The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a roster full of players, and we want to talk about them all. One Foot Down’s player profile series will, once again, take a look at every single one of them, and hopefully we all learn a little bit more about these guys, and Notre Dame’s chances for the upcoming 2021 season.
#19 Jay Bramblett, P
Jay Bramblett committed to the Fighting Irish on May 30, 2018 as a member of the 2019 recruiting class. Bramblett selected the Irish over an offer from the Missouri Tigers. Per 247Sports Composite Rankings, Bramblett held a 3-star rating. He was ranked as the top punter, the 59th best prospect in the state of Alabama, and the 1,547th best overall prospect in the class of 2019. His hometown is Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and he attended Hillcrest High School. He currently stands 6’ 2’’and weighs 193 pounds.
As a freshman, Bramblett grabbed the job as the starting punter. He recorded 63 total punts during the year, averaging 39.4 yards per punt and a 37.7 yard net average. Bramblett was able to place 18 of his punts within the opponent’s 20 yard line. Displaying his leg strength, Bramblett recorded 5 punts that traveled 50 yards or more. He also was the holder for extra points.
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During his sophomore campaign, Bramblett showed an improved consistency, notching a 42.8 yard average and a 41.3 yard net average on his 43 punts. His longest punt of the season traveled 59 yards. Bramblett’s most memorable play came in the season-opener against Duke when he broke off a 14 yard rush on a fake punt attempt. The play spurred a touchdown drive and helped the Irish secure a 27-13 win over Duke. He continued in his role as the holder on extra points.
The Restaurant That Fits
Subway
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When you go to Subway, you know what type of product you are going to get. There aren’t many question marks as many people typically have a go-to sandwich. Occasionally, there will be a new employee who will be a bit stingy on the ingredients and mess up your beloved sandwich, but otherwise, you plan for your sandwich to taste the same every time. In a similar fashion, Brian Kelly knows what he is getting from Bramblett. There may be an occasional mishit here or there on a punt, but overall, Bramblett is going to deliver a consistent performance week in and week out.
2021 Outlook
There is very little gray area for Bramblett for the upcoming season. He will again be the team’s starting punter and holder for extra points. He continues to display elite hangtime on his punts. Bramblett showed a jump in his leg strength between his freshman and sophomore seasons. If he can make a similar jump prior to his junior campaign, he should become a major weapon in the field position battle.
Tuscaloosa's finest Jay Bramblett gets the well-deserved credit for the run. Nice blocking from Dillan Gibbons, Bo Bauer and Shayne Simon. pic.twitter.com/kicEcSEIj3
— Matt Freeman (@mattfreemanISD) September 13, 2020