How WVU’s New Punter Went from a Plumber to a Power Four Athlete in Just a Year and a Half.
By: Cole Livengood | WV Sports Chat
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia’s punt game led by Oliver Straw was one of the most active in the nation during last season, tallying 66 punts in 12 games. However, Straw is a senior and the Mountaineers will be without him next season. It will be a tall task to replace the Aussie sensation.
Straw finished his Mountaineer career ranked fifth in career punts, recording 193 in his four years in Morgantown.
It appears West Virginia found the perfect replacement during signing day by getting a National Letter of Intent from Chase Ridley out of ProKick Australia.
“I want the Mountaineer Nation to know they’re getting a dawg. Someone who works hard, stays humble, and competes every single day on and off that field. I’m ready to earn everything that comes my way and represent this program with pride. If I have to run through someone’s chest, I will; if I have to throw the ball, I will; if I have to flip the field, I will do whatever the team needs me to do, I’m doing it, no questions asked.”
The 21-year-old, who only began punting just over a year and a half ago, found out he was earning a scholorship offer to attend West Virginia at 2:30 in morning on National Signing Day. Telling WV Sports Chat “I didn’t get a lot of sleep that night especially going through everyone else who got recruited to WVU it was seriously special to see all my new team and the talent that they bring.”
The former plumber and scaffolder discovered punting during a local game of Aussie rules football, when people informed him of the punting organization known as ProKick Australia. ProKick is an organization that takes Australians who play AFL (Australian Football League) style and teach them how to become punters for American football. Ridley told us,
“Coming from an AFL style background myself, I thought I could give this a crack, so I went to my local sports shop and bought a cheap gridiron ball and went for a kick with it. I thought I was decent enough to give it a full crack, so I started watching Tory Taylor videos and educating myself on the sport.”
Ridley told us he thought his dreams of a professional career were over after he entered a plumbing apprenticeship following high school. But after teaching himself how to punt from watching videos of Tory Taylor, Ridley reached out to former AFL punter and Director of ProKick Australia Nathan Chapman, who was holding punting tryouts. Chapman thought Ridley showed great potential and offered him a spot.
He described the moment ProKick coaches told him West Virginia wanted him to come out for a visit as “surreal.” “It felt like when I was a kid unwrapping that one Christmas present you’d been waiting for all year.” Ridley said that he was certain when West Virginia reached out that the Mountain State was where he wanted to go.
“I’m grateful for what ProKick has taught me in a year and I’m proud that the work I’ve put in has led to this opportunity at West Virginia. I know I’m ready to contribute, flip the feild when West Virginia need me to and continue my growth as a punter and hopefully a future ray guy winner.“
The passion he brings in with all the adversity he’s been through in his short career embodies the “Hard Edge” mentality Rich Rod is bringing back to Morgantown. We asked Ridley what “Hard Edge” meant to him, which he responded with,
“‘Hard Edge’ means bringing toughness, discipline, and a team-first mindset every single day. It’s about making the impossible possible and knowing that quitting is never an option. It’s about doing the little things right when no one’s watching and competing with intent. I know punters don’t have the most important position on the field, but a single kick can shift field position, momentum, or even decide the outcome of a drive, so having that ‘Hard Edge’ mindset is crucial. For me, it’s about preparation, staying composed under pressure, precision, and being absolutely reliable when my number is called.”
Ridley told us his signing day was a mix of excitement, gratitude, and pride. Coming from Australia, making it to Division 1 football has been his main goal over the past year and a half, and seeing it all come to life was pretty special.
“I thought about my family, my partner, and everyone who supported me along the way, and all the sacrifices I had to make to be in the position I am today. It wasn’t just my signature; it was everyone who supported me along my journey signing that paper. And now the focus shifts to proving myself every day, playing for something that’s bigger than myself, and earning that opportunity to step out on the field.”
ProKick Australia is famous for producing talented punters, with six alumni currently in the NFL. Even former West Virginia Punter Oliver Straw came out of their system. Ridley told us ProKick pushes you not just physically, but mentally and that you learn quickly that consistency, discipline, and accountability are the standard if you want to play at the highest level.
Ridley tells us he’s excited about what his future in Morgantown looks like with him and wife Tayla, who got married back in September. The 21-year-old has the passion and drive to be an all-time favorite in Morgantown for years to come.
Photo Credit: WVU Athletics
