2012 NFL Draft: Punter Rankings

The top 2012 punter prospects available for the 2012 NFL Draft in the order in which I believe they will be drafted.

This page was last updated April 26, 2012. Follow me @walterfootball for updates.

By Charlie Campbell.
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1. Brian Stahovich, P, San Diego State
   Height: 6-0. Weight: 190.
   Projected Round (2011): 6-7.
   4/26/12: Stahovich averaged 44 yards per punt in 2011. He could be the first punter drafted and has attracted a lot of interest. Stahovich has pre-draft visits with Cleveland, Indianapolis, St. Louis and the New York Jets.
   
   8/22/11: Brian Stahovich averaged 45.4 yards per punt in 2010 and was a first-team All-MWC selection. Last year, he had 16 kicks over 50 yards with 18 punts inside the 20-yard line. For his career, Stahovich has 45 punts downed inside the 20 with 41 punts over 50 yards. He needs to at least match, if not improve, his numbers to get drafted next April.





2. Bryan Anger, P, California
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 207.
   Projected Round (2011): 6-7.
   4/26/12: Anger averaged 44.3 yards per punt in 2011. This season 18 punts of 50 or more yards, while 19 punts were placed inside the 20. Anger has a strong and accurate leg. He was an All-Conference punter the past three seasons.
   
   8/22/11: Bryan Anger enters the season as the top punter in the nation. Last year, he averaged 45.6 yards per punt in 2010. Anger has a strong leg. In his career, he has 54 punts of longer than 50 yards. Anger also has pinned 71 punts inside the 20 and forced a fair catch on 62 punts. He was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection for the second consecutive year in 2011. If Anger stays consistent, he should have a grade that will land him in the draft.



3. Drew Butler, P, Georgia
   Height: 6-2. Weight: 214.
   Projected Round (2011): 6-FA.
   4/26/12: Butler averaged 44.2 yards per punt in 2011. In the SEC Championship, he had eight punts with an average distance of 51 yards per attempt. This season, Butler had 18 punts go over 50 yards and 21 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
   
   8/22/11: Georgia punter Drew Butler was the second best punter in the SEC last year, behind only Florida’s Chas Henry. Butler averaged 44.5 yards per punt with 19 downed inside the 20. He had six touchbacks and 16 fair catches. Butler is a quality punter but will need to do better to get drafted, as Henry went undrafted last April despite a fabulous career in the SEC.



4. Shaun Powell, P, Florida State
   Height: 6-4. Weight: 235.
   Projected Round (2011): 7-FA.
   4/26/12: Powell led the nation with 47 yards per punt in 2011. He entered the year sharing the Florida State record for punting average, but after his big senior season, the record is entirely his. In his career as a Seminole, Powell averaged 46 yards per punt.



5. Kyle Martens, P, Rice
   Height: 6-6. Weight: 230.
   Projected Round (2011): 7-FA.
   4/26/12: Marstens averaged 43.6 yards per punt in 2011. He had four punts of 60+ yards and punts of 50+ in 10-of-12 games. Martens had over 20 punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
   
   8/22/11: Kyle Martens is a massive punter with a strong leg. He averaged 46 yards per punt last season. Martens also downed 22-of-52 punts inside the 20. He has a strong leg to punt the ball deep, and does a quality job in directional punting. Martens needs another big season to get drafted.





6. Jeff Locke, P, UCLA
   Height: 6-1. Weight: 210.
   Projected Round (2011): FA.
   4/26/12: Locke averaged 44 yards per punt as a senior with 21 kickoffs for touchbacks.
   
   8/22/11: Jeff Locke had a strong argument to be the all-conference punter with Anger last season. Locke averaged 45.84 yards per punt. He has a strong leg and shows the ability to place the ball well. Locke’s status for the season is worth watching because he had offseason hip surgery. Locke should be able to return in time for the season, but if he doesn’t kick as well in 2011, he probably won’t get drafted.



7. Brad Nortman, P, Wisconsin
   Height: 6-3. Weight: 210.
   Projected Round (2011): FA.
   4/26/12: Nortman averaged 42.2 yards per punt in 2011. He had 19 downed inside the 20-yard line and a long punt of 74 yards. His attempts were down because Wisconsin’s offense put up big point totals.
   
   8/22/11: Brad Nortman has been a good punter at Wisconsin. That can appeal to teams that play in the North and less than ideal punting conditions for much of football season. He averaged 42.1 yards per punt in his career. Last year, Nortman averaged 42.7 yards per punt. He will need to improve on his averages to get drafted next year.

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