P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

[swiper]

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/apr/29/former-idaho-punter-austin-rehkow-signs-as-free-ag/

As part of the undrafted free agent signing class of 2017, the Bills have apparently signed the best punter available in the draft.

Rehkow, who attended Central Valley High, reached a deal with the Bills after the NFL Draft concluded.

Rehkow was one of 330 players invited to the NFL Combine and the first Idaho player in six years to take part in the East-West Shrine Game, a showcase for top prospects. ESPN’s Mel Kiper and CBSSports.com ranked him as the top punter in this year’s draft.

The star kicker holds the Vandals’ record for field goals and punting average – while also kicking off the last four years.

Rehkow made 26 of 29 field goal attempts for Idaho last season with a long of 50 yards against UL Lafayette on Nov. 5, and averaged 41.6 yards on 56 punts for the Vandals.

Rehkow was a Lou Groza and Ray Guy award semifinalist this season and set Sun Belt Conference single-season records for most points by a kicker (120) and made field goals. He was a first-team all-conference at punter and second-team as kicker. He became the 22nd player in Idaho school history to play in the East-West Shrine college football all-star game.

[Night Train]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

He actually has a decent shot at replacing Schmitt. Kickoff specialist also. His ability on paper to drop punts inside the 20 is amazing. Must have incredible control.

Rehkow (pronounced ree-CO) is one of a handful of specialists in the country in recent years that have handled both kicking and punting duties for their teams. The only reason Rehkow wasn't a four-time first-team all-conference pick as a punter was because Idaho was an independent in his freshman year (led FBS with 47.8 yards per punt, 24 inside the 20 yard-line, 15 fair catches). He was a Ray Guy Award finalist and third-team Associated Press All-American in 2014 (second in FBS with 47.8 yards per punt, 17 inside the 20) and then had an excellent junior season, as well (45.7 per punt, 14 of 49 inside the 20). As a senior, Rehkow had his worst gross average (41.6) but placed 26 of 56 punts inside the 20 with only three touchbacks. He also excelled as a kicker, making 26 of 29 attempts to earn his second straight second-team All-Sun Belt honor. This was not a big surprise, since he made a 67-yard field goal (one off the national record) in high school. Rehkow kicked extra point for four years (127-130) and made 70 of 92 (76.1 percent) of his career field goal attempts. He was the team's kickoff specialist for four years, as well, putting 96 of 254 attempts for touchbacks.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS

Handles punting, kickoff and field goal duties at Idaho. Accuracy has continued to improve. Has hit 16 of 20 (80 percent) from 40-plus yards over the last two seasons. Has posted very good hang time numbers as a punter during his career. Saw fair catch percentage spike from 21.6 to 35.1 this year. Has excellent feel for touch punts. Landed impressive total of 49.1 percent inside the 20-yard line and 28.1 percent inside the 10-yard line.

WEAKNESSES

May not have enough leg to make it as NFL field goal kicker. Has made just one of five field goal attempts of 50-plus yards during his career. Lacks combined leg strength and hang time to handle full-time kickoff duties. Snap-to-punt time can get a little quicker.

BOTTOM LINE

Rehkow's NFL future is as a punter, but his ability to handle the kicking duties if called on will surely add to his draft value and overall slotting. His hang time and accuracy numbers could be good enough to land Rehkow a spot in this year's draft.

-Lance Zierlein

[swiper]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

He was 26 of 29 on FGs as well. Multi-faceted. Schmidt has some competition.

[Guest]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

Sounds positive.

[TacklingDummy]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

CHAMPIONSHIP

[Novacane]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

Lord knows we'll need a good punter.

[kishoph]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

Rehkow kicked a 67 yd. field goal in 2012 while in high school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfQM4Kz4JYw

Also a video of a pretty nice punt, plenty of hang time and distance.

http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=11953949

[Guest]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

Rehkow kicked a 67 yd. field goal in 2012 while in high school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfQM4Kz4JYw

Also a video of a pretty nice punt, plenty of hang time and distance.
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=11953949

I am not understanding the comment that his weakness is he may not have a strong enough leg for the NFL.

Looks plenty strong to me.

[Skooby]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

I am not understanding the comment that his weakness is he may not have a strong enough leg for the NFL.

Looks plenty strong to me.

They have to find a knock, his college coach might not of liked to kick longer FG. Think weather related.

[Guest]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

They have to find a knock, his college coach might not of liked to kick longer FG. Think weather related.

He kicked a 67 yard FG in high school.

That is NOT a strong enough leg?

Do we need him to kick the ball out of our stadium and into Lake Erie?

[Historian]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

Yea, but can he dropkick???

[Skooby]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

He kicked a 67 yard FG in high school.

That is NOT a strong enough leg?

Do we need him to kick the ball out of our stadium and into Lake Erie?

I didn't say he couldn't, I said he obviously wasn't asked too.

[Guest]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

I didn't say he couldn't, I said he obviously wasn't asked too.

True.


AND oh, if I kicked a 67 yard FG in high school, I would expect to be gang raped by every female cheerleader on the sideline simultaneously immediately.

[Goobylal]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

He has a real shot at sticking. If he can also handle KOs, and maybe even EPs, to allow Hauschka to focus on FGs, so much the better.

[DraftBoy]

Re: P - Austin Rehkow - Bills sign best punter in the draft

Saw fair catch percentage spike from 21.6 to 35.1 this year. Has excellent feel for touch punts. Landed impressive total of 49.1 percent inside the 20-yard line and 28.1 percent inside the 10-yard line.

When you can have almost as many punts fall within the 10 yard line to being fair caught then that's a good sign. Most people don't fair catch punts beyond their own 10 because they hope it bounces into the end zone.