With all the talk surrounding the football teams performance, there has been one player no one is talking about and that is Jay Bramblett. Bramblett’s participation in games is centered upon Punting, Field Goal Attempt and PAT ball holding. It’s not the sexiest position, but definitely a position that does have a major impact on the game.
Bramblett was needed a good portion of the season as the Irish struggled to convert on third and short yardage. That is a lot of work for a Freshman. Bramblett did answer the call when needed and he delivered. There were several occasions that Bramblett needed to flip the field and he did just that.
Stats Don’t Lie
Game 1 At Louisville
6 Attempts, 236 Yards, 39.3 AVG, Long 46 Yards, Fair Catch 5, 2 Inside 20 Yard Line
Photo By Lisa Kelly Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Game 2 New Mexico
4 Attempts, 163 Yards, 40.8 AVG, Long 48 Yards, Fair Catch 1, 2 Inside 20 Yard Line
Photo By Tracey Saraceni Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Game 3 At Georgia
4 Attempts, 190 Yards, 47.5 AVG, Long 58 Yards, Fair Catch 2, 3 Inside 20 Yard Line, 1 50+ Yards
Game 4 Virginia
6 Attempts, 234 Yards, 39 AVG, Long 44 Yards, Fair Catch 2
Photo By Lisa Kelly Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Game 5 Bowling Green
2 Attempts, 91 yards, 45.5 AVG, Long 49 Yards, Inside 20 Yard Line 1
Photo By Tracey Saraceni Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Game 6 USC
3 Attempts, 121 yards, 40.6 AVG, Long 46 Yards
Photo By Lisa Kelly Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Game 7 Michigan
10 Attempts, 423 Yards, 42.3 AVG, Long 61 Yards, 4 Inside 20 Yard Line, 2 50+ Yards
Photo By Lisa Kelly Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Game 8 Virginia Tech
6 Attempts, 233 Yards, 38.8 AVG, Long 52 Yards, 1 Inside 20 Yard Line, 2 50+ Yards
Photo By John Tholen Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Game 9 At Duke
6 Attempts, 215 Yards, 35.8 AVG, Long 44, 1 Inside 20 Yard Line
Game 10 Navy
2 Attempts, 70 Yards, 35.0 AVG, Long 35
Game 11 Boston College
4 Attempts, 135 Yards, 33.8 AVG, Long 40, 2 Inside 20 Yard Line
Game 12 At Stanford
6 Attempts, 223 Yards, 37.2 AVG, Long 45, 2 Inside 20 Yard Line
Camping World Bowl
4 Attempts, 151 Yards, 37.8 AVG, Long 46, 1 Touch Back
Photo By Lisa Kelly Shake Down The Thunder Sports
Overall Stats
63 Attempts, 2485 Yards, 39.4 AVG, Long 61 Yards, 2 Touch Back, Fair Catch 24, 18 Inside 20 Yard Line, 5 50+ Yards
Tyler Newsome Comparison
Tyler Newsome was the starting Punter in his Sophomore year. A whole extra year of conditioning and adjustment to the college football scene. Newsome’s career numbers are as follows: 225 Attempts, 9909 Yards, 44.0 Avg, Long 71 Yards. His numbers for his Sophomore year were 55 Attempts, 2446 Yards, 44.5 AVG, Long 62 Yards, 21 Inside The 20.
In retrospect, Jay Bramblett had a successful true Freshman campaign in 2019. The future looks bright for the Special Teams star. Off season strength and conditioning can only help Bramblett.
Back To The Beginning
On Early National Signing Day, Shake Down The Thunder Sports asked Coach Kelly a pointed question on the reaction of Jay Bramblett signing with Notre Dame when he could have gone anywhere. Especially coming out of Tuscaloosa.
Shake Down The Thunder Sports Question: What was the team’s reaction this morning when you landed Jay Bramblett out of Tuscaloosa? That’s a pretty big grab. He could have gone there but he chose the University of Notre Dame.
Coach Kelly Response: “Pretty exciting. Pretty accomplished football player. We were obviously, you know, not in the recruiting process for him for a long time. But when we did get in it, you know, we were pretty excited. We just think he’s got all the traits necessary to be, you know, the right kind of player for us, somebody that’s going to be rough and tumble, physical, moves well, very good student. Plays great football. I mean, comes from real good conference.”
“We’re going to get a guys that a seasoned college football player, high school player, coming into college, so we’re pretty excited about that get.”
Those final words resonated the entire season. Bramblett came to play and he did so very well at the University of Notre Dame. Bramblett set up the short field that set up Kyle Hamilton for his first pick six and ended the season with the first punt of the Camping World Bowl that led to a fumble recovered by Chase Claypool. What a set of book end events to start his college career.
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Cheers and Go Irish! 🍀🏈⚡