Gang Green Nation
Taking a look at a Jets punter
The New York Jets recently signed former South Carolina punter Kai Kroeger as an undrafted free agent. Let’s therefore look at Kroeger in more detail.
The 22-year old Kroeger is listed at 6’3” and 212 pounds. He was undrafted out of South Carolina in April. The Jets signed Kroeger, a two-time all-SEC first teamer, after he attended their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.
Background
Kroeger was a two-star recruit out of high school, where he had also played as a wide receiver and three years as a quarterback.
He became South Carolina’s punter at the start of his freshman year in 2020 and would go on to hold the job for five years, playing in a team-record-tying 61 games in his career.
After posting underwhelming numbers in his first two seasons, with a gross average of 43 yards per punt and a net below 40, Kroeger broke out in 2022 and earned all-SEC first team and all-American honors with a gross average of 46 and a net of 42.
This included a sensational performance against the Clemson Tigers where he posted a high average and landed a handful of punts close to the goal line, including two late in the game as the Gamecocks held on for the upset win.
Head coach Shane Beamer said that Kroeger was the best punter in the nation that year and he couldn’t believe he wasn’t a finalist for a Ray Guy award.
2023 saw a slight regression towards the same kind of numbers Kroeger had in his first two years, but his 2024 season was even better than his 2022 season. His gross average was just under 48 and his net was just under 44, both career highs. He was fourth and sixth in the nation in those two categories.
Kroeger was again voted first-team all-SEC but snubbed from being a Ray Guy award finalist. However, he headed into the draft with plenty of interest as he visited with all 32 teams. While he didn’t earn an undrafted free agent contract, seven different teams invited him to their rookie camp and Kroeger eventually signed for the Jets after attending theirs earlier this month.
Measurables/Athleticism
Kroeger is a similar size to Austin McNamara, his current competition for the Jets’ punting role after the release of Thomas Morstead last week.
He didn’t do any of the workouts at his pro day, but he shows flashes of his athletic ability from having been a position player in high school in some of his film. For example, he showed off adequate wheels on this two-point conversion.
Leg Strength
Kroeger showed good leg strength over the course of his career, with 68 punts of 50 yards or more, including four of 70 or more.
As noted, his gross punting average was fourth best in the nation in 2024 as he posted a career high, although it’s worth noting that 12 NFL punters surpassed that number last year.
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