Josh Bidwell Punter Oregon Height: 6' 3" Weight: 229 lbs Round 4 - #133 NFL Draft Notes Former receiver who was pressed into action as a punter in his freshman year, developing into one of the premier directional kickers in college...Has quick touch-to-toe mechanics, showing superb leg whip & extension...Very adept at getting the ball high in pooch punt situations...Has a low release point, getting the ball off with tremendous leg power...Recently timed at 4.86 in the 40-yard dash...One of the strongest kicking specialists in the nation...Few can better his 450-pound squat...His 40.8-yard average ranks third on the school's career-record list behind Mike Preacher (42.7 avg, 1984-86) & Len Isberg (42.8, 1940). 1998 All-American first-team selection by The Sports Network, adding second-team honors from Football News...All-Pac 10 Conference first-team choice...Recipient of the Gordon Wilson Award, given to the team's top special teams player...Earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors vs. Washington State...Ranked second in the nation with 51 punts for 2346 yards (46.0 avg.), breaking the previous school season-record average of 43.7 yards per attempt by Mike Preacher in 1986...Only 20 of his punts were returned as he led the Division 1-A ranks with a 41.8-yard net average. Texas-El Paso...Averaged 54.2 yards on 5 kicks with a long of 59 yards as three of his attempts were returned for a total of one yard. San Jose State...Followed with a 56-yarder. Stanford...Made a solo tackle on a blocked punt (had a string of 189 successful kicks without a block snapped). UCLA...Averaged 42.2 yards on 6 tries with a long of 61 yards. Southern California...Averaged 39.7 yards as none of his 6 punts were returned. Arizona...Had 8 attempts for 353 yards (44.1 avg.), including a 60-yarder. Washington...Had 6 kicks for 286 yards (47.7 avg.), pinning the Huskies inside the 10-yard line three times, had a long of 69 yards & only two of his attempts were returned (no yardage). Arizona State...His two punts went for 64 & 62 yards. Oregon State...Averaged 48.5 yards on 6 kicks with a long of 58 yards. Colorado (Aloha Bowl)...Closed out his career with a 48.3-yard average on 4 punts (two were returned for a total of two yards). 1997 All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention...Punted 60 times for 2248 yards (40.8 avg.)...Had 15 attempts downed inside the 20-yard line as he finished with a 38.9-yard net average. Stanford...Punted 4 times for a 48.8-yard average. Arizona State...Had a season-long 60-yarder. Arizona...Kicked 11 times for a 44.3-yard average. Nevada...Followed with 5 punts for 220 yards (44.0 avg.). Air Force (Las Vegas Bowl)...Punted twice for 91 yards (45.5 avg.). 1996 All-Pac 10 Conference honorable mention...Gained 2307 yards on 56 punts (41.2 avg.)...Had 19 attempts downed inside the 20-yard line as he finished with a 37.4-yard net average. Arizona State...Had 6 punts for a 48.5-yard average, including a pair of 50 yarders that were downed inside the 15-yard line. UCLA...Averaged 44.3 yards on 6 attempts with a long of 57 yards. Nevada...Punted 4 times for 210 yards (42.5 avg.), including a 57-yarder. Arizona...Gained 144 yards on 3 tries (48.0 avg.). 1995 Originally signed as a wide receiver, but was pressed into punting duties prior to the season opener...Had 62 attempts for 2249 yards (36.3 avg.) with 10 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line...Finished with a 34.8-yard net average. Utah...Averaged 34.0 yards on 3 punts & also kicked a 42-yard field goal. Oregon State...Had a season-long 54-yarder, punting 4 times for 222 yards (45.5 avg.). Washington & UCLA...Had punts downed inside the 5-yard line in both contests. 1994 Redshirted as a freshman. High School Captured All-State honors for his kicking exploits but also keyed (Winston, Ore.) High as an option quarterback...Named All-State by The Oregonian as the second-team place-kicker and third-team punter despite missing last three games because of an appendectomy... Earned three-time honors from the Far West League as a two-way kicker...Averaged 45.6 yards on punts during senior season...Started at free safety as a freshman...Also the leading scorer on the basketball team. Personal Graduated with a degree in English in May, 1998...Son of Kelley & Corey Bidwell...Born Joshua John Bidwell on 3/13/76 in Roseburg, Oregon...Resides in Winston, Oregon. PUNTING STATISTICS STATS NO YARDS AVG BK LONG In20 RET R/YDS N/YDS N/AVG 1995 62 2249 36.3 0 54 10 20 91 2158 34.8 1996 56 2307 41.2 0 57 19 27 214 2093 37.4 1997 60 2248 40.8 0 60 15 13 117 2131 38.9 1998 51 2346 46.0 1 69 17 20 214 2132 41.8 TOTAL 229 9350 40.8 1 69 61 80 636 8714 38.1
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