Latest news with #punter
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos special teams coach dubs rookie one of the most talented prospects he's had
Punter hype? Punter hype! After losing Riley Dixon to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during NFL free agency, the Denver Broncos used a sixth-round draft pick to select Australian punter Jeremy Crawshaw in April. Advertisement The international punter grew up playing rugby league and Australian rules football before training to kick in American football. After attending Nathan Chapman's ProKick Australia academy, Crawshaw played college football at Florida. The 24-year-old punter impressed Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi this spring. 'Probably Jeremy the person," Rizzi said on June 11 when asked what impressed him about Crawshaw. "His maturity. It's not easy to come from another country and play a sport he had never played before. Think about that. Here's a guy that came from Australia, went to an SEC school, a top-level college program, [and] had a ton of success. His maturity level, he's kind of beyond his years if you will. That was when we were kind of evaluating all the punters in this draft, his name came up. I really feel like his intangibles, his off-the-field stuff was A-plus. "Now, his talent level is tremendous as well. I really believe that at that position, at a specialist position, your demeanor might be just as important as your ability, because it's a one-play-and-done. You have to have the mentality of kind of a batter in baseball if you will, or a golfer. You have to go on to the next swing. I really like his level-headedness. I really like his maturity. I really like his approach. Getting to know him in the process was a big part of us drafting him, so that was pretty cool.' That's extremely high praise from Rizzi, a high-profile coordinator who has coached in the NFL since 2009 and has experience as an associate head coach and interim head coach. Special teams players are often overlooked by fans, but Crawshaw appears to have been a huge addition for the Broncos this offseason. Advertisement Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans. This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Jeremy Crawshaw gets glowing report from Darren Rizzi
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Longhorns land commitment from Prosper, TX punter
Prosper, TX punter Mikey Bukauskas has announced his commitment to the Texas Longhorns 2026 recruiting class. The three-star announced his decision following on an official visit to the Forty Acres. Bukauskas also had a scholarship offer from the Clemson Tigers. The Longhorns staff hope Texas native will become the team's primary punter in the future. Advertisement The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder ranks as the No. 2 punting prospect in the nation according to 247Sports. Per Kohl's Kicking, the 6-foot-3, punter ranks as the nation's No. 2 prospect at that position. Bukauskas becomes the first punter to commit to Texas since Michael Kern's 2024 commitment. Kern entered the NCAA transfer portal in April. Along with Bukauskas, Texas has commitments from deep snapper Trott O'Neal and kicker Jake Collett. Bukauskas hopes to come in and compete for immediate playing time in Austin. 'That's the game plan. I would love to make an impact as early as possible,' Bukauskas said. 'I believe I have the talent and ability of being that guy as a freshman.' This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Longhorns land commitment from 2026 Prosper, TX punter
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Kicker Daniel Carlson and punter AJ Cole put best feet forward for Raiders
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Neither took the easy path to get here. But because Daniel Carlson and AJ Cole persevered, the Las Vegas Raiders have perhaps the best kicker-punter duo in the NFL. Las Vegas showed its appreciation to Cole by signing him late last month to an extension that briefly made him the league's highest-paid punter. Now the question is whether the Raiders will show the same kind of appreciation toward Carlson, who enters the final season of his four-year, $18.4 million deal. 'Going on year eight as a Raider now, that's essentially been my whole career,' Carlson said. 'Just honored to be a part of this historic organization and excited about where we're headed this year and the direction we're going as a program. So if (an extension) happens, I'd love that, but I'm focused on the football side.' For kickers with at least 85 attempts over the past three seasons, Carlson was fifth in conversion rate at 89.3%. His 24 made field goals from 50 yards and beyond ranked fourth. He's also having to adjust to new kickoff rules for the second season in a row. The NFL changed its format last year, placing 10 kick coverage players at the opposing 40-yard line. Touchbacks put the ball at the 30. Now touchbacks will begin possession at the 35 to encourage even more kickoff returns. 'It's going to be hard as coaches to say, 'Hey, let's just give them the ball at the 35,'' Raiders special teams coach Tom McMahon said. 'I think that's the biggest thing that's going to change with that new touchback rule.' Carlson was effective in limiting the damage last season when he put the ball in play, which he did often with 68% of kickoffs resulting in touchbacks. For those with at least 30 kickoffs last season, Carlson was second in the league in allowing 23 yards per kickoff return, just behind the 22.2 average of Greg Zuerlein of the New York Jets. 'There's almost like some soccer skills that are popping up again, where it's a little more feel, just because it's a very different kick than a field goal,' Carlson said. 'You don't want to necessarily just kick it straight to the returner or anything like that.' Adapting to new circumstances is nothing new for Carlson. As a rookie in 2018 for Minnesota, he missed three field goals — two in overtime — in a 29-29 tie with NFC North rival Green Bay. The Vikings waived him the following day. Carlson caught on with the then-Oakland Raiders — he's one of four players left who played for the team in the Bay Area — and soon began to establish himself as the one of the league's best kickers. He was a second-team AP All-Pro in 2021 and a first-teamer the next season. Cole's path was different, but like Carlson, became one of the top players at his position when the early odds appeared against him. Cole, who also began his NFL career in Oakland, entered minicamp in 2019 hoping just to remain on the roster after those three days. He wound up beating out Johnny Townsend in training camp. 'I showed up to that minicamp and I really just felt like, 'This could be it, and I'm going to go into every single one of these three days and I'm going to get all the juice I can,'' Cole said. 'I've been trying to keep that same mentality, and I'm just on absolute borrowed time. I enjoy every single day. I don't think there's anybody that has more fun at work than I do. It's just such a blessing.' Cole has averaged at least 50 yards three of the past four seasons, a feat that only Ryan Stenhouse has matched in league history. He also is third in gross punting average (48.6 yards) and eighth in net average (42.1 yards) since his first season. Such production earned Cole first-team All-Pro in 2021 and 2023. And a contract extension. Cole was rewarded with a four-year, $15.8 million deal on May 26 that included $11 million in guaranteed money. That gave him the distinction of being the NFL's highest-paid punter, but this week was passed by two other players. Not that Cole is complaining. When asked if he planned a major purchase, he said that already had been made before signing the contract. 'All of my plants died, so we just re-landscaped our yard,' Cole said. 'So I'm really excited that I get to stay here and watch those plants grow up. I don't know if you guys have bought plants before, but they're really, really expensive. 'So that was the big-ticket purchase — a couple of new queen palm trees in the backyard and a couple sweet Bay laurels on the side.' ___ AP NFL:
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Australian punter Michael Dickson has signed a mammoth new contract with the Seattle Seahawks
His coach described him as a 'weapon' and NFL punter Michael Dickson has elevated himself among Australia's highest-earning sportspeople after signing a monster $25m contract extension with the 29-year-old declaring he's 'only half way' into his career. Dickson, already the highest paid punter in the NFL, cemented that position with a new four-year-deal which is worth $25m, including nearly $16m guaranteed. Seven years into his career, Dickson, who eyed-off an AFL career before taking up punting, is adamant there's much more to come. 'It's crazy, because I still feel like I just came through the doors here the other day,' he said. 'But when you think back and think about every season and every different teammate you've had and all the memories you've created along the way, it has been quite a long time. But I don't even feel like I'm halfway yet; it's going to be a long career.' Dickson, had a year left on his previous deal and is now signed through the 2029 season, earning huge plaudits from Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. 'Dicko is a premier punter in the league, so hopefully we showed that with the numbers involved,' said. 'But he's a weapon for us. The stats show it. The film shows it. He's got a great attitude about him, great personality. Guys love him. Yeah, really excited to have him here for the long haul.' Dickson earned first-team All-Pro and Pro-Bowl honours as a rookie, and has established himself as one of the league's best punters over the past seven seasons. His deal is a tad short of fellow Aussie Jordan Mailata's $100m contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, but puts Dickson in rare air for punters. 'It's meant a lot,' Dickson said after signing Tuesday morning. 'You see a lot of people come through the building, and I've just been super grateful since my first year here just to wear this logo and to play in the NFL. So I've really made it a point of mine to give it everything I can in every aspect of my life, whether it's food, sleep, hydration, training, looking after my body, trying to do everything I can to make sure my mind is on point for this game, the next game and for as long as I can go. ' I really want to get the most out of my ability and my time here, and I never want to take it for granted at all.'
Washington Post
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson signs 4-year contract extension
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks signed punter Michael Dickson to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2029 season, the team announced Tuesday. Dickson, 29, is heading into his eighth season with the Seahawks, and has been a standout special teams player since Seattle selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. He was a first-team All-Pro as a rookie, and ranks third in NFL history with a 48.2 yards-per-punt average. Dickson is the Seahawks career leader in net average (42.9 yards) while trailing only Jon Ryan for punts downed inside the 20 with 212. ___ AP NFL:
