Two weeks ago, El Dorado varsity football coach Steven Jones was hesitant to name a kicker for the 2021 season. After Friday’s Purple White Game at Memorial Stadium, he finally had a name.
“Right now, Rojemi Aydodgu will handle kickoffs. He’ll handle field goals as we go into the North Little Rock week. He’s a foreign exchange student from Germany,” Jones said.
Aydodgu arrived two weeks ago. Jones said he played soccer in Germany but this will be his first time playing American football.
Aydodgu’s arrival filled an important void for the Wildcats.
“He’s brand new to kicking a football. We feel good about his extra points,” said Jones. “I think his range will improve. Right now, on kickoffs he’s putting the ball down anywhere from the 20 to the 15. But, he has a strong leg. He can strike the ball and I think he’ll continue to improve in that area. I could see, by the next couple of weeks, being able to put the ball into the end zone on kickoffs. We’ll see what that range looks like on field goals as we go.”
The coach said kicking game will be a focus heading into Friday’s benefit game at North Little Rock.
“I think special teams is something we need to harp on next week. (Purple-White) was the first time getting those units on the field in a game situation. I thought, for the most part, the on and off of the substitutions was efficient. But, we need to just have more live reps in that area,” he said.
“I feel good about our kickoff team. The guys we have out there can go make some plays. I’m feeling good about Rojemi, right now, handling the kickoff and field goal duties. Also, Demarcus Young is going to hold field goals. He’s done a good job with that so far. We’re going to harp on special teams next week.”