Ravens Add Punter To Roster
The Ravens filled a literal hole in their roster today, adding a punter to their special teams room. After Jordan Stout departed for New York in free agency alongside three teammates and their former head coach, Baltimore didn’t have a punter under contract. There will likely be further additions to serve as competition, but per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Luke Elzinga will be signed as the first new specialist to come in for a chance at succeeding Stout.
Elzinga went undrafted out of Oklahoma last year. He did receive some scouting interest, participating in the Shrine Bowl and receiving an invitation to Titans rookie minicamp, but it looks like things have been quiet for him since then. Elzinga began his collegiate career at Central Michigan, redshirting a year before earning All-MAC honors in each of his next three seasons with the Chippewas. Elzinga entered the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining and opted to walk on for the Sooners.
Over the first half of his first season in Norman, Elzinga was used in tandem with another punter, taking short-field duties requiring accuracy to pin returners deep without touchbacks. By the second half of the season, he had assumed all punting and holding duties, and he ended the year with only two touchbacks. After a fifth season of collegiate play, he declared for the draft.
Elzinga seems like a promising candidate to compete for the Ravens’ (currently unopposed) job. He has a big leg, ending every season but one with a longest punt measuring over 62 yards, including a 76-yarder in his first game as a Chippewa, and impressive distance control, logging only 14 touchbacks in five years. As an added bonus, Elzinga has some experience throwing the football at both collegiate stops, completing all four of his only pass attempts for 86 yards. Former Ravens long-time punter Sam Koch famously maintained a perfect completion percentage, going seven-for-seven, up until the final year of career.
Again, the Ravens will likely add competition for Elzinga at some point in the offseason, so nothing is guaranteed for the new signee. Elzinga will have a head start on anyone who comes in to compete, though, as the default first name atop the depth chart.