After waiting his turn, Little Rock Central senior kicker Jason Ronnel is taking advantage of his opportunity.
As a junior, Ronnel was the backup to Jackson Bryant, who’s now a freshman at Hendrix. In his first two games for the Tigers, Ronnel is 4 of 5 on field goals and 8 of 8 on extra points.
“He’s pretty special,” Central Coach Scooter Register said. “He’s helped us out. He makes it hard on a team to drive when he kicks off into the end zone. He’s been pretty special for us the first two weekends.”
Ronnel also punts and is averaging 36.7 yards. He has been consistent in kicking off into the end zone and has 11 touchbacks out of 14 kickoffs.
“The first one at Rogers Heritage last week was 3 yards out of the end zone,” Register said.
Both of Ronnel’s parents are Texas graduates. He and his father attended the Longhorns' overtime victory over Notre Dame as fans but will soon make a return trip as a recruit.
“They called, and I sent his highlight tape from the Rogers (Heritage) game,” Register said. “He’s going on a visit on the [15th] of October when they play Iowa State.”
Register made contact with Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr. on Friday and was to send Ronnel’s stats today.
“He could help them right now,” Register said. “This kid is pretty special.”
Going in to his 42nd year of coaching, Register said Ronnel is comparable to former Razorback kicker Brennan O’Donohoe, whom he coached at El Dorado.
“It’s kind of fun to watch him,” Register said.
Ronnel, who has a 3.8 grade point average and has made a 32 on the ACT, has made field goals from 45, 34, 34, 21 while a 50-yarder against Rogers Heritage is his lone miss.
“It was into the wind,” said Register, who coached Ronnel’s father at Little Rock Hall. “He didn’t hit it really good."