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#40 Ian Patterson |
Position: Kicker Previous College: None Projection: Starter (Kickoffs) Status: On Scholarship |
Ian Patterson (Jan. 17, 1994) is a former walk-on place kicker who has handled a majority of the Wildcats' kickoff duties for the last three years. He will look to continue to handle kickoffs while competing for placements in 2016.
Patterson played for three seasons at Rock Bridge High School under head coach A.J. Ofodile. He was named an all-district and all-area kicker after connecting on all eight field goals in his senior year, including a long of 47 yards.
After redshirting in 2012, Patterson played in nine games in 2013, handling kickoff duties for a majority of the season while also connecting on 3 of 5 field goals and all 12 extra points.
He made a field goal in each of the final three contests while filling in for an injured Jack Cantele, and he was 4 of 4 on extra points during those games. Plus, he had five touchbacks on eight kickoffs against Texas Tech and TCU.
Patterson appeared in all 13 games in 2014, serving as the primary kickoff man. He averaged 61.8 yards on his 83 kickoffs, including 25 touchbacks, and earned first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors.
He had a banner day that year against Kansas, setting new career highs in average (64.8) and touchbacks (7), while tying his career high in kickoffs with 10. He also kicked off 10 times against Stephen F. Austin.
Patterson had four touchbacks against Oklahoma State, and three apiece against Stephen F. Austin and Texas.
In 2015, Patterson again saw action in all 13 games, averaging 60.4 yards on 65 kickoffs with 15 touchbacks.
He set a season high with seven kickoffs against both South Dakota and UTSA, while he had a season-best three touchbacks against South Dakota and Texas Tech.
Patterson, who graduated last December with a bachelor's degree in food science and industry and will play this season as a grad student, also made tackles on kickoff coverage against Oklahoma State, TCU and West Virginia.
He came to us rated 2 1/2 stars for field goals and five stars for kickoffs by National Camp Series. He prepped with current wide receiver Zach Reuter and studied kicking privately at a camp run by former kicker Brooks Rossman.