Ryan Pretorius
{{Short description|South African American football placekicker}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2012}}{{Infobox college football player
| embed =
| name = Ryan Pretorius
| image =
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| school = Ohio State Buckeyes
| pastschools =
| currentnumber = 85
| currentposition =
| position = Kicker
| class = 2008
| major =
| bowlgames = 2008 BCS National Championship Game
2009 Fiesta Bowl
| highschool = Westville Boys High School
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|5|2|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Rhodesia
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| module = {{Infobox rugby union biography
| embed = yes
|position = Scrum-half
|clubs1 = Bath
|years1 = 1999
|apps1 = 1
}}
}}
Ryan Pretorius (born 2 May 1979) is a South African former rugby union player and American football place kicker with the Ohio State Buckeyes.[http://www.ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=87746&SPID=10408&DB_OEM_ID=17300&ATCLID=1059342&Q_SEASON=2007 Biography] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704083904/https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/ |date=4 July 2021 }} OhioStateBuckeyes.com[https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/_/id/169153 ESPN.com profile] He was raised in Durban, South Africa, and played rugby union professionally before attending Ohio State University to play American football.
Early life
Pretorius was born in Rhodesia and is the grandson of Joe Pretorius, a rugby player who played internationally for Rhodesia and was part of their 1949 10–8 victory over the All Blacks. Pretorius and his family fled to Durban, South Africa, in 1983 after a Zimbabwe Republic Police officer threatened him and his father with an AK-47.{{cite web |url=https://www.dispatch.com/article/20080920/SPORTS/309209627 |title=He's alive and kicking - Sports - The Columbus Dispatch - Columbus, OH |publisher=Columbus Dispatch |date=29 September 2008 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215000/https://www.dispatch.com/article/20080920/SPORTS/309209627 |url-status=live }} He settled with his family in Durban and was educated at Westville Boys High School.{{cite web |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/spring-football-player-profile-ryan-pretorius/ |title=Spring Football Player Profile: Ryan Pretorius |publisher=Ohiostatebuckeyes.com |date=18 April 2008 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212945/https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/spring-football-player-profile-ryan-pretorius/ |url-status=live }}
Rugby
After finishing school, Pretorius moved to England and joined the academy of Bath Rugby.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/09/07/ex-rugby-standout-starts-over-with-buckeyes/ |title=Ex-rugby standout starts over with Buckeyes |work=East Bay Times |date=7 September 2007 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212945/https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2007/09/07/ex-rugby-standout-starts-over-with-buckeyes/ |url-status=live }} He made his one and only appearance for Bath as a scrum-half against Saracens in 1999.{{cite web |last=Gibbs |first=Russell |url=https://www.bathrugbyheritage.org/content/heritage-topics/people/player-profiles/pretorius-ryan |title=Pretorius Ryan | Player Profiles |publisher=Bath Rugby Heritage |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=12 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210212233447/https://www.bathrugbyheritage.org/content/heritage-topics/people/player-profiles/pretorius-ryan |url-status=live }} He then moved to play rugby in France. For Christmas he got a laptop and looked at American football kickers seeing how far they could kick and then went on holiday to the United States and filmed himself kicking field goals from {{convert|65|yd}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/sunday-times-1107/20080217/282076272561962 |title=30 seconds with American football star Ryan Pretorius |work=Sunday Times |via=Pressreader |date=17 February 2008 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602214940/https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/sunday-times-1107/20080217/282076272561962 |url-status=live }} After encouragement from fellow South African former NFL kicker Gary Anderson,{{cite web |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/ohio-state/2007/11/02/South-African-Pretorius-a-solid-kicker-for-Buckeyes/stories/200711020059 |title=South African Pretorius a solid kicker for Buckeyes |publisher=Toledo Blade |date=2 November 2007 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603070256/https://www.toledoblade.com/sports/ohio-state/2007/11/02/South-African-Pretorius-a-solid-kicker-for-Buckeyes/stories/200711020059 |url-status=live }} Pretorius sent copies of the tape to several American universities and was invited to join Ohio State University as a walk-on.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/449266200/?terms=%22ryan%20pretorius%22%20zimbabwe&match=1 |title=At 28, Pretorius finally OSU's kicker |work=Springfield News-Sun |publisher=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=3 January 2008 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215008/https://www.newspapers.com/image/449266200/?terms=%22ryan%20pretorius%22%20zimbabwe&match=1 |url-status=live }} When told he would have to pay his way there, he sold his car to his father.{{cite web |url=https://247sports.com/college/ohio-state/Article/Bucknuts-Mag-Excerpts-The-Dreamer-104351799/ |title=Bucknuts Mag Excerpts: The Dreamer |publisher=247sports.com |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=4 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704083857/https://247sports.com/college/ohio-state/Article/Bucknuts-Mag-Excerpts-The-Dreamer-104351799/ |url-status=live }}
American football
When Pretorius kicked, he wore cleats that were two sizes too small to replicate the feeling of kicking barefoot as he had done when younger practising rugby.{{cite web |url=https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/read-ryan-pretorius-chat-with-fans/ |title=Read Ryan Pretorius' Chat with Fans |publisher=Ohiostatebuckeyes.com |date=31 March 2008 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=2 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602215022/https://ohiostatebuckeyes.com/read-ryan-pretorius-chat-with-fans/ |url-status=live }} He made his debut for the Buckeyes in 2005.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/411000496/?terms=%22ryan%20pretorius%22&match=1 |title=Byers delivers stern message to Buckeyes running backs |work=Dayton Daily News |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=24 April 2005 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603072905/https://www.newspapers.com/image/411000496/?terms=%22ryan%20pretorius%22&match=1 |url-status=live }} In 2006, he was awarded a scholarship to Ohio State.{{cite web | title=Kicker convicted on drug charge returns to Ohio State | website=ESPN.com | date=7 March 2006 | url=https://www.espn.co.uk/college-football/news/story?id=2358000 | access-date=3 June 2021 | archive-date=3 June 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603072905/https://www.espn.co.uk/college-football/news/story?id=2358000 | url-status=live }} At the time, he was the oldest member of the Ohio State team.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/170164887/?terms=%22ryan%20pretorius%22&match=1 |title=Kicker's march to OSU unique |work=The Akron Beacon Journal |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=24 August 2006 |accessdate=3 June 2021 |archive-date=3 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603072906/https://www.newspapers.com/image/170164887/?terms=%22ryan%20pretorius%22&match=1 |url-status=live }} In 2007, with a 96% extra point percentage,{{cite web | title=Ryan Pretorius 2007 Game Log | website=College Football at Sports-Reference.com | date=19 April 2021 | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/ryan-pretorius-1/gamelog/2007 | access-date=3 June 2021 | archive-date=3 June 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603071051/https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/ryan-pretorius-1/gamelog/2007 | url-status=live }} he was nominated for a Lou Groza Award. He also played in Ohio's 2008 BCS National Championship Game loss to LSU Tigers.{{cite web | title=LSU vs. Ohio State - Game Summary - January 8, 2008 | website=ESPN.com | date=8 January 2008 | url=https://www.espn.co.uk/college-football/game/_/gameId/280070194 | access-date=3 June 2021 | archive-date=3 June 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603075548/https://www.espn.co.uk/college-football/game/_/gameId/280070194 | url-status=live }} In his 2008 season, he scored all but one of his point after touchdown attempts and was a part of Ohio State's 2009 Fiesta Bowl game, a loss to the Texas Longhorns.{{cite web | title=Ryan Pretorius Game by Game Stats and Performance | website=ESPN | date=3 June 2021 | url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/gamelog/_/id/169153/ryan-pretorius | access-date=3 June 2021 | archive-date=3 June 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603072124/https://www.espn.com/college-football/player/gamelog/_/id/169153/ryan-pretorius | url-status=live }}
References
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Category:American football placekickers
Category:Ohio State Buckeyes football players
Category:Rugby union scrum-halves
Category:South African expatriates in the United States
Category:South African players of American football
Category:South African rugby union players
Category:Sportspeople from Durban
Category:White South African people
Category:Alumni of Westville Boys' High School
Category:South African expatriate rugby union players in England