We’re going through a series on scouting Ohio State football players that are eligible for the 2021 NFL draft, and next up is punter Drue Chrisman.
Rarely do punters get a fair shake when it comes to NFL scouting in preparation for the draft. Yes, the teams themselves will scout punters, but outside of them, punters are the forgotten player. So, let’s break the trend and look at punter Drue Chrisman.
Teams will probably love the personality of Chrisman as much as his actual punting. While he is a really good punter, one look at his social media account, and Chrisman is just one of those guys you want around. However, this isn’t about his personality, this is about his kicking.
The pros to Drue Chrisman…
The positives to getting Drue Chrisman…
Punter Drue Chrisman handling first kickoff for @OhioStateFB . Freshman Jake Seibert made the PAT.
— Tim May (@TIM_MAYsports) January 12, 2021
Chrisman had a little bit of a roller coaster 2020, but was solid on most of his kicks. Averaging 45 yards per punt, he was able to flip the field for the Buckeyes when he was called upon. Watching his kicks, he has good followthrough and rotation. The rotation allows Chrisman to pin a team inside the 20. He drops the ball from a solid height and doesn’t get rattled by pressure coming at him
Chrisman provides added value with his ability to also kick off. A lot of teams want to carry no more than 2 kickers on their team, a punter and a placekicker. The fact Chrisman can punt and kick off helps his stock for teams looking for improvement in kickoffs, but likes their placekicker for field goals and extra points. One other note is Chrisman has good size which helps have him be an extra defender on kickoff returns if he has to make a play on the returner.
The cons to Drue Chrisman…
The cons to Drue Chrisman in the NFL…
A 32-yard punt from Drue Chrisman. Not much is going right for Ohio State here in the first half.
— Patrick Murphy (@_Pat_Murphy) January 12, 2021
There were times Chrisman had some bad punts without pressure. While it happens, scouts will have to look closer to fully understand what caused those. He could be pressing to make bigger kicks, which Chrisman has an outstanding leg for, and not watching the ball all the way to his foot. It seems small, but when your entire job is kicking, it is worth noting.
The biggest downside to Chrisman getting drafted is the small population of punters in the NFL. He will not make a scout team, so a team has to be in a market for a punter or at least want to bring him to camp. His size and leg should at least get him a look.
Chrisman will probably go undrafted or at best a very late-round pick. He will find a home for training camp and his monster leg should help him stick around on the right team. Consider Chrisman one of the best special teams players in this class.
