Conrad Weiser grad Matt Noll getting a big kick playing for Jackson State
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Matt Noll credits the warm southern air around his new home in Jackson, Miss., for the recent boost in his punting average.
The Southern hospitality, too.
“I think the fried food has helped a lot,” joked the Conrad Weiser grad, who finds himself leading the nation in punting average in his first season playing for Jackson State. “The ball flies different down South.”
It has for Noll, who has averaged a booming 47.4 yards on his 16 punts this season. That’s the best average in the nation among kickers at the FCS level and higher than punters at Penn State, Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia or most other major college programs.
Noll was an All-America first team pick and the All-MEAC punter his freshman season at Delaware State. After graduating in three years with a degree in Business Management in May he sought a bigger challenge.
He entered his name in the NCAA’s transfer portal following last season; within a couple of days Jackson State – coached last season by Deion Sanders – reached out to him.
Sanders – who left to take the head coaching job at Colorado in December – and his staff were gone by the time Noll made a final decision but the new staff at Jackson State honored the offer. He’s now on full scholarship.
“The coaching staff (at Delaware State) was fired,” Noll said. “That was a sign to me that it’s okay to move on.
“Jackson State was the first school to reach out to me. I looked into some other offers but in the back of my mind I kind of knew this is where I’m gonna end up.
“I loved everything about Delaware State,” Noll said, “and I wouldn’t change my path, but it’s definitely a step up. It’s helped my game, it’s helped my body, everything. It’s been a seamless transition.”
While Noll, now 6-foot and 200 pounds, is stronger, it’s the smaller things – his technique – and the biggest thing – hard work – that’s helped him to such a strong start in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
His punting average is more than 4 ½ yards higher last season, a huge increase.
“There’s a lot that goes into it,” Noll said. “Obviously, you’ve gotta work hard, and I think I’ve taken it more seriously (now). I realize the platform I have, the level of football I’m playing. I tweaked some little stuff. . . changed my drop, which has helped.”
A large part of his improvement, Noll said, has come between the ears, not with his hands or foot or kicking mechanics.
“I was a young, immature player (at Delaware State),” he said. “When I got the ball in my hands I wanted to kick it as far as I could. Now I’m understanding: Smooth is power. You don’t want to swing for a home run every time, just put the ball in play. That’s when I get my best balls.
“Maturing as a player has helped me realize I don’t need to do more than my job. That’s helped me get more consistent. I’ve eliminated a lot of the 29- to- 30-yard punts. I’ve gotten more consistent.
“I had a rough game against (Florida A&M on Sept. 3). I was really in my head. If you lose the mental side of it in punting then you’re gonna have a rough year punting. I’m trying to keep my mind strong and just make that subtle change and it’s really helped a lot.”
Noll has been sidelined the past couple weeks and isn’t sure if he’ll play Saturday against Alabama A&M. He suffered a torn quad in his right kicking leg during practice about two weeks ago. The injury might have been caused by overuse. Jackson State’s placekicker was injured so Noll was doing punts, field goals and kickoffs in practice.
“My leg wasn’t used to all of it,” he said.
Noll was a two-time, two-way All-Berks pick as both a punter and placekicker his junior and senior seasons at Conrad Weiser.
He set the Berks career record for field goals with 23. As a junior he set the Berks single-season mark with 12 field goals, on 15 attempts, and helped the Scouts beat Gov. Mifflin to claim the Berks Football League Section 1 title. His late field goal was key in the 17-7 season finale over the Mustangs.
Noll was excited to learn that he’s leading the nation in punting but said he’ll try to block that out of his mind the next time he takes a snap.
“It was real cool to see that, and (to know) all the work I’ve been putting in has been paying off,” he said. “I try to not look at the numbers and just do my job and whatever happens will just play out the way it’s supposed to.”
