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2006: Steady performer whose punt placements consistently gave the defense good opening field position from which to work...averaged 38.8 yards per punt, an average which leaped to 44.4 over his last three games...recorded a career-high 45.4 yard average on five punts vs. No. 10 West Virginia...topped that a week later with a 46.0 average on four punts vs. No. 7 Rutgers...placed 23 punts inside the opponents' 20...earned team Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the Pittsburgh, USF and Rutgers games. 2005: Did not see any game action, qualifying for a redshirt year. 2004: Joined team in preseason after a season of junior college experience...appeared in the East Carolina and UAB games...punted 14 times for a 36.8-yard average...had two punts inside the 20. Junior College: Shared the punting duties with Michigan State signee John Goss in 2003 at Scottsdale Community College, under the coaching of Ken Giovando...appeared in seven games and averaged over 40 yards per punt...recipient of team's Specialist Newcomer of the Year award...named one of the top four freshman participants at the Arizona Combine, a junior college showcase for university coaches. High School: Was a first team all-conference selection as a tight end and linebacker at Southside High in Elmira, N.Y...was also a first team All-Star Scholar Athlete and graduated with high honors...worked with former New England Patriots kicker Shawn McCarthy, who coached him in punting. Personal: Born Dec. 3, 1983 in Page, Ariz....son of Robert (father) and Jamie (stepmother) Steel and Dan and Linda (mother) Walburn...has a brother and a sister plus 3 step brothers and one step sister...helped at the Tanglewood Nature Center while in high school and was an active volunteer with the Payson, Ariz. Police Department where his father is a retired deputy chief...nicknamed Bubba. Academic Major: Criminal Justice. Honors: Topcat Scholar (Winter 2005, Fall 2005)...Bearcat Academic Honor Roll (Fall 2004)...C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll (2004-05).
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