By Will Vandervort.
Clemson punter Bradley Pinion obviously knew something no one else did. When the junior announced he was turning professional following the Tigers’ win over Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl, everyone wondered what he was thinking.
Punters and kickers just don’t get drafted in today’s NFL. At least that is what everyone has been told. But Pinion went against conventional wisdom and it turned out to be a good move.
The San Francisco 49ers selected Pinion in the fifth round with the 165th pick in the 2015 NFL Draft on Saturday. Pinion was the only punter selected in this year’s draft and one of only two specialists. The other was a long snapper.
“I forwent my senior season and this is one of the reasons why I did it,” Pinion told 49ers.com. “I felt as if I was the best in this class. That’s the confidence that I have for myself, and I guess it showed in the draft.”
Pinion’s selection made him the first punter taken by the 49ers since they took current punter Andy Lee in the 2004 draft. Pinion is expected to challenge Lee for punting and kickoff duties this summer.
“Andy Lee is a very accomplished punter. He’s done great for the past decade,” Pinion said. “It’s just one of those things where everywhere you go there is going to be competition. I’m just looking forward to competing and trying to earn a spot.”
Last year, Pinion averaged 42.6 yards per punt and 28 of those were downed inside the 20-yard line. In his career, Pinion had only two punts go into the end zone for touchbacks and he was 24-for-24 with punts down inside the 20-yard line as a sophomore.
He led all Power 5 Conference punters with 33 forced fair catches in 2014.
“My ability to control the ball, my ability to put the ball inside the 20, and also, I think my kickoffs really put me apart as well,” Pinion said. “(I can) not only punt, but I can kick the ball off out the back of the end zone.
“It’s one of those things. You get two-for-one.”
Pinion will join former Clemson offensive tackle Brandon Thomas in San Francisco. Thomas was drafted by the 49ers in the third round of last year’s draft.
Overall, Clemson had five players taken in the draft. Vic Beasley led things off on Thursday night when the Falcons selected him No. 8 overall and then linebacker Stephone Anthony closed the first round for Clemson with the No. 31 pick by the Saints.
Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett (Fifth round, Atlanta), Pinion and linebacker Tony Steward (sixth round, Buffalo) were all taken on Saturday.