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
