Latest news with #BigTenEddleman-FieldsPunteroftheYear
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas City Chiefs STC Dave Toub explains the decision to end the punter competition early
During Saturday's training camp press conference, Kansas City Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub shared his thoughts on sticking with Matt Araiza over Eddie Czaplicki in their punter competition. "He was ahead at the point when I talked about it last week, and then he had even a better day or two days, you know, after that," said Toub, "And then we had some injuries where we had to make a decision, just like I said, decision, just like I said, that might happen, but it forced the decision. Matt (Araiza), he's like, the champion. You've got to knock the champion out, and Eddie (Czaplicki) wasn't able to do that in the period that he was here, but I still think he's an NFL punter. I think he's going to get another chance somewhere else." Czaplicki had a net average of 45.7 yards per punt and 24 punts inside the 20 with a long of 62 while at USC. In addition to his Ray Guy Award, he was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year, and first-team All-American. "I wish I could have gotten some games just to see how he (Czaplicki) did there, but somebody else would give him a shot, and I'm sure he's going to make it somewhere. It helped Matt a lot. Competition always helps everybody, you know, somebody who has that high caliber of talent to help them in the pooch area. I think it helped develop them there. Also helped Matt develop a left punt, which he needed to do. Matt, he's in a good place right now, as you know, as long as he keeps the foot on the gas pedal right now, which he will." In his first season with the Chiefs, Araiza punted 62 times for 3027 yards during his 17 appearances in the 2024 regular season and landed 25 punts inside the 20-yard line.
USA Today
31-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
The Kansas City Chiefs make a personnel decision regarding the punter position for 2025
The battle in training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs' starting punter appears to be over after the team parted ways with its undrafted rookie free agent. According to Wednesday's NFL transactions log, the Chiefs released punter Eddie Czaplicki, opening the path for Matt Araiza to win the job ahead of the 2025 season. During last week's training camp press conference, Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub mentioned that the decision could be made soon. "That'll come down – like (General Manager Brett) Veach might hit me up, like 'Hey, you know, where are we going,' because we're always – because right now we don't have any injuries, knock (on) wood, I mean we don't have anything serious, we don't have to bring anyone in from the outside," said Toub, "As soon as that happens, you got 90 guys you got to work with, and sometimes you got to make decisions. Sometimes that issue gets pressed a little bit, but right now, we don't have to rush on it." Czaplicki won the Ray Guy Award last season as the nation's best punter for the USC Trojans. He had a net average of 45.7 yards per punt and 24 punts inside the 20 with a long of 62. In addition to his Ray Guy Award, he was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year, and first-team All-American. Araiza punted 62 times for 3027 yards during his 17 appearances in the 2024 regular season and managed to land 25 punts inside the 20-yard line.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UDFA Rumor: Former USC P Eddie Czaplicki to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs
UDFA Rumor: Former USC P Eddie Czaplicki to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs After the NFL Draft, teams sign undrafted players to their rosters ahead of offseason camps. The Kansas City Chiefs will use these moments to find the next breakout talent. The Chiefs' front office hopes for more success with former USC punter Eddie Czaplicki, who reportedly signed, announced via KPRC2's Aaron Wilson X account. Czaplicki won the Ray Guy Award last season as the nation's best punter for the Trojans. He could compete with Matt Araiza in camp, but it's not unusual for the Chiefs to bring in an extra punter during this period. Czaplicki had a net average of 45.7 yards per punt and 24 punts inside the 20 with a long of 62. In addition to his Ray Guy Award, he was named first-team All-Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year, and first-team All-American. For more Chiefs UDFA signings, follow our tracker.
