ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Falcons selected former Syracuse punter Sterling Hofrichter with the 228th-overall pick in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
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WHY HE FITS
The Falcons parted ways with veteran punter Matt Bosher this offseason and released Sam Irwin-Hill on Saturday morning, opening up room for Hofrichter to come in and compete with Ryan Allen. A four-year starter at Syracuse, Hofrichter punted the ball 270 times during his college career and averaged 43.2 yards per punt; his hangtime on punts was among the best in college football. Hofrichter also attempted four field goals for Syracuse, making three of them. Hofrichter did handle kickoffs during his time at Syracuse, and he could potentially do the same in Atlanta. Like Bosher did during his time with the Falcons, Hofrichter proved to be an aggressive tackler while covering kicks.
DRAFT GRADES
Chris Trapasso, CBSSports.com
- Grade: D+
- Comment: "I can deal with a punter in the seventh round. Hofrichter has a booming leg and multiple years of experience at Syracuse."
Mike Tanier, Bleacher Report
- Grade: Satisfactory
- Comment: "Hofrichter punted for four years for the Orange. He delivers high-hang-time kicks that can be hard to haul in, and he can handle kickoffs in a pinch. Hofrichter's delivery includes a little hop step which will have to be corrected in the NFL to shave a few hundredths of a second off his kick time. He doesn't deliver many 65-yard blasts, but he could stick as a Colquitt-style punter in the NFL."
"Punter with below average size but a quality leg used for both punting and field goal duties. Hofrichter's hangtime was one of the best in college football and he proved that he could hit the open-field punt with consistent distance while putting english on pooch punts near the end zone. He's feisty as a tackler, but may need to back off a bit to stay healthy. His punt/kickoff flexibility adds to his potential to make a squad now or in the future," NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein writes of Hofrichter.
Editor's note: This story will continue to be updated.
With the No. 228 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Syracuse punter Sterling Hofrichter.
Syracuse's Sterling Hofrichter (10) punts the ball against the North Carolina State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Karl B DeBlaker)
Syracuse punter Sterling Hofrichter winds up a kick against Wake Forest during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. Syracuse beat Wake Forest 39-30 in overtime. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Syracuse punter Sterling Hofrichter (35) punts the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)
File- This Nov. 2, 2019, file photo shows Syracuse's Andre Szmyt kicking before an NCAA college football game against Boston College in Syracuse, N.Y. Syracuse has a terrific 1-2 punch in punter Sterling Hofrichter and Szmyt. Together they've helped the Orange excel on special teams for a second straight season. Hofrichter has landed 93 of his 255 career punts inside the 20-yard line with only 13 touchbacks. (AP Photo/Nick Lisi, File)
Syracuse punter Sterling Hofrichter punts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia Tech on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mike Groll)
Syracuse Orange punter Sterling Hofrichter (10) punts the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against the Maryland Terrapins, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Will Newton)
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