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Why new Tennessee football kicker Cooper Ranvier's leg is covered with tattoos
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- Why new Tennessee football kicker Cooper Ranvier's leg is covered with tattoos
Tennessee football kicker Cooper Ranvier has prepared to make pressure-packed field goals by playing in golf tournaments and recalling his mindset as a high school receiver.
He resets his mind after a missed kick by collecting trash from the football field.
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And he trusts in God to determine whether he makes his kicks. His kicking leg is covered in tattoos of scripture and scenes from the Bible.
"I try to keep my faith on something that's really important to me. Obviously, my right leg is pretty important to me," Ranvier said on Aug. 21. "God's got me. Just go kick the ball. He's already got it planned whether it's going to go in or not."
Mind games are part of being a kicker, and Ranvier plays them in his own way.
He'll have the task of making kicks at critical times in the 2026 season, which begins when the 18th-ranked Vols play Furman on Sept. 5 (3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network+/ESPN+) at Neyland Stadium.
Why Cooper Ranvier replaced Max Gilbert as Tennessee kicker
Ranvier was one of UT's key additions from the transfer portal this offseason. That's not just because of his success at the Power 4 level. The Lexington, Kentucky, native was an All-ACC kicker at Louisville , making 21 of 25 field goals (84%) in 2025.
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It was also significant because Ranvier replaced Max Gilbert , a Tennessee kicker that had success but struggled in high-pressure moments.
Gilbert made 34 of 45 field goals (75.6%) over the past two seasons, ranking as the third-best percentage in UT history for kickers who made at least 25 field goals. But he missed some of his most important kicks, beginning with a potential game-winner at the end of regulation in a 44-41 overtime loss to Georgia.
Gilbert transferred to Arkansas , which will host Tennessee on Oct. 10.
Time will tell if Ranvier can be both a consistent and clutch kicker for Tennessee. He did that well at Louisville, where he made 6 of 7 field goal attempts from 40 to 49 yards and nailed a 51-yarder.
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How golf tournaments prepare Ranvier for SEC games
Ranvier has ways to prepare for the pressure. He is a very good golfer with a 4 handicap, and he plays in amateur tournaments in the offseason.
Ranvier acknowledges that the stakes of making a birdie putt are much lower than making a game-winning field goal in a raucous SEC stadium, but it's a worthwhile exercise for him.
"(Golf) calms my mind down," Ranvier said. "Amateur tournaments simulate pressure, so I try to take it seriously."
A missed kick like a missed putt can shake confidence in a player. Ranvier missed only four field goals last season at Louisville, but never two in the same game. He developed a unique way of discarding the memory of a missed kick.
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"I try to find debris on the field and just throw it in the trash," Ranvier said. "That's kind of like my mental reset, just take a deep breath. It's not the end of the world. Just go make the next one."
How high school football helped Ranvier stay in groove
Unlike most kickers, Ranvier had to develop mind games when he got to college.
In high school, the 6-foot-2, 199-pound Ranvier also played wide receiver and simply walked behind the line of scrimmage on fourth down to attempt a kick. He found that transition easier than jogging from the sideline a few times a game as a college kicker.
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Ranvier said he stays very engaged in the game, watching the offense and defense closely in hopes of borrowing those vibes to make kicks.
"He has a competitive edge to him and a confidence that probably shows up more on the field," UT special teams coordinator Evan Crabtree said. "He's kind of that football player that kicks rather than just a kicker."
Why tattoos cover Ranvier's kicking leg
Ranvier has tousled blonde hair, earrings in both ears, a compression sleeve on his left leg and tattoos from thigh to ankle on his right leg.
"I got my first tattoo when I was 16, going into my junior year of high school," Ranvier said. "My dad promised me that I could get one when I got my first college offer. He didn't think it was going to come that fast."
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Since then, Ranvier has gotten tattoos as tributes to friends, family and teammates who died, as well as symbols of his faith.
There are scriptures written across his shin. A depiction of Jesus' baptism is on his quad. And Roman numerals representing his own baptism in 2023 are also on his leg.
His faith is documented on his kicking leg as a reminder not to overthink his task.
"I like to think I'm pretty confident when I'm out there," Ranvier said. "But it's just a deep breath and then go at it. I don't like to think much about it."
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com . X, formerly known as Twitter @AdamSparks . Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe .
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why new Tennessee football kicker Cooper Ranvier's leg is covered with tattoos
