Tag: Jay Bramblett

Brian Kelly says LSU will use two punters vs. USC

LSU is set to use two punters vs. USC, per Brian Kelly.

Position battles take center stage in fall camp, but LSU’s most contested battle has flown under the radar. The punter position.

With kickoff just two days away, LSU hasn’t settled on one. [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said the Tigers plan to use two punters.

A few weeks ago, Kelly said they were looking for more consistency from that spot.

LSU didn’t have to punt much last year, but [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag] was effective when he was needed. Bramblett was one of the SEC’s top punters over the last two years and was a critical part of LSU’s 2022 win over Alabama.

Kelly said LSU believes it has “two talented punters” that can both impact the game.

Ochsendorf is a rugby punter, which gives LSU a different look at the position. [autotag]Peyton Todd[/autotag] will take on the more traditional punts.

Todd is entering his fourth year with LSU and has yet to make a punt, but he’s worked as LSU’s holder on field goals. [autotag]Blake Ochsendorf[/autotag] arrives after posting an All-Conference USA season at Louisiana Tech last year.

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LSU will hope to keep its punters off the field, but they’ll be needed at some point. LSU doesn’t need an all-conference player at the position, but it needs to avoid costly mistakes that lose the field position battle.

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LSU lands Louisiana Tech punter Blake Ochsendorf in transfer portal

The Tigers have seemingly found their replacement for Jay Bramblett in the seventh-year transfer punter.

LSU seems to have found its successor for punter [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag].

On Monday, the Tigers added Louisiana Tech punter [autotag]Blake Ochsendorf[/autotag] via the transfer portal. A native of Savage, Minnesota, who is entering his seventh season of college football, Ochsendorf began his career at Minnesota State University Moorhead before transferring to Eastern Michigan.

After not appearing in any games in his three seasons with the Eagles, he joined the Bulldogs in Ruston, where he became one of the top punters in Conference USA this season. His 45.72 punt average led the league and ranked 16th nationally.

That mark also set a program record for the all-time career lead at Louisiana Tech (minimum of 50 punts).

Ochsendorf is a solid replacement for Bramblett, who followed [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] from Notre Dame. Bramblett ranks fourth in LSU history for career punting average despite seeing very limited action due to how explosive the offense was the last two seasons.

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LSU punter Jay Bramblett ties FBS record for games played

LSU’s Jay Bramblett tied an FBS record for game played in the ReliaQuest Bowl

After playing in the ReliaQuest Bowl on Monday, LSU punter [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag] tied an FBS record for games played.

Bramblett began his career at Notre Dame in 2019, where he appeared in 13 games as a freshman. He held the punter job for the next two years before following [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] to LSU in 2022.

In his career at LSU, Bramblett put 27 punts inside the opposing team’s 20-yard line. Given how good LSU’s offense was in 2023, not much was asked of Bramblett this fall, but LSU’s punting unit was the best in the SEC at preventing return yards, with a total of -1 on the year.

In his career, Bramblett has 232 punts for 9,819 yards. At LSU, he averaged 43.3 yards per punt, better than the 41.9 he averaged at Notre Dame.

Bramblett’s career game came against Alabama in 2022, when he put three punts inside the Alabama 15, allowing LSU to take an early lead while the defense held Bama scoreless.

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Alabama transfer Aaron Anderson to return kicks and punts, other special teams notes from Brian Kelly

It’s no secret that LSU was held back by its special teams in 2022.

You didn’t have to watch much LSU football last fall to gather that execution on special teams was a limiting factor.

Those issues reared their head early and often as the Tigers lost in Week 1 against Florida State as the result of a blocked extra point in the final seconds.

After a coaching change (coordinator [autotag]Bill Polian[/autotag] was replaced with [autotag]John Jancek[/autotag], though [autotag]Bob Diaco[/autotag] is currently filling the role), LSU hopes it has those issues fixed in 2023.

Kelly addressed the special teams on Tuesday, announcing that speedy Alabama transfer [autotag]Aaron Anderson[/autotag] will return kicks and punts. True freshman running back [autotag]Kaleb Jackson[/autotag] will be the off-ball returner.

Coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] said avoiding miscues will be key for the returners this fall.

“They’ve got to field the ball, they’ve got to be able to do the little things the right way,” Kelly said Monday.

Kelly had positive things to say about the unit in general. Placekicker [autotag]Damian Ramos[/autotag] has apparently had a good camp and seems likely to hold on to his starting spot again. Punter [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag], who was named to the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award, also received praise.

“We think special teams should and can be a positive for us and influence games,” Kelly said.

If that ultimately proves to be the case, it would be a major boon for an LSU team that was held back by shoddy special teams play in an overall good campaign last fall.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 38 Peyton Todd

Peyton Todd served as the backup punter and holder behind Jay Bramblett last fall.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

LSU likely already knows who its starting punter will be in [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag], last year’s starter. However, we’re looking at the other player in that mix in redshirt sophomore [autotag]Peyton Todd[/autotag]. The backup punter and holder last season, Todd didn’t attempt any punts but appeared in one game, holding a PAT against Purdue in the Citrus Bowl.

Peyton Todd Preseason Player Profile

LSU punter Jay Bramblett named to Ray Guy Award watch list

Jay Bramblett ranked second in the SEC and 11th nationally in punting average last fall.

LSU’s inconsistencies on special teams last season were well documented, but punter [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag] was one of the most reliable members of that unit.

The Notre Dame transfer followed coach [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] to Baton Rouge, and he was the primary punter in all 14 games last fall. Now, he’s been named to the preseason watch list for the Ray Guy Award entering the 2023 season.

Bramblett, a native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, has a career punting average of 44.2 yards, and he averaged 44.55 yards per punt in 2022. That mark was the seventh best in school history, and it ranked second in the SEC and 11th nationally.

The 2023 season will mark Bramblett’s fifth and final season of eligibility after he started for three seasons with the Fighting Irish.

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2023 LSU Tigers Snapshot Profile: No. 19 Jay Bramblett

Bramblett looks to be one of the nation’s top punters in 2023.

Going into the 2023 football season, LSU Wire will be looking at each player listed on the Tigers’ roster.

Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for Brian Kelly this season.

It’s time to show some love to the specialists, and we’re taking a look at LSU’s starting punter in [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag]. He followed Kelly after a multi-year starting career at Notre Dame, and he held down the job all year in 2022. He looks to do so once again in 2023.

Jay Bramblett Preseason Player Profile

Hometown: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Ht: 6-2

Wt: 202

247Sports Composite Ranking

Three Stars | No. 59 in Alabama | No. 1 Punter

Class in 2022: Senior

Career Stats

Year G Punts Yards Average Touchbacks
2019 (Notre Dame) 13 63 2485 39.4 2
2020 (Notre Dame) 11 43 1839 42.8 1
2021 (Notre Dame) 13 58 2502 43.1 3
2022 14 49 2181 44.5 1

Depth Chart Overview

Bramblett was the nation’s best punter coming out of high school in Tuscaloosa while also playing quarterback, but instead of signing with the nearby Alabama Crimson Tide, he chose Kelly and the Fighting Irish.

He became the starting punter at Notre Dame during his true freshman season, and he would improve as the starter over three seasons. His best season came this past fall when he finished with a 43.1-yard average on 58 punts. He had 11 boots of 50+ yards including a career-long 72-yarder.

Bramblett ultimately played in all 14 games last fall as the team’s starting punter, finishing with a career-best 44.5 yards per boot. That mark ranked seventh in LSU history and fourth in the SEC, as well as top 20 nationally. He had 18 punts downed inside the 20.

He looks to be one of the nation’s top punters entering the season.

Jay Bramblett’s Photo Gallery

LSU punter Jay Bramblett makes his decision for 2023

The Tigers will get a key special teams piece back in 2023.

LSU will be getting a key piece back on special teams as punter [autotag]Jay Bramblett[/autotag], who followed [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] from Notre Dame this season, announced he would not declare for the 2023 NFL draft and will return in 2023.

Bramblett was one of the best players on the field for LSU this season. In the win against Auburn early in the season, the offense couldn’t muster much offense at all. That game was controlled by field position. Every chance Bramblett had to flip the field, he succeeded.

Special teams struggled for the Tigers in multiple ways this year, but Bramblett was not the issue. Thankfully for LSU, he has decided to come back to Baton Rouge for another season under Kelly.

Bramblett averaged 44.5 yards per punt in 2022. A lot of people overlook special teams, but it is imperative that you have a reliable kicker and punter for when it matters most. That’s one less position Kelly and his staff will have to worry about as they prepare for the 2023 season.

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Former Notre Dame punter Bramblett finds his new home with a familiar face

This is a reunion that was unexpected

Every year it seems that special teams never gets it’s true justice. Kickers and punters play a huge role in the outcome of a game, the Irish know that. For the past three season, punter Jay Bramblett has played a significant role on the Irish football team.

This off-season, he decided to move on and today he chose his new destination. Bramblett will follow his former coach, Brian Kelly, and head south to play for LSU. The now former Irish punter heads back to his original area, Bramblett is from Tuscaloosa, Alabama and will most likely finish his collegiate career playing for only one head coach, Kelly.

Notre Dame makes roster addition through transfer portal

Notre Dame adds Harvard grad-transfer

Notre Dame won’t be just handing over their punter duties to freshman Bryce McPherson after Jay Bramblett‘s departure for LSU.  McPherson will have competition for the role in 2022 by graduate-transfer Jon Sot of Harvard.

Sot will graduate from Harvard this spring and then transfer to Notre Dame for the 2022 season.  He was voted first-team all Ivy League in 2018 and 2019.

Sot averaged 39.7 yards per punt this past season with a long of 67 yards.  He shared the following statement on Twitter upon announcing his decision to attend Notre Dame:

“I would like to thank my teammates, coaches, and the Harvard community for a great 4 years and 3 seasons in Crimson.

I am so fortunate to have been pushed to my full potential day in and day out, and to have developed relationships with some of the most gifted people in the world.

After graduating Harvard University this May, I will be attending the University of Notre Dame as a graduate student transfer for my last season of college football, I can’t wait to get to South Bend and chase a National Championship. All glory is and always will be to God. Go Irish!”

Related:

Notre Dame transfer portal tracker (2022)