Blake Grupe

Last updated

Blake Grupe
No. 19 – New Orleans Saints
Position: Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1998-11-05) November 5, 1998 (age 26)
Sedalia, Missouri, U.S.
Height:5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Weight:156 lb (71 kg)
Career information
High school: Smith-Cotton
(Sedalia, Missouri)
College: Arkansas State (2017–2021)
Notre Dame (2022)
Undrafted: 2023
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • First-team All-Sun Belt (2019)
  • Second-team All-Sun Belt (2021)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024
Field goals attempted:68
Field goals made:57
Longest field goal:57
Extra points attempted:73
Extra points made:71
Points scored:242
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Blake Grupe GROOP-ee; [1] (born November 5, 1998) is an American professional football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Blake Grupe was born on November 5, 1998. [2] He attended Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Missouri, and was a three-sport athlete, playing soccer, baseball and football, although he did not begin playing football until his sophomore year. [3] As a senior, he was named all-state in both football and soccer, setting the school's records for single-season and career field goals made. [3] He committed to play college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves. [4]

College career

As a true freshman at Arkansas State in 2017, Grupe redshirted. [3] The following year, he earned the starting placekicking job in week three and finished the season having converted 14-of-21 attempts, placing seventh in the Sun Belt Conference. [3] In 2019, Grupe made 19-of-22 field goal attempts and was named first-team all-conference as well as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as best placekicker nationally; his 110 total points scored set a school record for kickers and was second-best in the conference, additionally being the 13th-best total in the United States. [5] [6]

In 2020, Grupe went 11-of-18 on field goals and made 43 extra points. [6] [7] In his final year at Arkansas State, 2021, he made 20-of-25 field goals and all but one of his 32 extra point attempts. [8] He holds several school records, including career extra points made (162), career field goals made (64) and career points scored (354). [9] Grupe transferred to Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility in 2022. [10] He went 14-of-19 on field goals and made all 49 of his extra point attempts in his lone year with the team. [11]

College statistics

YearTeamGPOverall FGsPATsTotal points
LngFGAFGMPctXPAXPMPct
2017 Arkansas State 0DNP
2018 Arkansas State 1147211466.7383592.177
2019 Arkansas State 1346221986.4545398.1110
2020 Arkansas State 1142181161.1454395.676
2021 Arkansas State 1250252080.0323196.991
2022 Notre Dame 1347191473.74949100.091
Career 60501057874.321821196.8445

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span
5 ft 6+7⁄8 in
(1.70 m)		152 lb
(69 kg)		27+3⁄4 in
(0.70 m)		8+5⁄8 in
(0.22 m)
All values from Pro Day [12]

After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Grupe was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. [13] In the first preseason game, he made the game-winning field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs. [14] He competed with veteran Wil Lutz for a spot on the team and won the position battle. [15] [16] [17]

In Week 3 of the 2023 season, Grupe missed a 46-yard go-ahead field goal against the Green Bay Packers, resulting in a Saints loss. [18] In Week 5, Grupe was named National Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week after completing four extra points, two 50+ yard field goals, and recording five touchbacks on seven kickoffs in a 34–0 win over the New England Patriots. [19] As a rookie, he converted all 40 extra point attempts and 30 of 37 field goal attempts. [20] In the 2024 season, Grupe converted 31 of 33 extra point attempts and 27 of 31 field goal attempts. [21]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high
GeneralField goalsPATsKickoffsPoints
SeasonTeamGPFGMFGAFG%BlckLongXPMXPAXP%KOAvgTBsPts
2023 NO 17303781.10554040100916476130
2024 NO 17273187.1057313393.97863.821112
Total 34576883.8057717397.316963.997242

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Gramatica</span> Argentine-born gridiron football player (born 1975)

Martin Gramatica is an Argentine former player of American football who was a kicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Indianapolis Colts, the Dallas Cowboys and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the Kansas State Wildcats winning the Lou Groza Award and twice earning All-American honors. He was selected by the Buccaneers in the third round of the 1999 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Carney (American football)</span> American football player (born 1964)

John Michael Carney is an American former professional football player who was a kicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1987.

Russell Erxleben is an American former professional football player and investor. A highly decorated college kicker for the University of Texas, Erxleben was a three-time All-American punter and set the record for the longest successful field goal in NCAA history at 67 yards, which is still tied today. He was unexpectedly selected by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 1979 NFL draft as a combination kicker and punter, where he remains the highest drafted punter and the second highest kicker in NFL history. Erxleben only spent six years in the NFL and was widely described as one of the Saints' biggest draft busts. He later became a currency investor, and was convicted of securities fraud in 1999. Although he was released in 2005, he was once again convicted of investment fraud in 2014 and sentenced to 90 months in federal prison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Garrett Hartley</span> American football player (born 1986)

Garrett Hartley is an American former professional football placekicker. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Later that year he became the placekicker for the New Orleans Saints, for whom he set an NFL record for most consecutive successful field goals to start a career, and then became the first kicker in NFL history to convert three field goals of more than 40 yards in the Super Bowl. The Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, beating the Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at Oklahoma.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Folk</span> American football player (born 1984)

Nicholas Alexander Folk is an American professional football placekicker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats, where he received first-team All-Pacific-10 honors, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft. Folk was named to the 2008 Pro Bowl as a rookie with the Cowboys before playing his next seven seasons with the New York Jets and becoming the franchise's second-leading scorer. Following an unsuccessful stint on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Folk spent a year away from football before pursuing a comeback in 2019 with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). Folk returned to the NFL the same year as a member of the New England Patriots and led the league in scoring during the 2021 season. He joined the Titans in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Connor Barth</span> American football player (born 1986)

Connor Thomas Barth is an American former professional football placekicker who played ten seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at North Carolina and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dustin Hopkins</span> American football player (born 1990)

Dustin Hopkins is an American professional football placekicker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kai Forbath</span> American football player (born 1987)

Kai August Forbath is an American former professional football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning consensus All-American honors and winning the Lou Groza Award in 2009. He played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams.

James Patrick "Happy" Feller is an American former professional football player who was a kicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas Longhorns, earning All-American honors in 1970. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1971 NFL draft and played for one season for the team. He played for two seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blair Walsh</span> American football player (born 1990)

Blair Richard Walsh is an American former professional football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for six seasons, primarily with the Minnesota Vikings. Walsh played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected by the Vikings in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caleb Sturgis</span> American football player (born 1989)

Caleb James Sturgis is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Gators, setting team records for field goals completed in a season and a career, and was recognized as a first-team All-American. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Maher (gridiron football)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Brett Maher is an American professional football placekicker. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Since turning professional in 2013, Maher has been a member of nine different National Football League (NFL) teams, and three Canadian Football League (CFL) teams.

Kyle Brindza is an American former professional football placekicker. He played college football at Notre Dame. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in 2015 and was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played for one season.

William Lutz is an American professional football placekicker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia State Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brandon Aubrey</span> American football and soccer player (born 1995)

Brandon Aubrey is an American multi-sport athlete who plays as a placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He has played professional soccer as a center back.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Joseph</span> South African gridiron football player (born 1994)

Greg Joseph is a South African professional American football placekicker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Atlantic Owls and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Joseph has also been a member of several other NFL teams, most notably with the Minnesota Vikings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Seibert</span> American football player (born 1996)

Austin Seibert is an American professional football placekicker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners, where he was named the 2018 Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year, and was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Seibert has also been a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, New York Jets, and New Orleans Saints. He holds the Commanders' franchise record for field goals made in a game with seven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cole Tracy</span> American football player (born 1996)

Cole Tracy is a former American football placekicker. He played college football for Assumption and LSU, and was named second-team All-American in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Reichard</span> American football player (born 2001)

Will Reichard is an American professional football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he became the all-time NCAA Division I FBS scoring leader.

Spencer Shrader is an American professional football placekicker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Florida Bulls and Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

References

  1. ↑ "Blake Grupe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Blake Grupe". ESPN.com . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Daeschner, Trenton (October 4, 2019). "Grupe thriving after challenge". Arkansas Democrat-Gazette . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  4. ↑ Kirby, Randy (February 1, 2017). "Two Smith-Cotton Seniors Sign to Play College Football". KSIS . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Arkansas State kicker Blake Grupe on Groza Award watch list". KAIT . July 22, 2020. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Blake Grupe". Arkansas State Red Wolves . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  7. ↑ Loy, Tom (January 13, 2022). "Graduate Transfer Kicker Commits to Notre Dame". 247Sports . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  8. ↑ Farmer, Douglas (May 11, 2022). "Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 99 Blake Grupe, kicker, Arkansas State transfer". NBC Sports . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Blake Grupe". New Orleans Saints . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  10. ↑ Nole, Tom (February 1, 2022). "K Grupe will fill big shoes for Notre Dame". The Indianapolis Star . p. B5 – via Newspapers.com. Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg
  11. ↑ Sigler, John (June 6, 2023). "Saints believe a legitimate kicker competition is brewing ahead of training camp". Saints Wire. USA Today . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  12. ↑ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Blake Grupe College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
  13. ↑ Sanders, Dylan (April 29, 2023). "New Orleans Saints sign undrafted Notre Dame kicker Blake Grupe". Saints Wire. USA Today . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Former Arkansas State kicker Blake Grupe boots game-winner for Saints in Week 1 of NFL Preseason". KAIT . Associated Press. August 13, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  15. ↑ DeShazier, John (August 29, 2023). "Rookie kicker Blake Grupe remains poised, makes New Orleans Saints' 53-man roster". NewOrleansSaints.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Wil Lutz or Blake Grupe? Here's Jeff Duncan's verdict on Saints kicker battle". NOLA.com . August 28, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  17. ↑ Mackel, Fletcher (August 29, 2023). "Report: Broncos trade for Saints kicker Wil Lutz, rookie Blake Grupe wins job for Black & Gold". WDSU . Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  18. ↑ Johnson, Luke (September 24, 2023). "Saints Blake Grupe on his 4th quarter miss: 'Guys did their job. I've got to be better'". NOLA.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  19. ↑ Gordon, Grant (October 11, 2023). "Bears WR D.J. Moore, Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Blake Grupe 2023 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 8, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Blake Grupe 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.