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Jack Fox measures up to recent drafted punters

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Jack Fox, Rice football’s ace punter, has his eyes set on the NFL Draft. Will a brilliant showing at the East-West Shrine Game be enough to earn a selection?

After a strong showing in practices leading up the exhibition, Jack Fox wowed under the lights in Tampa at the East-West Shrine Game. The Ray Guy Award semifinalist booted five kicks, downing three inside the 20 with a long of 57 yards. Now he’s on to the NFL Draft.

Fox hasn’t learned yet whether or not he’ll be invited to the 2019 NFL Combine. It goes without saying an invitation would be a plus. The trip to Indianapolis would afford him one more chance to speak with NFL teams.

With or without an invitation, Fox will be fine. He had the opportunity to speak with all 32 teams during the Shrine Game festivities. Those conversations were extremely positive and gave the Fox camp a better understanding of the teams with which he would be the best fit.

At this point, Fox is going to get a shot. The biggest question that remains is this: will he be pursuing his professional football future as a 2019 NFL Draft selection or as an undrafted free agent?

There have been 37 punters taken in the NFL Draft since 2000, roughly two per year. Four punters were selected in the 2018 draft, with Michael Dickson from Texas coming off the board first in the fifth round. The all-time record for most punters selected is five, most recently in 1983.

Two of three finalists for the Ray Guy Award, Texas A&M’s Braden Mann and Cincinnati’s James Smith are all returning to school next season. Utah’s Mitch Wishnowsky, Stanford’s Jake Bailey and NC State’s AJ Cole will challenge Fox for the top spot on team’s punter boards.

By the numbers

Here’s how Fox stacks up against Wishnowsky and Bailey as well as every punter drafted in the past five drafts. Data is from each player’s final college football season. **Note: not all data was readily available for FCS players. Table scrolls left to right.**

PlayerTeamPuntsYdsAvgLgTBIN20BlkNetRetRYdsSeason
Michael DicksonTEX84398447.476842044.2171122017
Johnny TownsendFLA64304347.570527140.6283062017
Mitch WishnowskyUTAH59266945.268424340.613712018
Drew KaserTAMU60284847.571921040.5222412015
Jack FoxRICE80363645.5761331140.1151272018
Jake BaileySTAN6829954484102404014752018
JK ScottALA54232043644271406342017
Bradley PinionCLEM76323742.660228039.8271742014
Riley DixonSYR65283943.764528139.7141192015
Pat O'DonnellMIA53249847.171919139.3161962013
Logan CookeMSST52222042.767520139.28402017
Lachlan EdwardsSHSU74307441.5628190NANANA2015

Drafted or not. Jack Fox can punt. He’ll get a chance one way or another.

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Jack Fox shines at East-West Shrine Game

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Rice football alum Jack Fox put on a show in front of NFL scouts and coaches in Tampa, Florida at the 94th annual East-West Shrine Game.

Passed over for the Ray Guy Award given annually to the nation’s top punter, Fox has done everything he can this offseason to make sure NFL decision makers remember his name. The latest in a long line of Rice players to participate in the East-West Shrine Game, Jack Fox took advantage of his opportunity. Fox awed in practices the week leading up to the East-West Shrine Game. During the week he earned recognition from a host of analysts and coaches, many who were watching him in person for the first time.

After a few days of practice, Fox was called upon to put his leg to use for the West Team in a live game setting. The results, for those who’ve followed Fox’s theatrics all season, went just as expected.

Big kicks on a big stage

Fox’s first punt went 57 yards and was downed at the 4-yard line. His second kick went 34 yards before it was downed at the 2-yard line. After his second punt, the defense forced a fumble and promptly punched it in from the goal line. Fox’s superb punt resulted in seven quick points for the West team. In totality, Fox kicked five times for 234 yards, averaging 46.8 yards per punt, downing three kicks inside the 20-yard line and two kicks inside the 5-yard line. He allowed zero return yards.

Distance, accuracy and versatility, Fox can do it all. He’s an NFL caliber punter who has all the requisite skills to make a name an impact on Sundays.

Next, Fox will officially turn his attention to the NFL Draft scheduled to take place from April 25 to April 27. He’s hoping an impressive collegiate career and a strong showing at the Shrine Game can make him the first Rice specialist selected since Alan Pringle was chosen by the Houston Oilers in the 10th round of the 1975 NFL Draft. After Saturday’s showing it’s well within the realm of possibility. Drafted or not, Fox is going to get a shot at the big leagues.

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Jack Fox the Owls’ latest East West Shrine Game participant

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Rice football has sent several players to the East-West Shrine Game over the years. Jack Fox will be next Owl to participate in the postseason contest.

As a part of his preparation for the NFL Draft, punter Jack Fox will participate in the East-West Shrine Game. The game is scheduled to take place at Tropicana Field at 3 p.m. ET on Jan. 19. It will be televised on the NFL Network.

The NFL has noted there are more than 300 East-West Shrine Game alumni on NFL rosters each year. Playing at the next level is the goal for all of these players, a process which includes much more than Saturday’s exhibition.

During the week players will work with NFL coaches and personnel, their first chance to audition in front of pro teams. Fox’s squad will be coached by Minnesota Vikings linebackers coach Adam Zimmer with Vikings assistant Ryan Ficken coaching the special teams.

These will be some of the first touch points many of these players get with NFL representatives, and a week under their instruction will go way beyond the game itself. Fox has already put his best foot (literally) forward.

Owls in the East-West Shrine Game

Fox is the next in a rich tradition of Rice Owls who have participated in the East-West Shrine Game. He’s the ninth Rice player to participate in the past 25 editions of the game. So far, four of the eight previous participants have been selected in the NFL Draft. Fox hopes to make it five in April.

Year Game No. Name Pos Draft
1994 No. 69 Nathan Bennett FS Undrafted
1997 No. 72 ND Kalu DE 5th, PHI
2002 No. 77 Dan Dawson LB Undrafted
2009 No. 84 Jarret Dillard WR 5th, JAX
2011 No. 86 Cheta Ozougwu DE 7th, HOU
2014 No. 89 Phillip Gaines CB 3rd, KC
2015 No. 90 Bryce Callahan CB Undrafted
2015 No. 90 Jordan Taylor WR Undrafted
2019 No. 94 Jack Fox P TBD
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Jack Fox leaves legacy of excellence as he pursues his NFL dreams

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Rice football punter Jack Fox has accomplished just about everything he can at the collegiate level. Next stop? The NFL.

Jack Fox, the even-keeled leader of the 2018 Rice football team, can seldom be found without a gentle grin plastered across his face. It’s hard to blame him; he’s had plenty to be happy about this season.

Fox’s accolades stretch far and wide. He was the only Rice player named to the All-Conference USA preseason team and the only one of the Owls to make first team All-Conference at season’s end. If that wasn’t enough, he was named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy award, given annually to the nation’s top punter. Most recently he was named Conference USA’s Special Team’s Player of the year, the first punter to ever win the award.

Through all of the accolades, Jack Fox has stayed levelheaded and complimentary of those around him. “A lot went into it, obviously a lot more than one player,” said Fox as he looked back on the season and the CUSA special teams honor. “My name is on the award, but we have to have a good gameplan and really good execution from all 11 guys on the field.”

Those 11 guys, several teams deep are a part of the legacy Fox is leaving at South Main. In the midst of his record-breaking season, Rice football has undergone a culture shift that started with special teams. The oft-forgotten third phase of the game has been given a seat of honor (literally) and now includes the entire roster. Everyone from the stars to the scout team plays special teams.

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“People understand now that if you play on offense or defense you’re going to play special teams. That’s just part of the Rice culture now. Nobody is too good for special teams. Nobody is too good for anything here,” Fox proclaimed.

With that honest admission, Fox echoed all head coach Mike Bloomgren has been working for months to achieve. Rice strives for excellence in all they do, from special teams all the way to the top. There’s no way around it, as much as Fox seeks to distance himself from the spotlight, he’s going out on top.

Now the only question that remains for Fox is what’s next? If things go as he hopes, the NFL. He’s currently in the process of finding an agent and preparing for the NFL Draft. Drafted or not, Fox is working as best he can to familiarize himself with his next challenge and making a way to play at the next level.

He’s been in contact with James Farrimond frequently this season, his predecessor at Rice and a fellow Ray Guy watch list member. Farrimond never made it to the league, but he did participate in the pre-draft process, something Fox says has already been extremely helpful. Farrimond, along with Bloomgren, have already begun prepping Fox for his shot at becoming a professional football player.

Fox understands the weight of what lies in front of him. “It would mean the world to me, obviously it’s the dream,” he admitted. But with the same grin he’d wore form the start, he looked confidently on and offered one direct promise. “All I need is a shot.”

He’s going to get a shot. His leg alone makes him worth an audition, but his passion and character leave no remaining doubt. If Fox isn’t the kind of guy you want in your locker room, who is? Rice football doesn’t part with Jack Fox willingly, but they know he has bigger things ahead. He’ll have a new jersey on soon enough.

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Rice Football 2018 Special Teams Player of the Year: Jack Fox

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The Rice Football special teams were Conference USA’s gold standard thanks to the incredible season of Jack Fox, our Special Teams Player of the Year.

Rice football won’t fully appreciate how special Jack Fox was until he’s gone. The Owls’ senior punter and kickoff specialist was an incalculably important weapon for the team this fall. The nation took notice.

Fox was named a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award, was a First Team All-Conference USA selection and has now been named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year. Frankly there aren’t many more accolades Fox could receive that he hasn’t already been awarded. That sort of thing happens when you have the kind of season Fox did in 2018.

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Highlighted by a career-best 76-yard punt against North Texas, Fox amassed 3,636 punt yards with his leg, the most in the nation. His 80 punts included 31 downed inside the 20 and only 15 returnable kicks. He averaged 45.5 yards per punt with a net of 40.1, both well inside the top 25 punters in the country. His 12 punts against UAB tied a school record for a single game.

On top of all that, Fox recorded two tackles and recovered a fumble on a kickoff. He was also asked to execute a few trick plays this season, rushing for a first down against UTEP and throwing for a first down against UTSA. A former high school quarterback, Fox maintains a career 100.0 percent completion percentage.

Fox leaves Rice as one of the most talented specialists in school history. He was the safety net and the consistent force for a 2018 team featuring, at least at times, an offense and a defense in need of a spark. Every time they asked, Jack Fox delivered. That’s just the kind of guy he is. Talented, consistent, and one of the best punters in the nation.

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