Marcus Freeman gives update on Notre Dame kicker, punter situation
Following the departures of punter Jay Bramblett (transfer) and kicker Jonathan Doerer (graduation), Notre Dame has spent the offseason on the hunt for new starting specialists. At least in the kicking department, it appears head coach Marcus Freeman and special teams coordinator Brian Mason may have their guy.
On Thursday, Freeman took to the podium following a 90-play scrimmage in Notre Dame Stadium and said Arkansas State graduate transfer Blake Grupe is currently the No. 1 kicker. The 5-7, 156-pound specialist went 3-for-4 in the scrimmage, including both a make and a miss from 53 yards out.
“He was awesome today,” Freeman said. “It was really good to see. He’s been really consistent over the last few practices.”
In 2021, the Missouri native hit 20 field goals, which was tied for first in the Sun Belt, and also broke the Arkansas State records for most made field goals and points in a single season. He attempted 25 field goals last season, meaning he hit 80 percent of his kicks, and he was 31-for-32 on extra points. His career long is 50 yards.
Grupe has been the Sun Belt kicker of the week on several occasions, and he was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2019, the annual honor given to the nation’s best placekicker.
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Grupe’s competition is sophomore Josh Bryan, who was the No. 4 kicker in the 2021 class per On3 Consensus. Bryan’s only game action as a rookie was against Georgia Tech in November. He went 1-for-1 on extra point attempts.
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The punting situation is a work in progress. The Irish did not have a scholarship punter on campus this spring, instead using walk-ons as fill-ins. Now, Harvard graduate transfer Jon Sot and freshman Bryce McFerson are in South Bend and competing for the job.
“We haven’t really decided on the punter,” Freeman said. “Sot’s probably been taking more reps with the (first-team).”
The specialist was a first-team All-Ivy League performer in 2018 and 2019, averaging 41.1 yards per punt in 2018 and downing 19 of his 51 kicks inside the 20-yard line. His average was the second best in school history and led the Ivy League. Sot was atop the Ivy League once again in 2019 with 42.3 yards per boot.
Eight of Sot’s 57 punts in 2021 traveled farther than 50 yards with a long of 67. He downed 24 kicks inside the 20-yard line, only had two touchbacks and forced 28 fair catches.
