14-game career.

Like many kickers in football, Vaes is a converted soccer player, and he didn’t receive formal training when the coaching staff at Hirschi asked him to kick field goals for the Huskies. Unfortunately, most high schools don’t have a coach to teach kicking mechanics.

So, how did he learn to kick field goals at such a high level?

“YouTube,” Vaes said. “I kicked it like a soccer ball most of the time, so before my senior year, I tried to really learn how to kick. I watched Justin Tucker and all those guys in the NFL along with some college kickers to see how they kick the ball.”

“That's how he learned it all. I asked him when we recruited him how he learned to kick, and he said he watched the internet,” MSU coach Bill Maskill said. “He's dedicated, and he works at it. He studies it. It's important to him, and if he's having an issue, he'll get it corrected.”

Once Vaes graduated, MSU sent him to a session with kicking and punting consultant Rocky Willingham in the Metroplex. Willingham came away impressed with Vaes’ ability.

“We sent him to Rocky Willingham once after he graduated, and Rocky said this kid can be a hell of a kicker,” Maskill said.

Every kicker has a routine they execute before a kick, which begins well before they are called to kick during a game.

“When I see we are in range for a field goal, I start warming up by getting a few kicks in the kicking net, just to get loose,” Vaes said. “Whenever they call me to go in, I’m a little bit excited and a little bit nervous.

“I feel comfortable when I’m able to take my full approach to the kick. Last week against Western New Mexico, I didn’t take my full approach, and I kind of rushed the kick because I saw the clock out of the corner of my eye, but I prefer to stay calm and go through my full approach.”

The approach Vaes employs before a kick differs slightly from those he watched on YouTube.

“I see a lot of kickers try to aim at the goalpost with one arm, and I didn’t like it,” Vaes said. “So, I swung both my arms once to simulate the kick, and I liked it. I like to point my arms at the ball to get myself straight with where the ball will be when I kick.”

Maskill understands that Vaes is an exceptional talent with a ton of potential, but he is careful to keep his young kicker’s confidence high.

“We can probably increase his range that we’re comfortable with during a game. His leg is stronger this year,” Maskill said. “He has the leg to kick from 50 yards, but we want him to be able to do the same things he does from 35 yards. We don’t want him to feel like he has to lay his leg into the kick.”

Whether Vaes’ kicking career will allow him to continue to compete beyond the collegiate level is yet to be determined, but even he is surprised at how far he’s come since his career began at Hirschi.

“It's been pretty crazy, actually. I wasn't expecting to do this good,” Vaes said. “I'm always striving to be perfect as a kicker, and I'm trying to be better every day.”

WEST TEXAS A&M at MIDWESTERN STATE

When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Wichita Falls

Audio: MSU, LoneStarConferenceNetwork.com/msu/ (PxP: Pete Stein)

Live webcast: LoneStarConferenceNetwork.com/msu/ (PPV $10/game, $75 season pass)

Live updates: visit MSUMustangs.com for live stats

Records: WT 3-2, MSU 3-2

Last game: WT 28, UT Permian Basin 27; Western N.M. 30, MSU 27 OT

Last meeting/series: WT 15, MSU 12 (Nov. 6, 2021) WT leads series 19-15

Players to watch: WT - Nick Gerber (QB, Sr.); Jarrod Compton (RB, Sr.); Noah Bogardus (WR, Sr.); Christopher Thomas (LB, Sr.); Preston Steszewski (DB, Soph.). MSU - Dillon Sterling-Cole (QB, Sr.); Devin Cross (RB, R-Fr.); Justin Guillory (LB, Sr.); Titus Howard Jr. (DE, Soph.); Tre Jordan (CB, R-Fr.).

Notes: WT linebacker and Lone Star Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, JT Cavender, will miss this week’s game after suffering a dislocated elbow against UTPB last week. MSU could be without standout defensive end Melik Owens and defensive back Dylon Davis due to injury. WT kicker Gage Urias was named LSC Special Teams Player of the Week after setting a program record with five field goals last week. According to MasseyRatings.com, WT owns the 40th ranked strength of schedule in NCAA DII this season, while MSU’s schedule ranks 75th. MSU is 54-28 in October under Maskill.

Coach speak: “We're a better football team than we were three weeks ago, but we still haven’t hit our peak, and that’s okay. We just need to keep working until we get to that point. They're well-coached, and they're well-schooled on offense. (WT) runs the ball well, and their quarterback is athletic with a couple of good receivers. Defensively, they have a sound scheme. Their linebackers are good, and they play downhill behind a good defensive line and a solid secondary.” - MSU coach Bill Maskill

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Midwestern State kick Ritse Vaes learned how to kick from YouTube