Jeff Locke (American football)

Last updated

Jeff Locke
Jeff Locke (American football).JPG
Locke with the Minnesota Vikings in 2015
No. 12, 18, 2
Position: Punter
Personal information
Born: (1989-09-27) September 27, 1989 (age 34)
Frankfurt, West Germany
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:194 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Mountain Ridge
(Glendale, Arizona)
College: UCLA
NFL draft: 2013  / Round: 5 / Pick: 155
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Punts:317
Punting yards:13,757
Punt average:43.4
Longest punt:72
Inside 20:112
Player stats at PFR

Jeffrey Ryan Locke (born September 27, 1989) is a former American football punter. He played college football at UCLA, and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft.

Contents

Early life

Locke attended Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale, Arizona, where he played football as a punter, kicker, and wide receiver. As a senior, Locke averaged 43.6 yards on 38 punts with 10 inside the 20-yard line, kicked 47 touchbacks on 54 kickoffs, converted 29 of 32 extra point attempts, and made 11 of 20 field goals. He set school records for most field goals in a season (11), longest punt (71 yards), and longest field goal (63 yards, a state record). [1] For his efforts, Locke was ranked No. 1 kicker by ESPN.com and No. 1 nationally at punter by scout.com.

College career

Locke punting at the Rose Bowl in 2010. Jefflockeucla.jpg
Locke punting at the Rose Bowl in 2010.

Locke attended the University of California, Los Angeles and played for the UCLA Bruins football team from 2008 to 2012. He did not see action in his first year but later became UCLA's starting punter and kickoff specialist for four seasons. He made 53 career starts with a punting average of 44.23, No. 2 in UCLA history. Locke also had a 42.54% touchback rate on kickoffs. In 2011, Locke took over for field goal and extra point duties in a few games following an injury to UCLA's starting placekicker. He went 2–3 on field goals, connecting from 49 and 51 as well as converting 6 of 9 extra point attempts. In his senior year, Locke was named first-team All-Pac-12, earned first-team all-conference academic team honors, selected to play in the Senior Bowl college all-star game, and earned the Captain's Award.

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

Locke signing autographs at the Vikings' training camp in 2014 with placekicker Blair Walsh. Locke Signing Autographs.jpg
Locke signing autographs at the Vikings' training camp in 2014 with placekicker Blair Walsh.

Following a successful collegiate career, Locke was drafted in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. [2] This made Locke the highest-picked punter in franchise history. NFL senior analyst Gil Brandt said that Locke, a left-footed punter, "is every bit as good as Bryan Anger," the punter selected in the third round by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2012 NFL draft. [3] Locke was also noted for his kickoff abilities, having led the NCAA in touchbacks his senior year.

After competing with the Vikings' then current punter, veteran Chris Kluwe (8 seasons), Locke earned the starting job as Kluwe was released on May 6, 2013. [4] It is speculated that this move was made in order to make more room for the salary cap, as Kluwe was due 1.45 million in 2013. For the start of his rookie season, Locke wore number 12 until Week 5 when the Vikings signed quarterback Josh Freeman. Locke agreed to give his number 12 to Freeman and switched to number 18 and wore it for the next three seasons.

Indianapolis Colts

On March 10, 2017, Locke signed with the Indianapolis Colts. [5] On August 28, 2017, Locke was released by the Colts after losing the starting job to rookie Rigoberto Sanchez. [6]

Detroit Lions

On September 12, 2017, Locke signed with the Detroit Lions after an injury to Kasey Redfern, who was signed to replace Sam Martin. [7] On October 24, 2017, Locke was released by the Lions after Martin returned to practice . [8]

San Francisco 49ers

On March 12, 2018, Locke signed with the San Francisco 49ers. [9] He was released on August 31, 2018. [10]

Arizona Hotshots

On January 20, 2019, Locke signed with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football. [11] The league ceased operations in April 2019. [12]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamPunting
GPPuntsYdsNet YdsLngAvgNet AvgBlkIns20TB
2013 MIN 16753,3162,9386544.239.20233
2014 MIN 16753,3182,9436244.238.71216
2015 MIN 16662,7462,4946141.637.80235
2016 MIN 16743,1552,8867242.639.00343
2017 DET 5271,2221,1405445.342.20110
Career6931713,75712,4017243.439.0111217

Playoffs

YearTeamPunting
GPPuntsYdsNet YdsLngAvgNet AvgBlkIns20TB
2015 MIN 151721624734.432.4010
Career151721624734.432.4010

Personal life

Locke "got hooked on punting" after attending a camp run by former NFL punter Ray Guy when he was in high school. [13] He listed former NFL punter Daniel Sepulveda as one of the players he most admired.

Locke graduated from UCLA with a grade-point average of 3.885 and a bachelor's degree in economics. While at school, he spent some of his time researching athletic scholarships and helped his teammates set up personal budgets. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Rossum</span> American football player (born 1975)

Allen Bonshaca Lamont Rossum is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. He was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1998 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Punter (gridiron football)</span> Gridiron football special teams position

A punter (P) in gridiron football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts (kicks) the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a third down in Canadian football. Punters may also occasionally take part in fake punts in those same situations, when they throw or run the football instead of punting.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Kluwe</span> American football player and writer (born 1981)

Christopher James Kluwe is a former American football punter and writer. Kluwe played at Los Alamitos High School in Los Alamitos, California, where he was a 1999 USA Today High School All-American, and then attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college football for the UCLA Bruins. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2005 and played professionally in the National Football League for the Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and Oakland Raiders.

Nathaniel DeWayne Vasher is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He was an All-American for the Texas Longhorns where he played college football for four seasons. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL draft and with them became a Pro Bowler and played in Super Bowl XLI. He was also a member of the San Diego Chargers and Detroit Lions.

José Antonio Cortez is a former American football placekicker. He played for 10 National Football League (NFL) teams, as well as short stints in NFL Europe, the XFL, and the Arena Football League (AFL). His longest stints were two season stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Oregon State University. He is the first Salvadoran to play in the National Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Berger</span> Canadian gridiron football player (born 1972)

Mitchell Shannon Berger is a Canadian former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Colorado Buffaloes and was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL draft.

Hayden Scott Epstein is an American former football placekicker and punter who played college football for the Michigan Wolverines from 1998 to 2001 and played professional football in the National Football League (NFL), NFL Europe, and the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Robbie Martin is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver and kick returner in the National Football League (NFL). Martin was selected out of California Polytechnic State University by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 1981 NFL draft. He played for the Detroit Lions from 1981–1984 and the Indianapolis Colts from 1985-1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ricky Schmitt</span> American gridiron football player (born 1985)

Ricky William Schmitt is a former gridiron football punter and place kicker. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Shepherd University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2003 Detroit Lions season</span> NFL team season

The 2003 season was the Detroit Lions' 74th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 70th as the Detroit Lions, and their first under head coach Steve Mariucci. The team improved upon their 3–13 record from the previous season but missed the postseason for the fourth consecutive season and finished last in their division for the third straight season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddie Johnson (punter)</span> American football player (born 1981)

Edward Lynn Johnson is an American former professional football punter. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL draft. He played college football at Idaho State.

Travis Baltz is a former American football punter. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at Maryland.

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

Thomas James Morstead is an American football punter for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. Morstead has also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.

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

Blair Richard Walsh is an American former 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.

Ryan Andrew Quigley is a former American football punter. He was signed by the Chicago Bears after going undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College.

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

Brett Maher is an American professional football placekicker who is a free agent. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat O'Donnell</span> American football player (born 1991)

Patrick Michael O'Donnell is an American football punter who is a free agent. He played college football at Cincinnati and Miami before being selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Kendricks</span> American football player (born 1992)

Eric-Nathan Marvin Kendricks is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins. As a senior in 2014, he won the Butkus Award as the nation's top collegiate linebacker. Kendricks was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft and later played for the Los Angeles Chargers.

References

  1. Jeff Locke Bio – UCLA Official Athletic Site
  2. UCLA punter Jeff Locke taken by Vikings in fifth round of draft – Los Angeles Times
  3. Brandt, Gil (March 14, 2013). "UCLA's Jonathan Franklin has outstanding pro day". NFL.com. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  4. Seifert, Kevin (May 6, 2013). "Chris Kluwe cut by Vikings". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  5. Bowen, Kevin (March 10, 2017). "Meet Pat McAfee's Replacement: New Colts Punter Jeff Locke". Colts.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2017.
  6. "Roster Move: Indianapolis Colts Release P-Jeff Locke". Colts.com. August 28, 2017. Archived from the original on October 30, 2017.
  7. "Lions sign P Jeff Locke and T Emmett Cleary". DetroitLions.com. September 12, 2017. Archived from the original on June 24, 2018.
  8. Alper, Josh (October 24, 2017). "Lions release Jeff Locke". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  9. "49ers Announce a Pair of Roster Moves". 49ers.com. March 12, 2018. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  10. "49ers Trade for OL Shon Coleman, Cut 12 Players". 49ers.com. August 31, 2018.
  11. "Arizona Hotshots Daily Update: Tuesday, January 22, 2019". Our Sports Central. January 22, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  12. Rothstein, Michael; Wickersham, Seth (June 13, 2019). "Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football". ESPN.com . Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  13. Jeff Locke [@jefflocke18] (August 8, 2015). "The one and only Ray Guy! Got hooked on punting after attending a camp he ran in HS" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  14. Goessling, Ben (May 23, 2013). "Minnesota Vikings' new punter Jeff Locke a social crusader in his own right". Twin Cities. Minneapolis: Twin Cities Sports. Retrieved December 16, 2015.