Punter

You've heard of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a.k.a. Johnny Football, who shocked college football last year by becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. Well, Wednesday's national signing day introduced us to punter Johnny Townsend, who may have earned the nickname “Johnny Hang Time” for keeping his signing day ball in the air so long. This was another one of those intriguing and mysterious stories involving, of all position players, a punter. Townsend seemed bound to Ohio State before he apparently switched allegiances to Alabama.

UCLA's national signing day started with two players Wednesday morning, one who will make an immediate impact and another who could figure prominently. Sean Covington, a punter from St. Petersburg High School, and Caleb Benenoch, an offensive lineman from Katy (Tex.) Seven Lakes, have signed their letters of intent. Covington is expected to lessen the blow of losing Jeff Locke, arguably the top punter in UCLA history. Covington is ranked third at his position by Scout.com and 12th by Rivals.com.

The Rams signed punter Tom Rouen and kicker Jerry Kauric, both of the World League's Ohio Glory, to contracts Tuesday. Rouen, a former University of Colorado standout, led the World League this season with a 36.1-yard punting average. Kauric, who didn't play college football, began his pro career in 1987 with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. A six-year veteran, he has played with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and Calgary Stampeders.

You've heard of Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel, a.k.a. Johnny Football, who shocked college football last year by becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. Well, Wednesday's national signing day introduced us to punter Johnny Townsend, who may have earned the nickname “Johnny Hang Time” for keeping his signing day ball in the air so long. This was another one of those intriguing and mysterious stories involving, of all position players, a punter. Townsend seemed bound to Ohio State before he apparently switched allegiances to Alabama.

When people are asked how they will react during an especially trying time, an overused reply is, "punt." In other words, give up. Bill Turner has offered a twist on the old punch line. He's punting all right, but he certainly hasn't quit. The former Cal Lutheran College punter, cut last week following a free-agent tryout by the Los Angeles Raiders, said he will continue to seek employment in the National Football League. "My agent is contacting teams this week," Turner said.

Jake Harfman finally started doing double duty and it paid off for USC on Saturday night in its 27-6 victory over Washington State at the Coliseum. Harfman, a transfer from Mt. San Antonio College, has handled kickoffs all season, but Coach Pete Carroll installed him at punter in place of Billy O'Malley , who was averaging 37.3 yards a punt. Harfman punted three times and averaged 46.3 yards a kick. But his biggest play came in the first quarter after the Trojans took a 13-0 lead on Matt Barkley 's 29-yard touchdown pass to Brice Butler . Instead of kicking it deep, Harfman rolled an onside kick and recovered the ball before it hit a Washington State player.

What do Rams' rookie punter Dale Hatcher and his wife Lindley like best about Southern California? The weather? The beaches? Neither. What makes them happiest is the fact they can eat at a restaurant without being stared at. Hatcher, the Rams' third-round draft pick from Clemson, was the highest-drafted punter in the National Football League this year. But, heck, great college punters don't even get stared at in their own school's cafeteria. So what's the catch?

It's not unusual for a freshman to look around the football field on the first day of camp and say to himself: "I can't believe I'm really here." But there was a freshman punter on Spaulding Field in a UCLA uniform early this week who had excellent reason to question his surroundings. He was supposed to be in freshman orientation at the University of Maryland. At least that was the plan until Bill Rees, the Bruins' recruiting coordinator, saw him at a punting camp in Ohio a few weeks ago.

Jeff Locke , best known as UCLA's punter, improved his NFL stock with his two field goals against Texas last Saturday. Locke, subbing for the injured Kip Smith , made kicks of 49 and 51 yards. He is already considered one of the top punters in the nation and handles kickoff chores for the Bruins. "Obviously, he showed he is diverse," Coach Rick Neuheisel said, which should resonate with NFL scouts. "As you're trying to secure roster spots, he would be very valuable, especially on a 45-man roster," Neuheisel added.

On Mondays this fall, four of UCLA's least imposing football players occasionally gathered on a golf course. "We're very strict on rules," said junior Danny Rees, the holder for UCLA's field goals and extra points. "There is no picking up the ball on the green. You putt everything out." Then there are the competitive video games, where long snapper Christian Yount and punter Jeff Locke tangle. "Yount thought he was the best at 'Call to Duty,' " said Locke, a redshirt freshman.

SAN DIEGO - The Poinsettia Bowl dragged into the fourth quarter, no touchdowns for either team, no excitement for the national television audience. To that point, the star of the game was the punter for Brigham Young, Riley Stephenson. By the time the evening was done, Stephenson had forced San Diego State to start a drive inside its five-yard line four times. The Aztecs started each drive by handing the ball to tailback Adam Muema. This time, after a San Diego State interception, the Aztecs started a drive on their three and tried the pass.

Michigan football Coach Brady Hoke has suspended cornerback J.T. Floyd , punter Will Hagerup and linebacker Brandin Hawthorne for a violation of team rules. Hoke said in an announcement Sunday that the three players would not travel with the 19th-ranked Wolverines for the Outback Bowl against No. 11 South Carolina in Tampa, Fla., because each of them used poor judgment. He didn't specify which team rules were broken. Floyd is a starting cornerback and Hagerup is the team's top punter.

Three UCLA football players and two from USC were first-team All-Pac-12 Conference selections, it was announced Monday. USC receiver Marqise Lee was chosen offensive player of the year. Trojans center Khaled Holmes and UCLA offensive lineman Xavier Su'a-Filo, linebacker Anthony Barr and punter Jeff Locke also were first-team selections in voting by coaches. Oregon and Stanford each placed five players on the first team, Oregon State four. Lee, a sophomore, has 112 receptions for 1,680 yards, both conference records.

Through the first half of the NFL season, there have been 14 punts blocked. That might not sound like a lot, but consider there were nine in the entire 2011 season, meaning the league is on track for more than three times as many. Sure, it could be a statistical hiccup, although 14 is already more blocked punts than in any full season since 2003. (According to the Elias Sports Bureau, a record 31 punts were blocked in 1977.) Something strange is afoot this season, and it can't just be that the field of 32 punters includes five rookies since only three of the blocks were on first-year players.

How important is punting? All you have to do is watch UCLA's Jeff Locke perform his specialty. Sure, Locke has a boomer-type leg. He was 12th nationally last season when averaging 44.3 yards. But it's his soft touch that really impresses. He dropped a kick dead on the five-yard line last week. On the next play, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez was sacked by Datone Jones for a safety to give UCLA a 29-27 lead. "Any time we get in that area, inside the 50-yard line, he's very capable and more than likely to pin our opponent inside the 10," UCLA Coach Jim Mora said.

Jeff Locke's roommates are not entirely fond of the baseball-style cap that the UCLA punter insists on wearing. "Disgusting," is the way Bruins quarterback Kevin Prince describes it. "I refuse to touch it," says long snapper Kevin McDermott. Locke couldn't care less what his buddies think. "All's fair in friendship," he says with a smirk. The cap — a UCLA model, white with a powder blue brim — means a lot to Locke. Somewhere under the grime are dozens of signatures, scribbled by UCLA players as a prank orchestrated by Prince in 2009.

Sherman White College athlete in point-shaving scandal Sherman White, 82, a 1950s college basketball star at Long Island University who served jail time for point shaving, died Aug. 4 of congestive heart failure at his home in Piscataway, N.J., said his wife, Ellen. The 6-foot-8 White was one of the nation's best college players for LIU in the late 1940s and led the nation in scoring in 1951 with more than 27 points per game. White appeared destined for a successful NBA career, but he was arrested in 1951 for taking money to fix the outcomes of games.

The Golden Bears of California have been in hibernation for several years when it comes to football. They've settled into the second division of the Pacific 10, but that may not be permanent. There's an aura of excitement about the football program for the future and it has been generated by Marc Hicks, a multipurpose running back from Davis, Calif.

Giants Three players who need to come through Jacquian Williams Linebacker The team's fastest linebacker, it was Williams who forced the decisive fumble in the victory over San Francisco. He's nursing a sprained foot. Aaron Ross Cornerback Considering New England's weapons on the outside, Ross needs to have a good game opposite the more reliable and consistent Corey Webster. David Baas Center Eli Manning took a beating in the overtime victory at San Francisco.

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