Tigers kicker/punter Bradley Pinion selected by San Francisco
Clemson punter Bradley Pinion became the first kicker/punter taken in the 2015 draft on Saturday when the San Francisco 49ers selected him in the fifth round with the 165th overall pick.
As a junior last season, Pinion averaged 42.6 yards per punt and pinned a school-record 28 punts inside the 20-yard line. Pinion also forced opponents to signal for a fair catch on 33 punts, the most among any punter in the Power 5.
"I forwent my senior season and this is one of the reasons I did it," Pinion said. "I felt as if I was the best in this class. That’s the confidence that I have about myself, and I guess it showed in the draft.
"I’m really glad that the 49ers picked me up, and I’m really excited to get out there and start my career there.”
Pinion was the first Clemson kicker taken in the draft since Chris Gardocki was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1991 draft.