Brad Wing

Bradley Thomas Wing (born January 27, 1991) is an Australian American football punter who is currently playing for the 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 TAC Cup 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, 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 contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers where he plays as the punter and holder for field goals and PAT's. In the fourth quarter of a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he kicked a 29-yard punt with 40 seconds left, giving the ball to the Buccaneers at the Steelers' 46-yard line with 40 seconds to go. The Buccaneers scored the game-winning touchdown a few plays later.^[12] In a game against the Baltimore Ravens on November 2, 2014, following a botched snap on a point-after kick for which Wing was the holder, Wing completed a pass to Matt Spaeth for a two-point conversion.

References

External links

• LSU Tigers bio