Forty young athletes from across the United States will compete in the NFL PUNT, PASS & KICK National Championships on Saturday, Jan. 2, in Indianapolis.
The Green Bay Packers' representative, Jack Noffke from New London, Wis., will be competing after winning his age division in the Packers' team championship competition, Dec. 13, in the Don Hutson Center.
Beginning at 5 p.m. inside the Indianapolis Colts practice facility, finalists will compete separately in five age divisions with the top scorer in each group crowned national champion. All participants launch two punts, two passes and two kicks with scores based on distance and accuracy (in feet). The best score from each activity is tabulated to determine the athlete's total. All youngsters advanced to the national championships through local, sectional and team championship competitions held throughout the NFL regular season. The top four scorers in each age group from across the country qualified as national finalists.
NFL Punt, Pass & Kick, which began in 1961, is celebrating its 53rd anniversary. It is one of the nation's largest grassroots sports skills competitions. NFL stars – including Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks TROY AIKMAN and DAN MARINO – competed in the Punt, Pass & Kick program as youngsters.
"USA Football is pleased to manage the Punt, Pass & Kick program," USA Football Executive Director SCOTT HALLENBECK said. USA Football is the sport's national governing body and the official youth development partner of the NFL and its 32 teams. "This fun football competition rooted in fundamental skills continues to capture the imagination of young athletes, boys and girls alike. We congratulate our national finalists and look forward to an exciting weekend in Indianapolis."
All participants and their guests are provided airfare, hotel accommodations and tickets to the Sunday, Jan. 3, game between the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. Champions will be recognized between the third and fourth quarters as well as at www.nflppk.com.
Finalists are listed along with the NFL team that hosted their regional competition:
Boys 6-7
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Kyle Mitchell Jr. |
Rochester, N.Y. |
Buffalo Bills |
|
Abuchi Mekaowulu |
Allen, Texas |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Paxton Genola |
Clinton, Miss. |
New Orleans Saints |
|
Wyatt Shearer |
Huntington, Ind. |
Indianapolis Colts |
Girls 6-7
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Chloe Gonzales |
Yuba City, Calif. |
Oakland Raiders |
|
McKenna Knotts |
Bridgeport, W.Va. |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
Bailey Williams |
Mesa, Ariz. |
Arizona Cardinals |
|
Quinn Zerjal |
Fairview Heights, Ill. |
St. Louis Rams |
Boys 8-9
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Aiden Early |
Greece, N.Y. |
Buffalo Bills |
|
Zac Niekamp |
Willowick, Ohio |
Cleveland Browns |
|
Jonathan Petermann |
Sleepy Eye, Minn. |
Minnesota Vikings |
|
Brock Diano |
Walnut Creek, Calif. |
Oakland Raiders |
Girls 8-9
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Abbi Holder |
Lubbock, Texas |
Dallas Cowboys |
|
Paige Scheinberg |
Cockeysville, Md. |
Baltimore Ravens |
|
Kadyn Camper |
Christianburg, Va. |
Washington Redskins |
|
Addie Morris |
Columbia, Mo. |
St. Louis Rams |
Boys 10-11
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Kaleb Brown |
Powell, Wyo. |
Denver Broncos |
|
Jack Hamm |
Middletown, Del. |
Philadelphia Eagles |
|
Luke Adams |
Hinsdale, Ill. |
Chicago Bears |
|
Jaxxon Warren |
Flower Mound, Texas |
Dallas Cowboys |
Girls 10-11
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Mya Sanchez |
Turlock, Calif. |
San Francisco 49ers |
|
Camryn Woods |
Bettendorf, Iowa |
Chicago Bears |
|
Cadeshia Collins |
Chattanooga, Tenn. |
Tennessee Titans |
|
Emily Oki |
Willard, Utah |
Denver Broncos |
Boys 12-13
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Tanner Oldag |
El Campo, Texas |
Houston Texans |
|
Seth Chick |
Bukeye, Ariz. |
Arizona Cardinals |
|
Casey Canonica |
Tacoma, Wash. |
Seattle Seahawks |
|
Caleb Nuzzo |
Bradford, Pa. |
Buffalo Bills |
Girls 12-13
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Kacie Quick |
Bloomington, Ill. |
Chicago Bears |
|
Jayla Medeiros |
Kealakekua, Hawaii |
San Diego Chargers |
|
Kaylee Seitzer |
Bondurant, Iowa |
Kansas City Chiefs |
|
Katie Sue Rahilly |
Newberry, Mich. |
Detroit Lions |
Boys 14-15
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Jack Noffke |
New London, Wis. |
*Green Bay Packers * |
|
Cash Peterman |
Tucson, Ariz. |
Arizona Cardinals |
|
Elias Espinoza |
Pueblo, Colo. |
Denver Broncos |
|
George Triplett |
Elkins, W.Va. |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
Girls 14-15
|
*Name * |
Hometown |
NFL team representing |
|
Molly Saylor |
South Park, Pa. |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
|
Arielle Sargent |
Stilwell, Kan. |
Kansas City Chiefs |
|
Calla Haldorson |
Hamilton, Mont. |
Seattle Seahawks |
|
Hannah Doty |
Milan, Ill. |
Chicago Bears |
