Josh Jasper Explained

Josh Jasper
Position:Placekicker
Birth Date:November 26, 1987
Birth Place:Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:170
High School:Memphis (TN) Ridgeway
College:LSU
Undraftedyear:2011
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Aflstatlabel1:FG made
Aflstatvalue1:1
Aflstatlabel2:FG att
Aflstatvalue2:2
Aflstatlabel3:PAT made
Aflstatvalue3:10
Aflstatlabel4:PAT att
Aflstatvalue4:16
Aflstatlabel5:Tackles
Aflstatvalue5:2
Afl:12908

Joshua Norwood Jasper (born November 26, 1987) is a former American football placekicker.

He set the Tennessee state record for career high school field goals, with 44, and his longest field goal was 54 yards. In 2010, he was a Consensus College All-American placekicker for the LSU Tigers in his senior year, after leading the nation with 28 field goals. He had the best placekicking percentage in LSU history as of 2011. In July 2011, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him as a free agent.

Early years

Jasper was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He played football and soccer at Ridgeway High School in Memphis.[1] [2] Originally, he was a quarterback and wide receiver, before moving over to kicker for his junior and senior years.[3] He was rated the No. 12 kicker in the U.S. by Scout.com as a senior. His longest field goal as a high schooler was 54 yards[4] and he set the state's record for total career field goals, with 44.

College career

Jasper attended Louisiana State University, where he played for coach Les Miles's LSU Tigers football team from 2007 to 2010. He completed 47 of 56 field goal attempts as a Tiger (83.9%), the best percentage in team history, and the second best in Southeastern Conference (SEC) history.

During his junior season in 2009, he tied for the third-longest field goal in LSU history, at 52 yards.[5] In a spring game, he kicked a 57-yard field goal. He also set a school record in September 2010 with five field goals in one game, against Mississippi State, while tying the school record of 17 kicking points in one game.[6] [7]

During his senior season in 2010, he led the country with twenty-eight field goals. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American placekicker, after receiving first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and Sporting News.[8] [9] [10] In addition to kicking field goals, he punted as LSU's "pooch punter", kicked kickoffs, and rushed a handful of times for first downs.[11] He was also a first-team All-SEC selection, the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week (vs. Mississippi State, vs. Ole Miss), and the Lou Groza Award Star of the Week (vs. Mississippi State, vs. Alabama, vs. UL-Monroe).[12] He capped his career by playing in the 2011 Senior Bowl.[13] [14]

Professional career

Despite his high school and college success, prognosticators were uncertain whether Jasper would be drafted in the April 2011 NFL draft, as in the prior five years just nine kickers were drafted.[15] NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier opined that he might be a later-round draftee.

He was not picked in the draft.[16] He had to wait until the NFL lockout ended before he could sign with a team as a free agent.[17]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On July 26, 2011, Jasper said he had agreed to terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a rookie free agent deal.[18] He was released on August 5.

Toronto Argonauts

On October 4, 2012, Jasper was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was released by the team on October 17, 2012.

New Orleans VooDoo

On November 19, 2013, Jasper was assigned to the New Orleans VooDoo of the Arena Football League.[19]

Memphis Express

On August 21, 2018, Jasper signed with the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football.[20] He was waived on February 27, 2019.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ali Manion . October 16, 2010 . Cover Story: Senior Placekicker Josh Jasper . March 3, 2011 . LSUsports.net . October 24, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101024183933/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=205011672 . dead .
  2. News: Rachel Whittaker . Football: Josh Jasper takes over as starting kicker in 2009 season . dead . https://archive.today/20120904122017/http://www.lsureveille.com/sports/football-john-jasper-takes-over-as-starting-kicker-in-2009-season-1.2001215 . September 4, 2012 . March 4, 2011 . The Daily Reveille.
  3. News: Rachel Whittaker . October 16, 2009 . Football: Josh Jasper takes over as starting kicker in 2009 season . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713235250/http://www.lsureveille.com/sports/football-josh-jasper-takes-over-as-starting-kicker-in-2009-season-1.2001215 . July 13, 2011 . March 4, 2011 . The Daily Reveille.
  4. Web site: Football . Josh Jasper Bio . March 3, 2011 . LSUsports.net . May 25, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110525063735/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=785340 . dead .
  5. Web site: Glenn Guilbeau . September 20, 2009 . LSU Notes: Jasper kicks 52-yard field goal . March 3, 2011 . The Shreveport Times . June 29, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110629043720/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/shreveporttimes/access/1862564911.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+20,+2009&author=Glenn+Guilbeau&pub=The+Times&desc=LSU+Notes:+Jasper+kicks+52-yard+field+goal&pqatl=google . dead .
  6. Web site: September 20, 2010 . LSU football players Drake Nevis, Josh Jasper win SEC weekly awards . March 3, 2011 . NOLA.com.
  7. Web site: Michael DeMocker . Josh Jasper sets LSU record with five field goals . March 3, 2011 . The Times-Picayune.
  8. Web site: September 21, 2006 . Josh Jasper | LSU, K : 2011 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile . March 3, 2011 . NFL Draft Scout.
  9. Web site: February 17, 2011 . LSU assistant Robinson hired as UNC defensive line coach . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110221053402/http://www.neworleans.com/sports/lsu/561043-lsu-assistant-robinson-hired-as-unc-defensive-line-coach.html . February 21, 2011 . March 3, 2011 . Neworleans.com.
  10. Web site: Josh Jasper College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits . 2024-03-05 . College Football at Sports-Reference.com . en.
  11. News: Ron Higgins . December 2, 2010 . Can't stop an Auburn sweep . https://web.archive.org/web/20121017180908/http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/dec/02/cant-stop-an-auburn-sweep/?print=1 . October 17, 2012 . March 11, 2016 . Memphis Commercial Appeal.
  12. Web site: Michael DeMocker . November 15, 2010 . LSU kicker Josh Jasper was named Lou Groza Star of the Week . March 3, 2011 . The Times-Picayune.
  13. News: January 27, 2011 . Sheppard, Jasper love their Senior Bowl surroundings . March 4, 2011 . Shreveport Times.
  14. News: FSU's Ponder uses Senior Bowl to make statement . March 4, 2011.
  15. News: Mark Clements . Football: Peterson and other Tigers make good impressions in 2011 NFL Combine . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713235256/http://www.lsureveille.com/mobile/sports/football-peterson-and-other-tigers-make-good-impressions-in-2011-nfl-combine-1.2501785 . July 13, 2011 . March 4, 2011 . The Daily Reveille.
  16. Web site: How Did LSU Players Fare In The Draft? . May 14, 2011 . WWL.
  17. News: Michael Lambert . May 1, 2011 . Toliver, Jasper left out as six former Tigers taken in draft . March 11, 2016 . The Daily Reveille.
  18. News: Michael DeMocker/The Times-Picayune . Tampa Bay agrees to terms with LSU PK Josh Jasper . July 27, 2011 . NOLA.com.
  19. Web site: November 22, 2013 . New Orleans VooDoo signs former LSU kicker Josh Jasper . November 22, 2013 . www.theadvocate.com . Capital City Press LLC.
  20. Web site: Dixon . Shea . August 21, 2018 . Six former LSU players sign with Memphis . February 6, 2019 . 247Sports.com.