Latest news with #WuerffelTrophy
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Who is AJ Cole? Las Vegas Raiders star becomes the highest-paid punter in NFL
The Las Vegas Raiders on Monday signed AJ Cole to a four-year, $15.8 million extension to make him the highest-paid punter in the NFL. According to Fox Sports' report, the agreement adds four seasons to the final year Cole had on his existing deal and includes $11 million guaranteed. Cole confirmed the news in a post on the social media platform X. 'Raider nation for life !!!!!" AJ Cole's post read. Born on November 27, 1995, AJ Cole grew up in College Park, Georgia. He went to Woodward Academy for high school education, where he tried his hand at all kinds of games, including football, basketball, and soccer. Cole was named All-Metro Area by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a senior. After completing high school, AJ Cole went to North Carolina State University, where he played four years as a starting punter for the Wolfpack. He finished his collegiate career in 2018 as the third-highest punting yards in school history with 9,288 yards. He was a finalist for the Wuerffel Trophy as a junior and a semifinalist for the award as a senior. The Las Vegas Raiders (then Oakland) picked AJ Cole as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and he has been a mainstay on the team ever since in the NFL. He was named to three straight Pro Bowls from 2021-23 and earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2021 and 2023. He had the longest punt of the 2023 season at 83 yards. In six seasons for the Oakland/Las Vegas franchise, Cole has appeared in 100 games and averaged 48.6 yards per punt on 374 attempts. Only 30 of those punts went for touchbacks. He's averaged at least 50 yards per punt in three of the last four seasons. As the 2025 season approaches, all the teams are locking down their key players while signing free agents to fill roster holes. The Raiders have sent a message that their punter is key to their future.
USA Today
26-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Notre Dame linebacker headed to Jacksonville Jaguars
Notre Dame linebacker headed to Jacksonville Jaguars Jack Kiser goes to the Jags in the fourth round. Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Jack Kiser is heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars after being picked fifth in the fourth round (107th overall) in the 2025 NFL draft. Kiser was a defensive leader for Notre Dame over his five seasons with the Irish, and in 2024 he compiled 90 tackles -- 55 solo -- and had two sacks. He also forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles. In 2021, he had two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns. Kiser was a finalist for both the Wuerffel Trophy and Campbell Trophy in 2024. Now Kiser has reached the NFL, becoming the third member of the 2024 Fighting Irish to be drafted. All three drafted so far have been defensive players -- Kiser joins defensive backs Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watts in the NFL. Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions. Follow Tim on X: @tehealey
