CHICAGO – Texas A&M record-setting punter Drew Kaser was selected in the sixth round (No. 179 overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft Saturday afternoon by the San Diego Chargers.
Kaser was the first punter selected in the 2016 draft, joining Shane Lechler (2000 – Oakland Raiders), Steve O’Neal (1969 – New York Jets) and Phil Scoggin (1966 – Miami Dolphins) as the only A&M punters to be drafted into the NFL. Kaser looks to join Josh Lambo to form an all-Aggie special teams package in San Diego, Lambo handled kick-off and placekicking duties for the Aggies from 2013-2014.
“Drew put in great work and determination to being one of the tops punters in college football,” Aggie head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We are proud of him being drafted by San Diego and wish him the best in a long and successful NFL career.”
The Strongsville, Ohio native, set Texas A&M’s career punt average (46.196) to eclipse Shane Lechler’s (44.7) 16-year old record. Kaser fell just shy in his pursuit of the NCAA FBS record for career punt average, averaging 46.196 yards on 168 punts to trail only Todd Sauerbrun’s record of 46.31 set while playing for West Virginia (1991-94). Kaser became just the second player in NCAA history to average more than 46.0 yards for his career (with a minimum of 150 punts).
Saturday saw the conclusion of the yearly draft, three Aggies’ names were called this weekend to mark the ninth straight draft that an Aggie was drafted. Additionally, Texas A&M has the second longest active streak of players drafted in the first round at six, Germain Ifedi was selected 31st overall by the Seattle Seahawks to extend the streak. Running back turned cornerback, Brandon Williams, was chosen in Friday’s third round by the Arizona Cardinals.
Story courtesy of Texas A&M Athletics