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Marshall placekicker gives up soccer
Marshall kicker Craig Ratanamorn plants and swings during kickoff return drills at practice Aug. 6 at Joan C. Edwards Stadium.
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HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University football coaches and players discarded kid gloves from the moment of Craig Ratanamorn's arrival.
He was an intriguing unknown and something of a novelty. Yes, former soccer players have often segued to football, but Ratanamorn was a Thundering Herd goalkeeper -- the one position where leg strength and accuracy aren't primary skill sets.
The Wichita, Kan., native played football at Heights High School, but focused on soccer at Barton Community College. He was spotted booming long field goals during the Marshall offseason, but was it all flash and no real substance?
Thundering Herd football coaches were convinced, offering the athletic, 6-foot-3, 187-pound junior a scholarship. His full-time switch to football offered promising returns, impressing new teammates with a strong right leg.
His performance has continued to what has been a high-pressure preseason camp. When practices wrap with the special teams "Victory Drill," Ratanamorn's field goals routinely are from 50-plus yards.
"I'm still getting used to the long range," Ratanamorn said. "It's really hard. These past two weeks, I've really been stretching out my form. All the special unit guys have really been helping me out, watching film with me, telling me what I'm doing wrong, telling me what I need to fix.
"And little by little, I'm progressing. I'm getting there.
"Those long distances are just really hard with the form. I have a fast pace to the ball, and I tend to speed up and get out of my form a little bit."
And it's not just distances testing the confident, yet laid-back kicker. Teammates routinely form uproarious semi-circles around the rookie, an attempt to distract Ratanamorn welcomes.
"I kept telling the coaches, 'put more and more pressure on me'," Ratanamorn said. "That way when it comes time, when the pressure's on me, it will be a little easier.
"Especially with the whole team around me it helps me focus and get things down enough that I can just do my job. No worries."
Thus far, Thundering Herd head coach Mark Snyder has been as impressed with his newcomer's demeanor as his range. Capping a recent practice, Ratanamorn pulled an o-fer on four attempts; protection factored heavily into the misses, but Ratanamorn was clearly upset solely with himself.
"He's a pleaser," Snyder said. "He wants to please. He knows he's really good, so he wants to please.
"Craig's doing a great job. He's got a strong leg. He'll win a game or two for us."
Ratanamorn and true freshman punter Kase Whitehead will be spotlighted during today's special teams dress rehearsal (closed to the public). No doubt, Ratanamorn can expect a good amount of work from 50-yards plus with vocal teammates in his ear.
"They want to push my limits a little bit," Ratanamorn said. "And also with that range comes more and more pressure, because with that comes more responsibility with my form.
"They want to see my progress throughout practice so they push me back a little bit.
I'm a little more comfortable with 52 than 57. It's a short distance, but that little distance really matters in the head.
"I'm getting there. Progress is coming."
