Name: Will Gingery
College: Wittenberg
Position: Kicker
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 195

Q: If you could describe your style of play in 3 words, what would they be?

Will: Confident, accurate, reliable.

Q: How are you going to train/prepare this offseason in preparation for the draft or other pro opportunities?

Will: This offseason I have been training at Wittenberg with our Strength and Conditioning Coach, Cory Everts. We workout 4 days a week, emphasizing strengthening my legs and core, as well as increasing my flexibility. Depending on the weather, Cory and I try to get outside at least twice a week and kick with a resistance band hooked up to my leg. This is allowing me to go through my kicking motion while having a little extra weight on my leg. After a few sets, I take the band off and can truly see and feel a difference of how the ball flies off my foot.

Q: If you could compare yourself to one current or former NFL player who would it be and why?

Will: I would compare myself to Sebastian Janikowski from the Oakland Raiders. I am a lefty and he is currently the only lefty kicker in the league. He also has a very explosive and powerful leg that has historically been tremendous on kicks over 50 yards. Even though I have only attempted 7 kicks from 50 yards or longer in my career, I have never missed, which is quite similar to Janikowski.

Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on or look for?

Will: When studying film, my main focus is on my technique and form. I am a perfectionist, so if I see on film that my plant foot is half an inch too deep, I will go out the next day and make sure I hit 15 straight kicks with my plant foot where it needs to be. Another thing that I look for on film is my ball flight. The ball flight can tell you a lot about your kick, such as where on your foot you make contact and if your foot was properly locked out.

Q: What separates you from other players at your position?

Will: The thing that separates me from other players at my position is that not only am I a reliable kicker, I also have plenty experience as a punter. I started 4 seasons as a punter in college and was named an All-American as both a Kicker and a Punter, something no one else at my position is able to say. Due to limited roster spots in the NFL, teams do not carry a backup kicker or punter, so being a versatile player who can do both at a high level separates me from others. I also saw my statistics go up in every single category each year in college. This shows that I never became complacent with my success, and continued to stay hungry and reach for more.

Q: What kind of abilities would you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?

Will: Some things that I would bring to a team that will stand out is my winning mentality at all times and that fact that I absolutely hate losing. I am the ultimate team player who has a short memory. If I personally have a poor game, I have learned to put that behind me and have a positive attitude moving forward. Off the field, I will be a huge asset in the community. By going to a small Division 3 liberal arts school, community service is a requirement to graduate. Instead, I choose to look at community service as a positive opportunity to get involved with the community in Springfield. Through various different organizations, I was able to log over 175 community service hours, as well as earning the Community Service scholarship in my Fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi. I would be eagerly excited for the opportunity to get involved with the next community that surrounds my team.

Q: What is your final pitch/sell to NFL and other pro league scouts?

Will: I am someone who is very dedicated and puts 100% into whatever it is that I am doing. I am very coachable and willing to work hard to continue to perfect my craft. I have always had a chip on my shoulder. Coming out of high school I wasn’t recruited by any Division 1 schools because I was told I didn’t have a strong enough leg. When I got to college, I was told I was going to have to focus on either kicking or punting because it is very rare to start, and be successful at both positions. I took that as motivation, and let it drive me to becoming an All-American Kicker AND Punter as a senior, something that had never been done before. Now, coming out a Division 3 school with dreams and aspirations of playing in the NFL many people are telling me there is no chance and that I am wasting my time. I look forward to proving those people wrong in the near future too.