Adam Sandler?s song, “Lonesome Kicker,” narrates a lack of respect toward special-teams players. But Maryland?s senior punter Adam Podlesh is kicking to his own tune, earning the respect of his teammates with his performance and effort.
“He?s one of those guys, if you do your job and you?re great at it, more power to you,” said defensive end Jeremy Navarre, part of a defensive unit that got the benefit of good field position.
“Special teams stepped it up a lot,” Navarre said. “Adam was punting the ball great, giving us great field position.”
After a less-than-great effort against West Virginia, the Terps? special teams were arguably the highlight of Saturday?s 14-10 win over Florida International.
“They played the way they normally play,” Terps head coach Ralph Friedgen said. “They covered well. Returning kicks is one of [FIU?s] strengths, and I think we did a good job containing them.”
Podlesh played his part, averaging 42.6 yards on seven punts, including three inside the opponent?s 20-yard line. Florida International returned just four, averaging only eight yards per return.
“I thought I punted OK,” said Podlesh, featured on the cover of Saturday?s game program. “I had some good punts, and I had some I wish I could take back.”
Saturday?s game was the final non-conference tune-up before the ACC season opens. Maryland will have to be strong in all facets of the game from here on out ? particularly on special teams.
“Field position is always big, because ACC teams, if they get an edge, they can really turn the tide,” said Podlesh, who has been second-team All-ACC for three consecutive years and has twice been a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award as the nation?s top college punter.
“I definitely feel appreciated on this team. I don?t look at myself as a punter. I look at myself as an athlete,” Podlesh said. “I do all the workouts they do in the offseason. I?m putting up the weight that most of them are and I?m running as fast as most of them, too.”
He runs the 40 in just under 4.5 seconds. Now, that?s how you earn respect.
Podlesh file
» Age: 23
» Height: 6-feet
» Weight: 205 pounds
» Did you know? Podlesh attended Pittsford Sutherland (N.Y.) High, where he also played linebacker and running back.
