Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1464375
1 8 M A Y 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Jordan Stout is expecting to hear his name called during the NFL Draft in Las Vegas April 28-30. It's a relative rarity for a kick- ing specialist to be drafted — only one kicker and one punter were cho- sen in the 2021 draft — but Stout per- formed well enough at the Senior Bowl in February and the NFL Com- bine in Indianapolis last month to en- ter the draft weekend with confidence. Coming out of his Penn State Pro Day performance in late March, Stout spoke to reporters about his NFL aspirations. QUESTION: What are you expecting to do at the next level? STOUT: "I tell all the teams that I pride myself on being a combo guy. I can do all three, but judging off last sea- son, I would say right now I'm more of a punter and kickoff guy. It's what I've been saying." QUESTION: Does that surprise you at all? STOUT: "I wouldn't say surprising. I knew how hard I worked this past off- season, on punting specifically. I wish I could have found that balance for field goals and punting. "But I knew going into the season that I was going to be very good at punt- ing. You can tell by practice. Every day I practiced, it was good. I had seen a lot of improvements from last year and I wasn't worried a bit." QUESTION: What would you say is your biggest strength? STOUT: "I think one of my strengths is directional punting. … I improved a lot and teams see that, and I think they agree with me for the most part. I am better at going directional right than I am left, but that's because, as a righty punter, the ball goes up, it turns clock- wise, so it drifts off right." QUESTION: How much science is there in punting? STOUT: "You would be surprised. There is tons. Even with holding, people don't realize all the little intricacies you have to do. When the ball is coming, don't jump before you catch it. There are so many little things to look smooth and just help the kicker be successful." QUESTION: Was your Senior Bowl performance well-received? Did scouts notice that? STOUT: "Absolutely. The game itself was very, very windy, and people don't realize that either. I had a great day, and I think that's something they see. For example, Buffalo, the Bears, they're see- ing that I'm playing in 45-, 50-degree weather with 30-mph winds and I'm turning the ball over. It shows a lot. And also, that whole week it was raining. The only day I punted, it was actually like 30- mph winds, and it was pouring rain. So, to be able to do well in that situation is really cool." QUESTION: Has your predecessor at Penn State, Blake Gillikin, been able to give you any advice on this process now that he's starting for New Orleans? STOUT: "Absolutely. The biggest thing he told me was to come out here and do what I'm capable of. He told me that, at the combine specifically, a lot of guys fall apart. He said he knows what I'm capable of, that I'm not going to do that, and I went in and did really well." QUESTION: What was it like to see one of your fellow special teams stand- outs, Drew Hartlaub, turn heads at Pro Day? STOUT: "In all these interviews I've had through the Senior Bowl and com- bine, if they say, who's one of the guys that you'd bring with you that we wouldn't expect, I say Drew Hartlaub every time. I mean, I probably told 29 teams, you need to get Drew. He's going to be a special teams guy, be a gunner, and he's going to be really good at it. And to just come see him do as well as he did, I'm so happy for him. I hope he gets his opportunity." QUESTION: What would it mean to get drafted as a specialist? That doesn't happen often. STOUT: "No, it doesn't at all. I think that needs to change. It's going to be a blessing. God willing, I get drafted. That's going to be a great day." QUESTION: How do you think you'll spend that day? STOUT: "I'm gonna get an Airbnb in Nashville with my friends and family, and we're just going to enjoy ourselves." Sitting Down With Jordan Stout Stout is hoping to become the second Penn State punter in the past three years to land with an NFL team. His predeces- sor at PSU, Blake Gillikin, is the starting punter for the New Orleans Saints. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL