GBI Magazine

Gold and Black Illustrated, July-August 2014

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ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 24, ISSUE 6 61 f Charlotte. There, Griggs worked on his ap- proach, being more direct to the ball and ridding himself of extra movement, along with his fol- low-thru and ball striking. That should help him in mid-range, where he's shown inconsistency, hitting only 5 of 9 between 20 to 39 yards during his career. "Really all that translates to my ability to execute every kick the same way every time," Griggs said. "So whether it's a shorter kick or longer kick, it shouldn't matter. I've got a strong leg so I can make the long kicks, but on all of them it comes down to execution and be- ing able to do it on time." The same ap- plies for Mead- ows. Although he showed in the spring to have a powerful, and generally accu- rate, leg for field goal kicking, he prioritizes the specialties. And field goals come in third, behind punting (first) and kicking off (second). "That's my order of what I want to do," he said. "But if the opportunity comes up and they want me to kick the field goals and need me to kick the field goals, I'd love to do that job. But I'm also very happy to be the holder and giving Paul the best chance he has at making a field goal. "That's my approach on that." Punting seems to be Meadows' job to lose. Hazell thought Meadows had an excellent spring, exhibiting power and ball placement that led the sec- ond-year coach to think the Maid- ens, Va., native can replace Web- ster, one of the country's best last season. In the two years he served as Webster's understudy, Meadows says he picked up knowledge from watching the former Ray Guy Award finalist's approach. And Meadows used the time to get physically stronger. "I feel extremely prepared to be the punter in all aspects, like hang time, distance, consistency, place- ment, get-off time, everything," Meadows said. "I feel prepared and ready to step into it and do some good things." But he too has competition. Mc- Gehee was recruited as a punter, SPECIALISTS Placekickers 37 Paul Griggs* 6-1 200 Jr. 26 Ian MacDougall 6-1 213 Sr. 16 Austin McGehee 6-1 200 Fr. 30 Thomas Meadows 6-1 182 Jr. Punters 16 Austin McGehee 6-1 200 Fr. 30 Thomas Meadows* 6-1 182 Jr. Long snappers 53 John Bednar 6-3 220 So. 94 Grant Ellington 6-0 205 Jr. 50 Jesse Schmitt* 6-2 250 Sr. (5) Holders 12 Austin Appleby* 6-5 229 So. 33 Danny Anthrop 6-0 190 Jr. 30 Thomas Meadows 6-1 182 Jr. Kick Return 8 Raheem Mostert* 5-11 186 Sr. 1 Akeem Hunt* 5-9 184 Sr. 83 B.J. Knauf 5-10 183 So. Punt Return 15 Trae Hart 5-11 155 Fr. 83 B.J. Knauf 5-10 183 So. 24 Frankie Williams* 5-9 186 So. * Projected starters BY THE NUMBERS 41.68 Purdue's net punting average in 2013, ranking second in the country behind BCS runner-up Alabama. 2 Kickoff returns for a touchdown, only the second time in the last 40 years Purdue has had multiple in the same season. 57.7 Percentage of field goal makes the last two seasons (15 of 26) after a three-and-a-half year span in which Carson Wiggs had hit 56 of 76 (73.7 percent), a Purdue record. 6 Consecutive games in 2013 that the Boiler- makers went without a field goal, missing all three of their attempts. — Kyle Charters Tom Campbell Meadows took a big step forward in the spring to earning the opportunity to replace Ray Guy Award finalist Cody Webster as Purdue's punter in 2014.

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