Brad Wing
No. -- Pittsburgh Steelers | |||
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| Punter | |||
Personal information | |||
| Date of birth: January 27, 1991 | |||
| Place of birth: Melbourne, Australia | |||
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Career information | |||
| High school: Baton Rouge (LA) Parkview Baptist | |||
| College: LSU | |||
| Undrafted in 2013 | |||
| No regular season or postseason appearances | |||
Career history
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Career highlights and awards
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Career NFL statistics | |||
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Bradley Thomas Wing (born January 27, 1991) is an Australian American football punter who is currently on Pittsburgh Steelers. Wing achieved fame during several nationally televised games for his accuracy and leg strength in LSU's punting game. He was also the first college football player to be penalized under a new rule regarding on-field taunting.[1]
Early life
Wing was born in Melbourne, Australia. His parents are Kathi and David Wing, the latter of whom punted professionally for the Scottish Claymores for a time after unsuccessfully trying out with the Detroit Lions. Growing up, Brad played Australian rules football which he says has contributed to his ability to punt so accurately.[2] The younger Wing was cut from his local junior club, the Sandringham Dragons, ending his Australian rules career.[3] At that time, family friends of the Wings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana offered to host him for his senior year of high school as part of a student exchange program while trying out American football punting.[2][3] He attended Parkview Baptist High School, where he was named All-State, and received a scholarship offer from LSU. Notably, though not surprisingly for someone not regularly exposed to American football, he did not recognize LSU head coach Les Miles when the latter made his first visit to recruit him; he had to be told who Miles was.[3] His family moved to Baton Rouge during the 2011 season in order to be with him during his LSU career.[2]
College career
In the summer of 2011, Wing was arrested for simple battery of Cameron Chabert, and was issued a misdemeanor summons.[4] As a redshirt freshman, Wing averaged 43.0 yards per punt in 42 punts with a long of 73 yards through 12 games.[5] That same year he landed 20 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.[3] Some have credited Wing with being the crucial element in top-ranked LSU's 9–6 overtime win at #2 Alabama in the 2011 season. From LSU's red zone Wing kicked a 73-yard punt, his season long, forcing overtime.[6] Wing gained notoriety during a game against the Florida Gators by stretching his arms out during a fake punt play on his way to a 52-yard touchdown. Because of a new rule taking effect that season, Wing was penalized, and the touchdown was nullified.[7] Going into the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, opponents had attempted to return Wing's punts only 17 times for a total of 6 yards.[8] During 2011 and 2012, Wing averaged 44.6 yards per punt, which is the highest in school history for a player with at least 100 punts. However, Wing was suspended from the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl for an undisclosed violation of team rules.[9]
On January 4, 2013, Wing announced that he would enter the 2013 NFL Draft.[9]
Professional career
Philadelphia Eagles
After Wing went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles signed him to compete with Donnie Jones as the team's punter.[10] On August 25, 2013, Wing was released by the Eagles.[11]
Pittsburgh Steelers
In 2014, Wing signed a futures-reserve contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
References
- ↑ Australians Jesse Williams and Brad Wing making impact in US college football, dailytelegraph.com.au
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Low, Chris (November 9, 2011). "Wing has a few more 'G'days' in him". SEC Blog. ESPN.com. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Cacciola, Scott (November 18, 2011). "An Aussie Who Rules at Football". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
- ↑ Jim Kleinpeter, The Times Picayune. "LSU punter Brad Wing was arrested in June 26 battery incident". NOLA.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ↑ "Brad Wing Stats". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
- ↑ After all the buildup, Game of Century decided by ... kickers, sportsillustrated.cnn.com
- ↑ Scott Threlkeld/The Times-Picayune. "LSU punter Brad Wing pays for early celebration vs. Florida". NOLA.com. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ↑ "Bowl Subdivision (FBS) National Team Report: Punt Return Yardage Defense". NCAA. December 17, 2011. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Associated Press (January 4, 2013). "LSU's Reid, Simon, Wing, Ware headed to NFL draft". Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved January 5, 2013.
- ↑ Mosher, Geoff (April 27, 2013). "Eagles sign nine rookie free agents following draft". Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. Retrieved April 27, 2013.
- ↑ McPherson, Chris (August 25, 2013). "Jamar Chaney Among Initial Cuts". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved August 25, 2013.