The future stars of Ohio State football officially begin their college careers, as standouts from all over the country put pens to their National Letters of Intent.
Ohio State's kicker of the future is taller than more than half of its current roster. Blake Haubeil stands at 6-foot-3 and until recently ranked nationally as the No. 1 player at his position.
Instead, he heads to Ohio State as the No. 2 kicker in the country according to 247Sports. With a senior at the position already on the roster — Sean Nuernberger — the Buckeyes knew they had to nab one in the 2017 cycle. Naturally, the move was to head east to Buffalo, New York, and recruit the best the nation had to offer.
Haubeil unofficially visited Ohio State for the first time in June 2015, according to his 247 profile. He made a return trip to Columbus a month later (his first time on campus with his whole family) and the kicker worked out at Friday Night Lights. As he took a tour of the entire campus, an affection for the Buckeyes that commenced from afar only grew stronger. Urban Meyer, Kerry Coombs and Ohio State offered him a scholarship that night.
The Haubeil File
- Class: 2017
- Size: 6-3/200
- Pos: Kicker
- School: Canisius (Buffalo, NY)
- Composite Rating: ★★★
- Composite Rank: 2 (K)
Haubeil didn't waste much time accepting. He committed on the spot.
“The campus was terrific,” Haubeil told Eleven Warriors. “ My parents and I were amazed with the variety of options for education; but what separates Ohio State was the atmosphere of the campus; from the training facilities to the stadium and the history behind it. As soon as the Buckeyes offered me, I was positive I wanted to go.”
Haubeil didn't look around at any other schools once he committed, a rarity for a high-profile recruit these days — even if he is a kicker. It was clear from the beginning the two sides knew what each other wanted and didn't waver. And the Buckeyes hope Haubeil can bring some stability to their kicking game.
Kicking duties at Ohio State have been subject to a bit of a revolving door since the Buckeyes won the 2014 national championship. Nuernberger and Kyle Clinton handled them that season, with the former connecting on all 89 of his extra point attempts in addition to 13-of-20 field goal tries. Clinton served as the kickoff specialist.
Jack Willoughby graduated from Duke and transferred to Ohio State to lock horns with Nuernberger in the hunt for the job in 2015. He won it, only to turn the keys back over to Nuernberger near the midway point of the season. Willoughby still handled kickoff duties, however, and struggled at times to keep the ball in the field of play. The Buckeyes like to send the ball to the left corner of the field on kickoffs. Willoughby booted it out of bounds seven times.
With Nuernberger nursing what Meyer claimed was a groin injury during fall camp last year, walk-on and former James Madison soccer player Tyler Durbin stepped in and never looked back. He took care of kickoff and placekicking duties all season long, making his first 10 attempts before Penn State blocked the one that served as the game-changing play in its 24-21 victory. He finished 17-of-22 on the year, going a combined just 1-of-5 against Michigan and Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl to close out the season.
Nuernberger is back for his senior season in 2017 and the early indications are that Haubeil will pay his own way fall semester and be put on scholarship next spring. Still, he intends to compete for the job right away — there is a reason Ohio State pursued him so heavily.
The commitment to the kicking game shown by the Buckeyes and Meyer especially resonated quickly with Haubeil. That is why he felt he could come in right away and contribute.
“I think it was the time and seriousness they put forth in their special teams. Ohio State truly treats special teams as a third of the game," Haubeil said. “I think what they liked about me was my size and they were interested in my consistency.”
Haubeil spent the day touring Ohio State's campus prior to Friday Night Lights and offered a peek into his heart hours before the camp even began. He sent a tweet that afternoon that said simply, “Ohio State is the best college in the nation.”
After working out and further establishing a relationship with Meyer, Coombs, Nuernberger punters Cameron Johnston and Drue Chrisman in addition to longsnapper Liam McCullough, Haubeil pulled his family close and told them the news of his scholarship offer. He then told the world of his intentions to don the scarlet and gray.
Honored, blessed, and proud to announce that I have committed to play football for The Ohio State Buckeyes!!! pic.twitter.com/zFwHsH8oxm
— Blake Haubeil (@BlakeHaubeil) July 25, 2015
“The (entire trip) was fun,” Haubeil said. “But Ohio State was by the far the best part. It sort of caught me off-guard how much I enjoyed it there, but I was so excited to be a part of Friday Night Lights. It was a very fun day.”
Haubeil had to earn his scholarship, though. Here he is casually nailing 55-yard attempts in front of campers and Meyer himself.
Haubeil traveled to Arizona that winter to further hone his game, working with his coach Sam Watts on technique, leg-swing and more. He did more with Kohl's kicking last May and July in the hope of earning an invitation to an All-American game.
He did that. Haubeil participated in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl at AT&T Stadium in Dallas just before Christmas. He made 1-of-2 field goals and all three of his point-after touchdown attempts.
“First one, I rung it off the left upright a little over halfway up from 49 yards out. Second one was perfect from 35 to tie it at 24 with about 4 minutes to go,” Haubeil said. “[I was] 3-for-3 on extra points and had four kickoffs with above 4.0 [second] hang. So very happy with how specials performed.”
A USA TODAY first-team All-American, Haubeil set a record at Canisius High School in Buffalo with 56 extra points in 2016. Prior to that, Haubeil made a 61-yard field goal at the start of training camp in August just for fun. He also connected on a 47-yard field goal to lead his team to the New York Monsignor Martin High School Athletic Association Championship.
Haubeil will not arrive on campus until this summer but is sure to be in the thick of a battle with Nuernberger for the starting kicking job. Is he the man to sure up what has been an inconsistent position in recent years? We'll see. But as soon as Ohio State showed they wanted Haubeil, he quickly acted.
“Ohio State just gave me a very good, comfortable feeling,” Haubeil said. “The campus is beautiful and the coaching staff and their support personnel make me feel like I belong there.”
Whether or not Haubeil joins the long line of great kickers in Ohio State lore is up to him but he knew early on he at least wanted a shot.
