NFL Draft Preview: Pat O'Donnell
Miami is known to produce tons of NFL talent all over the field.
While most football fans can list dozens of players from The U who went on to become successful NFL players at a variety of positions, few realize how successful Miami’s punters have been in Coral Gables and at the NFL level.
Miami has produced four NFL punters starting with Mike Burke, who played for the Rams in 1974. While Burke was the first cane to punt in the NFL, the two punters who followed him went on to have incredibly successful careers.
Rick Tuten, who was a member of the 1983 national champions at Miami, punted for over a decade in the NFL. He made the Pro Bowl in 1994 while playing with the Seahawks and won a Super Bowl as a member of the 1999 Rams.
Jeff Feagles played for 22 seasons in the NFL, making two Pro Bowls and earning All-Pro honors in 1995. A member of the 1987 national championship team at Miami, Feagles earned a Super Bowl ring with the 2007 New York Giants.
Current Atlanta Falcons punter Matt Bosher, who was a sixth-round selection in 2011, is the only Hurricane punter to be selected in the NFL Draft. But Pat O’Donnell hopes to change that this weekend.
O’Donnell had a decorated senior season at Miami, earning All-America honors from USA TODAY Sports, Athlon Sports, and SI.com. The Lake Worth, Florida, native set Miami’s single-season record with a 47.1 yards-per-punt average that ranked second nationally. on his way to being a 2013 All-ACC selection.
A 2013 All-ACC selection, O’Donnell was named the 2013 Hurricanes Special Teams MVP. On Nov. 23, 2013, he used his strong leg to boom a 71-yard punt against Virginia, the longest of his 23 punts to travel 50+ yards this past season.
With such a strong résumé, O’Donnell was considered one of the top punters in the 2014 NFL Draft. But the standout athlete solidified himself as an elite talent at the NFL Combine.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 220 lbs., O’Donnell does not look like a typical punter. He has a chiseled frame and is packed with strength and explosiveness. He put his strength and athleticism on display at the NFL Combine, running the fastest 40-yd. dash for a kicker or punter since 2006.
O’Donnell’s time of 4.62 seconds tied former USC kicker David Buehler, who posted the time in 2009. If that wasn’t impressive enough, he performed 23 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press — more than six tight ends, 19 running backs, 21 defensive linemen and all 37 wide receivers.
Several outlets view O’Donnell as the top punter in the draft. WalterFootball.com says “O’Donnell could end up being the first punter selected” in the NFL Draft. He is the top-rated punter in this draft class by NFLDraftGeek.com and DraftCountdown.com.
Many draft experts believe O’Donnell has what it takes to be a successful NFL punter. CBSSports.com says O’Donnell is “Built like a tight end with good bulk packed on his frame. Terrific athlete as a former soccer star with gliding speed to cover a large area with the willingness to finish tackles on special teams coverage. Devoted to his craft and prepares like a pro. Long, swift leg motions to generate power from his movements to boom the ball off his foot. Handled kickoff duties at Cincinnati and Miami. Was an All-Conference player each of the last three seasons. Good experience kicking in all types of weather.”
The accolades continue with NFL.com’s Nolan Nawrocki saying O’Donnell has “Very good leg strength to drive the ball. Experienced four-year starter. Handles kickoffs and served as the holder on PATs. Dedicated to his craft and the game is important to him.”
Just 11 punters have been selected in the NFL Draft since 2009, including 2013 selections Jeff Locke and Sam Martin. O’Donnell, who won the 2013 College Football Performance Awards Punter Trophy, is in a great position to join that group this weekend. A CFPA winner has been the first specialist selected in the NFL Draft in four of the last five seasons.
