Thomas Morstead

He led Conference USA with an average of 43.82 yards on 50 attempts, the best average by an SMU punter since Craig James averaged 44.9 yards in 1982.

He made 13 of 18 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points for a total of 73 points.

He recorded one solo tackle.

As a sophomore, Morstead was a consensus All-Conference USA first-team pick and also gained league academic honors.

He again led C-USA with a 44.65-yard average.

He scored 82 points and set the league single-season record by making all 43 extra point attempts, as he also connected on 13 of 20 field goals.

Thomas James Morstead (born March 8, 1986) is an American football punter for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL).

Morstead enrolled at Southern Methodist in 2004, turning down scholarship offers from Texas Christian, Rice, Texas and Missouri, but spent the season as a redshirt.

He was a member of the Conference USA's Academic Honor Roll in 2005, but never appeared in a game.

Morstead took over place-kicking and punting chores in 2006, earning All-Conference USA third-team honors.

Morstead concentrated more on directional punting in 2008.

The All-Conference USA honorable mention averaged 41.78 yards on 59 punts.

He made 11 of 15 field goals, 29 of 30 extra points and amassed 62 points.

He played college football at SMU and was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Morstead was born in Houston, Texas, and was raised in a nearby suburb of Pearland, Texas.

He has one brother, Patrick.

He attended Pearland High School and won varsity letters in football and basketball.

In football, as a senior, Morstead received second-team All-District honors and was named the Brazoria County Special Teams MVP.

He was a member of the National Honor Society, adding Academic All-State honors.

Morstead was drafted in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft with the 164th overall selection by the New Orleans Saints.

He was the second punter chosen in 2009, after Kevin Huber (by the Cincinnati Bengals).

Morstead beat out Glenn Pakulak for the Saints' punting job in 2009.

As a rookie, he recorded 58 punts for a 43.59 average.

He played a role in the Saints' victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

Morstead executed an onside kick during the second half kickoff.

The Saints recovered the ball and were able to convert that possession into a touchdown and a 13–10 lead.

The Saints would eventually win the game 31–17.

After the game, Morstead stated that while he was excited about executing the play, he was also terrified knowing that if the play was not executed perfectly, the Colts would have likely recovered the ball with a shot of extending their 10–6 lead.

In the 2010 season, Morstead had 57 punts with a 45.93 average.

Morstead currently holds the record for most kickoff touchbacks in one game (9 in a 62–7 defeat of the Colts on October 23, 2011) and the record for the most touchbacks in a single season (68 in 2011).

He finished the 2011 season with 46 punts with a 48.35 average.

In July 2012, the Saints signed Morstead to a six-year extension stated to be worth $21.9 million, making him the second highest paid punter in the league (after Shane Lechler of the Oakland Raiders).

He went on to have an outstanding season, leading the league (with a record-setting pace through 15 games) in net punting yardage, and was elected to the Pro Bowl.

He had 74 punts with a 50.09 average in the 2012 season.

In the 2013 season, Morestead finished with 61 punts with a 46.87 average.

Before the 2014 season, Morstead was selected as the Saints' special teams captain.

In the 2014 season, he finished with 58 punts with a 46.38 average.

Morstead retained the captain title in 2015.

In the 2015 season, Morstead finished with 56 punts with a 45.55 average.

In the 2016 season, Morstead finished with 57 punts for a 48.26 average.