With Irish punter/captain Tyler Newsome in his fifth and final season, Notre Dame landed its punter of 2019 and beyond with the verbal commitment Wednesday by 6-foot-2, 175-pound Jay Bramblett from Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Bramblett is a veteran of the punting camp circuit, spending time at Chris Sailer Kicking and Kohl's Professional Camp, which shows a strong dedication to his craft.
He was offered a spot in the National Underclassman Challenge put on by Kohl's based upon his 44-yard average and 4.45-second hang time. He averaged 45 yards per punt at the Showcase Camp.
Sailer complimented Bramblett for his athleticism and explosive leg, stating that he has the ideal frame for Division I punting. He also said that Bramblett has great hands, solid footwork, punts with confidence, is a competitor and is one of the most consistent prep punters in the nation.
They list him as a five-star prospect, which translates to a Division I prospect.
Sailer's camp had him with a 45-yard average and a 4.6-second hang time with the ability to kick 50-yarders plus with five-second hang time.
Irish Illustrated's film evaluation begins with Bramblett's very relaxed pre-snap pose with loose, dangling arms and light-on-his-feet footwork receiving the snap. For the most part, Bramblett meets/steps into the snap as opposed to accepting it with a step backward as some punters are apt to do.
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He is economical with his steps. In other words, he catches it and takes the requisite number of steps to get the punt off quickly and cleanly.
His most impressive attribute is his hang time. The Hillcrest High School coverage team almost always has ample time to cover the punt, making it virtually impossible to return.
Bramblett offers a variety of styles, depending upon the punt. He follows today's surge in kicking the point of the football on punts inside the 20. He'll clip or slice a punt from 55-to-60 yards away from the end zone to get spin while angling the football to the sideline at a low trajectory. Whether it's intentional or not, many of his punts force the return man to move to his right or left to catch/retrieve it.
On longer punts, Bramblett's leg extension can be a little inconsistent, even with plenty of field with which to work. He could use more weight and strength to make his longer punts more powerful and driving. Better flexibility would help him improve his length and hang time.
He can be a bit gun-shy under the threat of pressure, which abbreviates his leg drive. Calm and relaxed are good attributes for a punter, but a bit more sense of urgency/aggressiveness at times wouldn't hurt.
Heading into this week, Missouri was the only school listed by 247Sports with an offer to Bramblett. Among the schools listed with reciprocal interest were Notre Dame, Alabama, LSU, Mississippi State and Penn State.
Bramblett visited Notre Dame unofficially last weekend and the Irish obviously made a strong pitch. Is it a red flag that Alabama hasn't offered him? Keep in mind that it's the mighty Crimson Tide and early offers to punters – even ones from their own back yard – aren't necessary unless someone flashes sure-fire All-American talent.
Notre Dame found the punter they liked more than any other they've observed during this recruiting cycle and acted decisively to get the job done.
