On the third day of 2020 NFL draft, the New England Patriots selected Marshall kicker Justin Rohrwasser with the 159th overall pick. The need was apparent after the team released Stephen Gostkowski earlier this offseason. This will be the first year the Patriots enter the season with a new kicker since Gostkowski’s rookie year in 2006.
Rohrwasser is the first Marshall kicker to be drafted in NFL history and hopes to make his alma mater proud at the next level. He is the first Marshall player drafted by New England since wide receiver Aaron Dobson was selected in the second round of 2013.
Here’s what Patriots fans should know about their new placekicker.
Rohrwasser was a great extra point kicker in college.
At Marshall. Rohrwasser hit 79 of 82 of his extra-point attempts in his two seasons with Marshall. It is a little different transitioning to the NFL because of the distance of the kicks. The college extra-points were similar to the old NFL rules. They attempt from 20 yards at the college level, and in the pros, the attempt is now 33 yards out. The Patriots will hope that the extra distance isn’t too much for the kicker to overcome.
Rohrwasser has a local tie to New England.
Prior to his time at Marshall, Rohrwasser played two years at the University of Rhode Island. There the kicker completed 15 of 20 field goal attempts (75%) and 39 of 41 extra point attempts (95%). Kicking in Rhode Island weather should prepare him a little more to doing so in Foxboro.
Rohrwasser has experience in clutch time.
Last year, with Marshall tied with Western Kentucky in the final seconds, Rohrwasser lined up for a 53-yard field goal. At the time of this attempt, his longest made field goal was from 46 yards out. Rorhwasser delivered, nailing the kick and giving Marshall the victory.
Rohrwasser’s tattoos have been big news since being drafted.
Immediately after he was drafted, social media found out about the kicker’s tattoos. One tattoo, on his arm, was discovered to be a symbol connected with a right-wing military group called the 3 Percenters.
Rohrwasser clarified that he believed it was a military support symbol, but that it has clearly evolved into something different. The kicker has vowed to have it removed because it is not something that he wants to represent.
While it won’t affect his on-field performance, this is obviously something that could bring negative publicity to the player and to the team.
