Braden Mann

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Braden Mann
No. 7 – New York Jets
Position:Punter
Personal information
Born: (1997-11-24) November 24, 1997 (age 24)
Houston, Texas
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:198 lb (90 kg)
Career information
High school:Cy-Fair High School
(Cypress, Texas)
College:Texas A&M
NFL Draft:2020 / Round: 6 / Pick: 191
Career history
  • New York Jets (2020–present)
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2021
Punts:123
Punting yards:5,473
Punting average:44.8
Inside 20:33
Player stats at NFL.com

Braden Mann (born November 24, 1997) is an American football punter and kickoff specialist for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Texas A&M. During his junior season, he received unanimous All-American honors and won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top collegiate punter. He also broke the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) records for single-game punting average, single-season punts of 60-plus yards, and single-season punting average.

Early years[]

Mann played kicker and punter at Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas, under the tutelage of head coach Ed Pustejovsky, a former Texas A&M football player. As a junior, Mann scored 7-of-10 field goals (with a long of 49 yards) and 46-of-48 extra points. He was named to the 2014 Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston team.[1] As a senior, he scored 25-of-25 extra points and recorded a 45-yard punting average on 41 punts.[2] Following his senior season, Mann played in the Under Armour All-America Game.[3]

Though Mann wanted to play linebacker in high school and college, he was not able to do so due to his size and injuries.[4] As a college football recruit, he was rated nationally as the number two kicker by Rivals.com[5] and the number five kicker by 247Sports.com.[6]

College career[]

Mann was primarily the kickoff specialist during his first two years at Texas A&M. During his freshman season, he averaged 63.9 yards on 76 kickoffs, and as a sophomore, he averaged 62.4 yards on 73 kickoffs. He was not the starting punter during his freshman year and only punted the ball twice during the season (two punts for 94 yards, or a 47.0 average). As a sophomore, he did not punt at all and made only one kicking attempt, which came when he missed a 43-yard field goal try in the season-opening 44–45 loss to UCLA.[7][8]

Following the graduation of veteran punter Shane Tripucka, Mann became the starting punter during the 2018 season, and made an immediate impact on the team. During the Alabama game, he broke the NCAA football bowl subdivision single-game record with a 60.8 punting average. The previous record of 60.4 was set in 1983 and matched in 2010.[9] During the Kentucky game, he recorded an 82-yard punt, which in Texas A&M punt history was the third-longest[10] and longest since 1944.[11] After the first six games, in October 2018, Mann received midseason All-America honors from the Associated Press,[12] Athlon Sports,[13] Sporting News,[14] Sports Illustrated,[15] CBS Sports,[16] USA Today,[17] and ESPN.[18] He also received praise from former NFL punter and pro bowler Pat McAfee.[19]

Mann continued to receive recognition for the remainder of his junior season. During the November 2018 game against University of Alabama at Birmingham, he made his 14th punt of 60 or more yards breaking the NCAA FBS single-season record set in 2005 by former Wake Forest punter Ryan Plackemeier.[20] Following the regular season, Mann received first-team all-SEC honors from the league's coaches[21] and the Associated Press[22] and was also named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year.[23] He picked up first team All-America honors from the Associated Press (AP),[24] American Football Coaches Association (AFCA),[25] Athlon Sports,[26] CBS Sports,[27] ESPN,[28] Football Writers Association of America (FWAA),[29] Sporting News,[30] Sports Illustrated,[31] Bleacher Report,[32] College Football News,[33] USA Today,[34] and Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF).[35] Since he earned All-America honors from all five NCAA-recognized selectors (AP, AFCA, FWAA, Sporting News, and WCFF), he became the 10th unanimous All-American from Texas A&M.[36] He also won the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top collegiate punter.[11]

Mann led the nation with his season punting average of 50.98 yards per punt. He broke the single-season punting average record of 50.28 set in 1997 by former LSU punter Chad Kessler.[37]

Professional career[]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump
5 ft 11+3⁄8 in
(1.81 m) 		198 lb
(90 kg) 		30 in
(0.76 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.83 s 4.13 s 7.03 s 31.0 in
(0.79 m)		 9 ft 3 in
(2.82 m)
All values from NFL Combine[38]

Mann was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round with the 191st overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.[39]

During the game against the Los Angeles Rams, Mann made a game-saving, open-field tackle on punt returner Nsimba Webster that helped seal the Jets' 23–20 victory.[40] The Jets finished the season 2–14. Mann compiled 3,598 total yards, with a 43.9 punting average. His 3,598 total yards made him the 2020 NFL punting yards leader.[41]

On September 14, 2021, Mann was placed on injured reserve.[42] He was activated on November 13.[43]

References[]

  1. ^ Verdejo Jr., Angel (December 24, 2014). "The Chronicle's 2014 All-Greater Houston football team - HoustonChronicle.com". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018.
  2. ^ Coleman, Adam (January 16, 2016). "Cy-Fair's Mann has a leg up on competition - HoustonChronicle.com". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  3. ^ Cook, Kevin (October 21, 2015). "Cy-Fair kicker Braden Mann selected to All-America Game". Chron. Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "Texas A&M's Braden Mann takes over pressurized gig at 'Punter U'". Archived from the original on October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "Braden Mann, 2016 Kicker". Rivals. Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  6. ^ "2016 Top Kicker Recruits". 247Sports. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  7. ^ Ochoa, Abigail (October 12, 2018). "Aggies find unassuming star in junior Braden Mann, one of the best punters in the NCAA". The Battalion. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  8. ^ "Texas A&M vs. UCLA - Play-By-Play - September 3, 2017". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  9. ^ "Texas A&M punter Braden Mann wins Ray Guy Award". KAGS. December 7, 2018. Archived from the original on December 8, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  10. ^ Zwerneman, Brent (October 12, 2018). "Mann making sure A&M is still 'Punter U'". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Zwerneman, Brent (December 6, 2018). "Texas A&M's Braden Mann, a Cy-Fair grad, wins Ray Guy Award as nation's top punter". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  12. ^ Russo, Ralph D. (October 16, 2018). "Tagovailoa one of 5 Alabama midseason AP All-Americans". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on November 3, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  13. ^ Lassan, Steven (October 17, 2018). "College Football 2018 Midseason All-America Team". Athlon Sports. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  14. ^ Bender, Bill (October 20, 2018). "Sporting News 2018 midseason All-Americans". Sporting News. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  15. ^ "College Football's 2018 Midseason All-America Team". Sports Illustrated. October 16, 2018. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  16. ^ Silverstein, Adam (October 17, 2018). "2018 CBS Sports Midseason All-America team: College football's standout players at the halfway point". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  17. ^ Myerberg, Paul. "USA TODAY Sports midseason All-America teams heavy on SEC flavor". USA Today. Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  18. ^ Low, Chris (October 15, 2018). "Meet the ESPN college football midseason All-America team". ESPN. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  19. ^ Bock, Gabe (October 22, 2018). "For The Brand: Pat McAfee analyzes Texas A&M punter Braden Mann". TexAgs. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  20. ^ Zwerneman, Brent (November 17, 2018). "Texas A&M rolls over UAB as LSU clash looms". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on November 18, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  21. ^ "2018 All-SEC Football Team announced". SEC Sports. December 4, 2018. Archived from the original on December 5, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  22. ^ "No. 1 Alabama has 5 players first-team AP All-SEC selections". The Associated Press. December 3, 2018. Archived from the original on December 12, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  23. ^ "2018 SEC Football Awards announced". SEC Sports. December 6, 2018. Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  24. ^ Russo, Ralph D. (December 10, 2018). "AP All-America team: Tide leads with 4 of 10 CFP players". The Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  25. ^ "Alabama's Tua Tagovalioa & Clemson's Christian Wilkins Headline 2018 FBS Coaches' All-America Teams". American Football Coaches Association. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  26. ^ Lassan, Steven (December 13, 2018). "College Football's 2018 Postseason All-America Team". Athlon Sports. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  27. ^ Silverstein, Adam (December 11, 2018). "2018 CBS Sports All-America team: SEC and Alabama lead the way with most selections". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  28. ^ Schlabach, Mark (December 10, 2018). "College football All-America team". ESPN. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  29. ^ Richardson, Steve (December 10, 2018). "2018 FWAA ALL-AMERICA TEAM UNVEILED". Football Writers Association of America (Press release). Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  30. ^ Bender, Bill (December 12, 2018). "Sporting News 2018 college football All-Americans". Sporting News. Archived from the original on December 12, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  31. ^ "SI's 2018 All-America Teams". Sports Illustrated. December 5, 2018. Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  32. ^ Miller, Kerry (December 6, 2018). "Bleacher Report's 2018 College Football All-America Team". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  33. ^ "2018 CollegeFootballNews.com All-America Team: Special Teams". College Football News. December 9, 2018. Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  34. ^ Myerberg, Paul (December 11, 2018). "Kyler Murray, Tua Tagovailoa headline USA TODAY Sports' All-America teams". USA TODAY. Archived from the original on December 12, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  35. ^ Crabone, Al (December 6, 2018). "Walter Camp Football Foundation Announces 2018 All-America Teams" (PDF) (Press release). Walter Camp Football Foundation. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  36. ^ Zwerneman, Brent (December 12, 2018). "Aggies' punter Braden Mann in Texas A&M's select all-time top 10 - HoustonChronicle.com". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on December 14, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  37. ^ Perroni, Brian (December 31, 2018). "A&M's Mann officially breaks NCAA punting record". 247Sports. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  38. ^ "Braden Mann Combine Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  39. ^ Mehta, Manish (April 25, 2020). "Jets draft Texas A&M punter Braden Mann in sixth round". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
  40. ^ "Jets punter Braden Mann may have changed history with Rams tackle". December 26, 2020.
  41. ^ "2020 NFL punts stats - Players".
  42. ^ Greenberg, Ethan; Allen, Eric (September 14, 2021). "Jets Sign 4 Players; Place 4 on Injured Reserve". NewYorkJets.com.
  43. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (November 13, 2021). "Jets Activate P Braden Mann, OL Conor McDermott; Place OL Chuma Edoga on IR". NewYorkJets.com.

External links[]

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