Parlaying Penn State success, Jordan Stout eager for NFL

Penn State punter Jordan Stout is hoping to hear his name called during April’s NFL Draft in Las Vegas. 

A relative rarity, just two kickers or punters were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, Stout has good reason for his optimism. Having performed well at the Senior Bowl in February, and again at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis earlier in March, the former Penn State specialist was picked as Mel Kiper’s top punter on his board with a draft grade as high as the fourth round.

That is likely thanks to his relative strength across all facets of his game.

Demonstrating his ability to hold for kicker Vlad Hilling at Penn State’s Pro Day last week, Stout said he is happy, willing, and able to fulfill what NFL teams are seeking. 

“I tell all the teams that I pride myself as a combo guy. I can do all three,” Stout said. “But judging off of last season, I would say right now I’m more of a punter and kickoff guy. It’s what I’ve been saying.”

Stout is coming off his busiest season yet as a Nittany Lion in 2021. 

Handling kickoffs, punts, and field goal duties for Penn State, Stout finished second only to Drew Hartlaub for total special teams snaps taken on the season, 229 to 193. In them, according to PFF, he finished with a grade of 90.8 on kickoffs, 93.2 on punts, and 67.8 on field goals. 

Elite numbers by any measure, Stout graded out as PFF’s No. 4 among all kickoff specialists for the season and No. 1 in punting. No other kicking specialist finished in the top 10 nationally for both categories. (San Diego State’s Matt Araiza come closest at No. 1 in kickoffs and No. 14 in punting, respectively.)

Jordan Stout’s Penn State performance

Given the trajectory of his Penn State career, Stout said he wasn’t surprised by his versatility. Handling long field goals and kickoffs as a redshirt sophomore transfer from Virginia Tech in 2019, Stout became a captain in 2020, adding punting to his responsibilities.

Embracing the added role, Stout said he learned quickly that punting was an avenue in which he could excel.

“I knew how hard I worked this past offseason on punting, specifically,” Stout said. “I wish I could have found that balance for field goals and punting. But I knew going into the season that I was going to be very good at punting. 

“You can tell by practice. Every day I practiced, it was good. I had seen a lot of improvements from last year and I wasn’t worried a bit.”

The numbers backed up Stout’s assertion.

Finishing the year with 62 punts for 2,886 yards, Stout averaged 46.5 yards per attempt. Only three of his 62 punts went for touchbacks, while 26 went for a fair catch, 25 went for 50-or-more yards, and a striking 34 were downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. 

“I think one of my strengths is directional punting,” Stout said. “Compared to 2020, I think I was 38 win percentage. A win is putting the ball outside the hash. This year, I was 91 percent. 

“I improved a lot and teams see that, and I think they agree with me for the most part. I am better at going directional right than I am left, but that’s because, as a righty punter, the ball goes up, it turns clockwise, so it drifts off right.”

Senior Bowl shine

Last month, Stout put that ability on full display for NFL scouts and front office personnel at the Senior Bowl. 

Landing four punts on the afternoon in Mobile, Ala., Stout averaged 49.5 yards per attempt, went over 50 yards on three of them, and put two inside the 20. 

Considering the blustery conditions, Stout was particularly pleased with how the day – and week – were undeniable successes.

“The game itself was very, very windy and people don’t realize that. I had a great day and I think that’s something that they see,” Stout said. “For example, Buffalo, the Bears, they’re seeing I’m playing in 45, 50-degree weather with 30-mile per hour winds and I’m turning the ball over. It shows a lot. 

“And also, that whole week it was raining. The only day I punted, it was actually like 30-mile per hour winds and it was pouring rain. So to be able to do well in that situation is really cool.”

Next steps toward the NFL

Carrying the same mentality into his NFL Combine performance, Stout said he drew on the encouragement of former Penn State teammate and current NFL starting punter, Blake Gillikin.

“He just told me to come out here and do what I’m capable of. And he told me that, at the Combine specifically, a lot of guys fall apart,” Stout said. “He said he knows what I’m capable of, that I’m not going to do that, and I went in and did really well.”

Using his Penn State career and post-season performances as a showcase for his talents, Stout now hopes to parlay them into an NFL opportunity.

Planning to spend the NFL Draft weekend with his friends and family in Nashville, Stout said he’s looking forward to what’s next. 

“It’s gonna be a blessing,” he said. “God-willing, I get drafted. That is gonna be a great day.”