Sophomore punter Cameron Johnston (95) and freshman kicker Sean Nuernberger (96) walk off the field during a game against Maryland on Oct. 4 in College Park, Md. OSU won, 52-24.
Credit: Mark Batke / Photo editor
Ohio State’s former punter Cameron Johnston has signed a contract with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent, according to a tweet by Johnston.
https://twitter.com/Cam_Johnston/status/858461311570673664
He was not among the players drafted by a team in the seven-round 2017 NFL draft, but like former teammate Dontre Wilson, was signed to a contract right after the draft.
Johnston leaves OSU as the school record-holder for most punts within the 20-yard line over his career (109), as well as the single-season record-holder for punts within the 20-yard line (31 set in 2015). The fifth-year punter averaged 44.9 yards per punt over his career, the second-longest such distance by any punter in Buckeye history, behind only Andy Groom (2001-2002).
Considered one of the top punters in the nation, Johnston was named as a Ray Guy finalist — an award given to the NCAA’s best punter — three years in a row from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, he was also named the Eddleman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year, and was also named first-team All-Big Ten.
Now with the Eagles, Johnston will slot in as the backup punter with Donnie Jones, the Eagles punter since 2013, likely retaining his starting role.
