The Rocket

Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chelsey Rovesti Senior punter Kyle Witman helps pin California University at the 11 yard-line last Saturday.

Rock punter Kyle Witman's job on the field is often overlooked by other positions, but is just as important in many ways.

Witman, ranked fourth in the nation, has punted 51 times this season for 2,131 yards. He's averaging 41.8 yards per punt, has had 12 punts over 50 yards-his longest being 65-and has pinned opponents inside their own 20-yard line 18 times this year.

"Field position plays a big role in games," Witman said. "I can change that."

Witman, 23, a senior finance major, was a quarterback, tight end, punter and kicker at Trinity High School in Camp Hill, Pa. He played three years but took off his junior year to focus on his traveling fall league baseball team.

"I tried to go to college for baseball," he said. "It didn't work out that way."

After being redshirted his freshman year, Witman has improved his yards per punt average every season. He was third in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference last year and fifth in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. This season, Witman is leading the PSAC and is fourth in the NCAA. Special teams coach Rob Keys said that Witman has become more mature and consistent.

"He's such an asset to the field position game," he said. "You know you're going to put him out there and he's going to make something happen."

Special teams gets less time than the offense and defense at practice, but is an important third piece to the puzzle.

"We only get 20 minutes or so of practice," Witman said. "We have to get out there and take advantage of that time."

Witman played soccer growing up and stuck with kicking in football. He said that he decided to play football for SRU when he knew he wasn't going to play baseball anymore.

"A lot of schools came to our high school to talk to us," Witman said. "Slippery Rock kept calling me so I knew they were interested."

He said he hopes the Rock can go out on top for his last game.

"I'm glad I came back for my fifth year," Witman said. "It's been a fun year."

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