Billszone Draft Guide - Kickers/Punters
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Will the Buffalo Bills spend one of their two valuable first day selections in the 2005 NFL Draft on Mike Nugent- K, from Ohio State? NFL Scouting profiles the top kickers and punters.
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| Special Teams | Bills depth Chart |
Kickers
| Starters-
K Rian Lindell
P-Brian Moorman
LS- Jon Dorenbos
KR- Terrance McGee, Jonathan Smith, Nate ClementsCamp Fodder -
K-Owen Poochman (NFLE) Special teams coach Bobby April gets high marks for turning around a unit that was a laughing stock of the league in 2002 into the #1 unit in 2004. Bills special teams accounted for 5 touchdowns and consistently pinned down the opposition in terrible field position. Terrance McGee earned a spot in the Pro Bowl as the AFC kick return specialist. Brian Moorman again proved he was a top 5 NFL punter with some incredible kicks in the league's worst weather on the year. The weak link was kicker Rian Lindell. Missed FG attempts in the opener and in the finale sealed the playoff fate for the Bills. Unfortunately, there is little relief in free agency. |
MIKE NUGENT - Placekicker - Ohio State Buckeyes
One of the nation’s best placekickers, Mike handled all the kickoff and place-kicking duties for the
Buckeyes. The winner of the Lou Groza Award in 2004, given to the nation’s top kicker, he
became the first kicker in school history to earn team Most Valuable Player honors during his final
season with the Buckeyes. He also excelled in the classroom, earning Ohio State Scholar Athlete
honors four times.
Mike was a consensus All-American first-team pick and recipient of the Lou Groza Award as a
senior in 2004. He was successful on 24-of-27 field goals, including five of at least 50 yards or
more. He added 30-of-30 PATs for 102 points. Nugent holds or shares 22 school records. He
finished his career with his name in the career record books for most points scored (356), most
points by a kicker (3560, most field goals (72), most consecutive field goals made (24, 2001-02),
most games with multiple field goals (20), most field goals of 50 yards or more (8) and best field
goal percentage (.818, 72-of-88).
NICHOLAS NOVAK -
Placekicker - Maryland Terrapins
The fifth-year senior was one of the top placekickers in the country in his final three seasons. A
semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as a sophomore and junior, Nick has a strong leg and good
accuracy. He is consistent as both a placekicker and with kickoff duties. Novak is a very hard
worker who was the leading scorer in ACC history and tied for fifth in NCAA Division I-A history
with 393 career points. He ranked among the nation’s top 25 in field goals and scoring as a
sophomore and a junior.
Novak equaled his school field goal record when he was successful on 24-of-32 field goals and
38-of-42 conversions for 110 points in 2003. With the offense struggling throughout the 2004
season, Nick was not given too many kicking opportunities, finishing with 69 points on 16-of-22
field goals and all 21 extra point attempts. His 393 points set school and ACC career records.
Nick was successful on 80 of 107 field goals during his career, tying for second on the NCAA’s career-record list.
JONATHAN NICHOLS-
Placekicker/Kickoff Specialist - Mississippi Rebels
After only three seasons, Jonathan already held the school’s career scoring record, adding on to
that total in 2004 to finish with 344 points. That total ranks sixth on the Southeastern
Conference’s all-time record list. He finished his Ole Miss career as the owner of fifteen school
records.
He became the fourteenth player in Southeastern Conference history to score over 300 points in
a career. Nichols amassed 79 points on 20-of-27 field goals and all 19 PAT tries in 2004.He is the
school’s career leader with 63 field goals and 155 extra points. His streak of 117 consecutive
PATs was the longest active streak in the NCAA and ranked sixth on the conference record
books.
DUSTIN COLQUITT -
Punter -
Tennessee Volunteers
Dustin is part of the “royal family” of punters who have excelled for the Tennessee Volunteers
over the years. His father, Craig, handled punting chores for the Vols from 1975-77, ranking third
on the school’s career-record list with a 42.5-yard average on 204 punts for 8.862 yards. His
cousin, Jimmy, is the school’s all-time punting leader with a 43.9-yard average on 201 attempts
for 8,816 yards (1981-84). His brother, Britton, also letters at Tennessee and will take over
punting duties for the Volunteers in 2005.
He punted 65 times for 2833 yards (43.6 avg) and was a finalist
for Ray Guy Award (nation’s top punter) in 2002. As a junior, he totaled
3081 yards on 68 attempts (45.3 avg) to garner consensus All-American honors.
Dustin punted 56 times for 2282 yards (40.8 avg) as a senior, earning second-team All-SEC
accolades. For his career, he punted 240 times for 10,216 yards (42.57 avg) with 73 kicks
downed inside the 20-yard line, 28 others that resulted in fair catches and 29 boots that went for
touchbacks. He holds the school’s career-records for most punts and punting yardage, topping
the previous marks of 204 punts for 8,862 yards by Craig Colquitt (1975-77). His career punting
average is surpassed only by Jimmy Colquitt (43.9, 1981-84) in school annals.
BRIAN KENT CLAYBOURN -
Punter/Kickoff Specialist/Holder -
Western Kentucky
Brian is a multi-talented specialist known for his long, towering punts. He is a very good holder for
placements and field goals. Claybourn took over kickoff duties as a junior, displaying the leg
strength that affected the opponent’s field position in a game. In an emergency, he can also
handle field goal and extra point attempts.
In four seasons with the Hilltoppers, Brian punted 226 times for 9237 yards (40.87 avg), including
69 attempts downed inside the 20-yard line, with another 24 boots resulting in touchbacks and 19
others that were fair catched.
Only 110 of his punts were returned, finishing with a 36.64-net yard average. His 40.87-yard
punting average ranks second in school history.
REGGIE HODGES -
Punter/Placement Holder -
Ball State
Reggie is a strong-legged kicker with excellent directional ability. He took over punting chores in
2000 and went on to set a school career-record with 254 attempts.
He gained 2321 yards on 64 punts (36.3 avg) as a freshman at Ball State in 2000. Reggie had
the fifth-best season average (41.3) in school history in 2001. He kicked 60 times for 2431 yards
and had twelve of his boots downed inside the 20-yard line. Hodges twice earned Mid-American
Conference Player of the Week honors in 2002. He punted 57 times for 2299 yards (40.3 avg)
with 23 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line.
After sitting out the 2003 season to improve his academics, he returned with a vengeance in
2004, earning All-MAC first-team accolades. He led the conference with a 42.6-yard average on
73 punts for 3109 yards, while 25 of his boots were downed inside the 20-yard line. Only 115 of
his 254 punts were returned during his career. He had 61 attempts downed inside the 20-yard
line, 32 other kicks that resulted in touchbacks and 47 more that were fair catches.
CODY RIDGEWAY -
Punter -
Mississippi Rebels
One of the Southeastern Conference’s premier punters, Cody has continued to improve
throughout his Ole Miss career. In addition to punting duties, he also holds for placements and
has done an outstanding job in that area.
He closed out his career third in school history with 238 punts for 10,021 yards (42.1 avg). Only
Bill Smith (254 for 11,260 yards, 1983-86) and Jim Miller (266 for 11,549 yards, 1976-79) rank
ahead of Cody in Ole Miss annals. 31 of his punts resulted in touchbacks and 24 were fair
catches. He had 57 attempts downed inside the 20-yard line. 124 of his 238 punts were returned,
finishing with a 36.24-net yard average.
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