Auburn football: MSU’s Mike Leach focused on kicking depth ahead of AU

Are you a kicker that is interested in trying out for the Mississippi State football team? Mike Leach wants to know ahead of the Bulldogs’ matchup against Auburn football. The head coach announced that the program would be holding open tryouts for kickers after Brandon Ruiz and Nolan McCord combined for three missed field goals in the Bulldogs’ loss to Arkansas.

Ruiz, a senior, missed 2 field goals, one from 23 yards and one from 46 yards while freshman McCord missed one from 40 yards. The pair have combined for only 9 field goals this season out of 17 attempts. Following the game, Leach had this message for reporters:

"“Announce this,” he said. “There’s an open tryout on our campus for kickers. Anybody that wants to kick or walk on and kick at Mississippi State, we’ll hold a tryout any time you can get over there to our building, providing you’re cleared by the NCAA.”"

When asked in this week’s press conference if he was worried about how those comments would affect the team’s current kickers, Leach didn’t seem very concerned, per the Daily Journal:

"“The thing is, there’s a ball, and you kick it,” Leach said. “It really doesn’t matter if a bunch of 7-year-olds are watching or if 5 million Mongol warriors on horses getting ready to shoot their bows and arrows at you because you approach the ball and kick it. It’s as simple as that.”"

Leach talked about having a list of about 40 kickers to choose from in the past and using it to find the one or two kickers that can be developed into starters. As for who will be kicking the ball this weekend against Auburn football, Leach isn’t sure:

"“I’m inclined to go for it on fourth down anyway,” Leach said. “Probably need to be more aggressive and should’ve been to begin with.”"

Although the Bulldogs are struggling with field goals, they are strong in many other areas and the Tigers will have to lock down their defense for a second week in a row to bring home another win on the Plains.