The G.O.A.T. speaks: Adam Korsak weighs in on Flynn Appleby’s first season punting with Rutgers

Flynn Appleby impressed Adam Korsak this past season.

Adam Korsak saw a lot of growth from Flynn Appleby this past fall, the former Rutgers standout noting that the punter who replaced him put together a strong season.

Korsak completed a strong first season in the CFL this summer and fall with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, averaging 47.6 yards per punt.

And for Appleby, he certainly faced no easy task this fall in taking over for a player in Korsak who was arguably the best to ever play for Rutgers. As a senior in 2022, Korsak won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter. He was also a finalist for the award in 2021.

It was quite the solid first season punting for Appleby, who was a redshirt two years ago while he learned the game. A former Aussie Rules standout, Appleby’s transition to college football was made easier by the presence of Korsak in 2022.

Korsak helped guide his fellow countryman’s redshirt season and it paid off for Rutgers this past fall when Appleby took over.

“Flynn is a tremendous person and talent. He will always chase excellence and will benefit greatly from all the experience he is getting,” Korsak told Rutgers Wire.

“The 75-yard punt he had against Michigan early in the game is a glimpse of how effective he can be.”

The mentorship didn’t end, however, following Korsak’s senior year at Rutgers.

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Korsak was with Rutgers for the second-part of the season, serving as an unofficial coach on the Scarlet Knights’ staff. In this capacity, he was a practice nearly every day, working with the specialists and being around the team.

“We both are Australian punters with similar styles and in similar schemes at Rutgers, which to be fair is unique in regard to traditional notions of punting,” Korsak said

“I was able to share my experience of five years punting in it and tried to guide him throughout the year and especially into the next season as he gears up for his second year.”

Appleby finished his first season at Rutgers with 39.6 yards per punt. In the Pinstripe Bowl win over Miami, two of Appleby’s three punts landed inside the 20-yard line.

Following the Pinstripe Bowl, Korsak went back to Australia. He will continue to train and work out as well as spend time with his family.

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He learned a love for coaching, something he hopes to one day pursue.

But one day is not here, yet.

“I definitely enjoy being involved in sports and especially at Rutgers football,” Korsak said.

“I think I have an ability to equip and inspire others but I will play as long as I can.”

Adam Korsak talks about his first CFL season, taking on an unofficial coaching role with Rutgers football

Adam Korsak took on a unique role with Rutgers football after his CFL season.

Adam Korsak may be coming off a stellar season in the CFL, but the former All-Big Ten punter is fully invested with Rutgers football. Following an eye-opening first season as a professional, Korsak was back in Piscataway this fall where he took on a mentorship role with his former team.

As a senior in 2022, Korsak became the first Rutgers football player to win a national honor with the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top punter. It was a surprise that Korsak wasn’t signed by an NFL team, but he certainly proved himself in the CFL.

He left the program as one of the most accomplished contributors in Rutgers football history, regardless of position.

Korsak completed a strong first season in the CFL this summer and fall with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, averaging 47.6 yards per punt. Once the season ended in mid-October, Korsak was almost immediately back at Rutgers and making his presence felt within the team.

The role with Rutgers, not official by any stretch, saw Korsak volunteer his time at practice and on game day to help Flynn Appleby’s first year as the team’s punter. Appleby, an Australian like Korsak, was a redshirt in 2022 before taking over for Korsak this fall.

“I tried and help the Australian punter, Flynn Appleby and just enjoy being around the program and in the community as much as possible,” Korsak told Rutgers Wire.

“I first got to Rutgers in 2017 and it feels like home to me and glad I was welcome back.

“We both are Australian punters with similar styles and in similar schemes at Rutgers which to be fair is unique in regard to traditional notions of punting. I was able to share my experience of five-plus years punting in it and tried to guide him throughout the year especially into next season as he gears up for his second year.”

The unofficial coaching role was an exhausting schedule and went far beyond merely being a presence around the team. Korsak would roll into the Hale Center early in the morning.

From there, it was a grind.

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Arriving even before many of the coaches, Korsak would get a workout in and have breakfast with the current Rutgers football team. From there, he’d watch film with the specialists and then would attend practice where he would mentor and work with Appleby.

Then it was more film, this time with the coaching staff and then finally with Appleby. When Appleby then went off to class, Korsak was then free.

He was at nearly every practice and game following the end of his CFL season. During this time, he was very much glued to the hip of Appleby. At the end of the day, it was a solid first season for Appleby, who settled in nicely and was very consistent with his placement and directional punting.

Despite just coming off his first professional season, Korsak simply didn’t helicopter into practice when he felt like it. He was committed to being a part of this process for a program he very much loves.

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The role was all-encompassing and thorough.

“Just being around the program in all aspects, so in meetings and practice during the week and then on the sideline for game day, being able to work through schemes and problems that may arise and providing support,” Korsak said,

“I definitely enjoy being around sports and especially Rutgers football. I think I have an ability to equip and inspire others but I will play for as long as I can.”

Korsak had plenty of opportunities to showcase his leg. Saskatchewan lost their last seven games and struggled last year in the CFL. He punted 117 times in 18 games played.

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It was a successful first season, and one that should garner him some NFL looks. He answered a lot of questions about his ability to punt pro style after making the transition from the rugby style he employed in college at Rutgers.

He was named a West Division All-Star as a rookie.

“I really enjoyed the season up in Canada, the boys were great to be around and (I) was able to punt pro style in games and perform,” Korsak said.

“Had the ability to execute mainly pro-style punts and gain the all-star award by leading the league in punting average. Being able to showcase directional pro-style punts in professional games was very important to my development.”

Adam Korsak is up for some big CFL honors

Adam Korsak is impressing in the Canadian Football League.

A first season in the Canadian Football League is going along quite well for Adam Korsak. The former Rutgers football punter is off to a strong start to his professional career in the CFL.

Korsak, who won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter in his last season at Rutgers, has picked up where his college football career left off. He has had a good first for the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

As a rookie, he has averaged 47.9 yards per punt and had a 90-yard punt in Week 3.

His impressive performance throughout his season has seen Korsak be nominated for two pretty big awards in the CFL Not a bad start to his professional career for the former Rutgers punter:

 

At Korsak’s alma mater, things are going along well.

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Flynn Appleby, in his first season as Korsak’s replacement, is averaging a solid and steady 41.8 yards per punt.

Of his 32 punts, Appleby has landed 13 inside the 20-yard line. Only one of Appleby’s punts has been a touchback.

Previewing Kansas City’s Week 3 game vs. Bears on Chiefs Wire Podcast

On the latest episode of @TheChiefsWire podcast: @EdEastonJr’s chats w/ #CFL punter Adam Korsak, #49ers LB Jalen Graham & @TheBearsWire’s @BrendanSugrue #CHIvsKC

We’re back with an all-new episode of the Chiefs Wire podcast! This week, we’re previewing the Kansas City Chiefs Week 3 matchup with the Chicago Bears.

We check in with this past week’s press conferences featuring comments from head coach Andy Reid, cornerback Trent McDuffie, and defensive end George Karlaftis. We also flashback to Ed Easton Jr.’s NFL Draft Combine conversation with Canadian Football League punter Adam Korsak, describing his former Rutgers teammate Isiah Pacheco and San Francisco 49ers rookie linebacker Jalen Graham on his former Purdue teammate George Karlaftis.

Lastly, Bears Wire assistant editor Brendan Sugrue breaks down Chicago’s strengths heading into Sunday’s game.

Listeners can look forward to being well-informed about the Chiefs’ mindset heading back home this Sunday, Pacheco and Karlaftis’ impressive legacies left at their respective colleges, and the Bears’ improving roster.

Check out the link below to get your fill of Chiefs talk ahead of Sunday’s kickoff:

With new coaching staff additions, Greg Schiano sees the Rutgers football as getting better

Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano believes that Kirk Ciarrocca and the offensive staff will help the unit improve.

Perhaps the most important reason for Rutgers football head coach Greg Schiano to have optimism heading into this season is the experience of his coaching staff. Schiano believes that additions such as offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca will pay dividends this year.

And that additions such as Ciarrocca (as well as wide receivers coach [autotag]Dave Brock[/autotag] and offensive line coach [autotag]Pat Flahert[/autotag]y) will pay dividends for this still rebuilding team.

Even as the enormity of this rebuilding project is often lost on fans, Schiano sees the offseason additions to his staff will help turn around the offense. The Scarlet Knights haven’t had a winning season since 2014, which was also the last time they made a bowl game outright.

During that time, the Rutgers offense has consistently been bottom three in the Big Ten. Enter Ciarrocca, who comes to the Scarlet Knights after being the offensive coordinator at Minnesota.

“Well, you need to continue to develop in the offseason, which we did physically,” Schiano told the Big Ten Network this week..

“I think, you know, one of the things is the way Kurt runs the offense, it’s cumulative repetitions over and over and over again, we’re not going to, we’re gonna be doing a ton but what we do, we’re going to do well. So I think we’re going to get better. I think we have some good players that, were young and now aren’t so young. And that’s the development part. Now they’re starting to be Big Ten-level players and now they can do it.”

The addition of Ciarrocca is important for Rutgers and Schiano. The struggles of the offense last year didn’t help the program’s rebuild (although it may have helped punter [autotag]Adam Korsak[/autotag]…). Ciarrocca has been at Rutgers before, including as offensive coordinator. and has spent time as a head coach (Delaware) and at other Power Five programs (Penn State and West Virginia).

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“I’m just grateful that he’s back. You know, he’s a guy I know very well and it’s good thing because the job of head coach has changed so much in the last even year and the way our time is used,” Schiano said.

“Kirk is a senior guy,- a guy that’s can lead the room. Great teacher schematically knows what we want to do and I’m thrilled to have him back.”

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Former Rutgers punter Adam Korsak is now leading the CFL in punting

Former Rutgers football star Adam Korsak is having a strong season in the CFL so far.

Adam Korsak has had a strong first season of professional football, with this past weekend’s game in the CFL the latest example. The former Rutgers football punter put together a stat line reminiscent of his time in the Big Ten.

In his Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-31 loss to the Calgary Stampeders, Korsak had six punts for 312 yards, averaging 52 yards per punt. One of the punts landed inside the 10-yard line.

It was a strong showing from Korsak, especially on the larger CFL field, to be able to showcase his leg strength.

Through the first five weeks of the CFL season, Korsak is leading the league with an average of 50.9 yards per punt. He is averaging 37.3 net yards per punt, which is fifth-best in the CFL.

 

Korsak won the Ray Guy Award last year as the nation’s top punter (he was a finalist for the award in 2022).

He went undrafted in this spring’s NFL draft.

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Hannah Joyner & Adam Korsak earn Big Ten Medal of Honor

Adam Korsak and Hannah Joyner are honored by the Big Ten.

Over the last few years, Adam Korsak and Hannah Joyner have rewritten Rutgers record books. While their time at Piscataway has ended, they were recently honored for their achievements. The talented duo won the Big Ten Medal of Honor.

Each year the award is given to one male and one female student-athlete who have demonstrated excellence on and off the field throughout their college career. It has become an annual award for the last 109 years, and both Joyner and Korsak are more than deserving.

Joyner is arguably the most decorated gymnast to set foot in Piscataway and holds program records on the balance beam. She was the first four-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree in Rutgers gymnastics history. The Maryland native also has the school record for most 9.9+ scores. 

Like Joyner, Korsak leaves Piscataway following a career full of milestones. The Australian native was the best punter in the nation last year and finished with 32 punts inside the 20. Due to his stellar play, Korsak was selected First Team All-America by The Sporting News.

Additionally, he is the NCAA all-time leader in punting attempts (349) and yardage (15,318). During his time as a Scarlet Knight, Korsak never had a punt blocked or returned for a touchdown. However, like Joyner’s, his impact at Rutgers was also felt in the classroom.

Korsak was a member of the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for holding a GPA of at least 3.5. Joyner was named to three Academic All-Big Ten teams and two WCGA Scholastic All-America lists.

Watch: Janarion Grant’s punt return touchdown as seen from the end zone

Check out this video of Janarion Grant returning a punt 90 yards on Friday.

Janarion Grant’s 90-yard touchdown return on Friday night is still receiving buzz two days later. The former Rutgers football wide receiver and special teams ace may have pulled off the most impressive punt return in CFL history.

The play from Grant helped propel the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to a 45-27 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Grant, who broke through multiple tackles on his punt return, did so after a splendid punt from Saskatchewan’s Adam Korsak. That he did so against Korsak, a legendary player at Rutgers who won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter last year, only adds to the uniqueness of this story.

Korsak’s punt of 58 yards was tremendous, rolling nicely and appeared destined to pin the ball along the sideline. But Grant had other ideas, turning the ball against the grain and breaking seven tackles as he went towards the opposite sideline.

From there, Grant turned on the speed to complete his improbable run.

Here is a look at Grant’s touchdown run upon fielding the ball at his own 20-yard line:

 

And here is the camera angle from midfield of Grant’s impressive touchdown run:

 

Adam Korsak talks NFL rookie camp experience and new CFL opportunity

Adam Korsak talks connecting with Isiah Pacheco and his new opportunity in the CFL.

Former Rutgers football punter Adam Korsak said that his opportunity in rookie minicamp with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers will help him down the road in his professional career.

Korsak, who won the Ray Guy Award last year as college football’s top punter, signed in the CFL with the Saskatchewan Roughriders two weeks ago.

His experience with the Chiefs, he said, allowed him to connect with former Rutgers teammate Isiah Pacheco. Last season as a rookie, the seventh round pick ran for over 1,000 yards and scored a touchdown in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I was able to be with ‘Pop’ at the minicamp. He always has such great energy and I loved catching up with him again,” Korsak told Rutgers Wire.

“He is a tremendous person and deserves all the success that continues to go his way. It is obvious to me how much everyone loves him.”

Korsak surprisingly went undrafted after a season where he was the best punter in college football by a wide margin. In his final year at Rutgers, Korsak had 75 punts and averaged 44.0 yards per punt.

His Rutgers career sees him finish as the NCAA’s all-time leader in punting attempts (349) and yardage (15,318).

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Now with the CFL, Korsak said he is in a great place to learn and develop. The time with two NFL teams was beneficial in helping prepare him now for the challenge with the CFL.

“It was a great experience. Both the Chiefs and the Steelers were awesome throughout the offseason with me at various tages along the way,” Korsak said.

“I will again, continue to strive to be the best player and teammate I can be. I will always embrace opportunities as they arise.”

The Roughriders regular season opens June 11 at Edmonton.

“It is a tremendous opportunity. I have enjoyed the fellas on the team as well as the coaching staff so far,” Korsak said of signing with the CFL.

“I’m looking to do my best and be the best teammate I can be.”

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Adam Korsak talks ‘tremendous opportunity’ with the Saskatchewan Roughriders

Adam Korsak is hoping to make an impact in the CFL.

Adam Korsak signed with the Canadian Football League (CFL) last week. The former Rutgers football punter, now with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, is looking to seize this chance and platform.

The best punter in Rutgers history, Korsak may well be the best player the program has ever seen, regardless of position. Last season he won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter.

It was the first time that a Rutgers football player has ever won a national award for on-the-field performance. Korsak was a finalist for the award in 2021 as well.

Now in the CFL, Korsak is getting an opportunity to take the next step in his career.

“It is a tremendous opportunity. I have enjoyed the fellas on the team as well as the coaching staff so far,” Korsak told Rutgers Wire last week.

“I’m looking forward to doing my best and being the best teammate I can be.”

It was a bit of a surprise that the Australian punter was not selected in April’s NFL draft. Korsak did, however, participate in two NFL rookie minicamps with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

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The CFL is affording Korsak a chance to prove himself on a very big stage and continue his development from Australia, through the ranks of the Big Ten and now in professional football.

And perhaps back to the NFL someday.

“This league is a tremendous opportunity and right now I am enjoying being a Saskatchewan Roughrider,” Korsak said.

“I will do my best to help the team and any future opportunities will be handled at the appropriate time.”

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