Syracuse Football: Get to Know Your Orange Man - #37 Ross Krautman

Man, we really churned through the Get To Know Your Orange Man series this year. We're already in the 30's!

Player: Ross "Das Boot" Krautman

Number: #37

Position: Kicker

Year: Junior

Height: 5'7"

Weight: 155

Hometown: Franklin Lakes, NJ

High School: Ramapo HS

2011 Stats: Das Boot was your Big East leader in FG percentage last season (78.9%). Of course, that includes getting credit for a rather dubious kick during the Toledo game, but we're willing to let it slide (Toledo, not so much). Krautman was 33-of-34 on extra points and 15-of-19 on field goal attempts, including two overtime game-winners. He also acted as our main kickoff specialist, booting 53 kickoffs for a 62.5 yard average and three touchbacks. He did most of it while fighting a nagging groin injury to boot.

2012 Projections: Kicking duties once again remain Das Boot's to lose. He remains ahead of Ryan Lichtenstein on the depth chart. The interesting twist will be the arrival of Ryan Norton, who is being proclaimed as a kickoff specialist. With 48 touchbacks in his senior year of high school, he's a serious threat to take over that job this year, which is fine by SU fans. Plus it gives Krautman a chance to focus on field goals.

How'd He Get Here?: It was either Syracuse or Miami (OH):

...Not bad for somebody who had one other scholarship offer, from Miami (Ohio), when he committed to Syracuse. Krautman said Rutgers "was on the edge" of offering, as was Boston College and East Carolina.

What'd Scout/Rivals Say?: The ol'two star tango.

Money Quote: "Syracuse was always my dream school since I was little...My older brother Ricky, I went to his games as a young kid at the Carrier Dome. Going to the Carrier Dome is unbelievable. To be able to kick in that stadium is awesome. I always wanted to go there and kick. Seeing him kick int he Carrier Dome was cool. I always wanted to there. I'm always repping the Syracuse gear with my friends. Besides that, Syracuse is a great academic school. It's hard to get into. Loved the facilities. I feel like it's a great fit for me."

Links of Wonder: Krautman has racked up a few honors already, including a Freshman All-American nod, a Cuse Award and a spot on Phil Steele's All-Big East Preseason First Team.

What Does Marrone Think?: "I think Ross Krautman has done a good job on PAT and field goal. Lichtenstein will get some more reps as we go, but Ross has done a good job. And I'm happy with Ross because he’s come back and his kickoffs have been better."

Interesting Nugget O'Interest: Ross isn't the first Das Boot to plant his boot at Syracuse. His older brother Ricky was a kicker for SU between 2003 and 2005. He transferred to Richmond in search of more playing time (and to get away from Greggers. Understood, really).

Let Us Get a Good Look At You: Yeah you know he can kick but did you know Ross can make a tackle when he has to as well?