Bryce Baringer

Bryce Baringer
No. 17 – New England Patriots
Position:Punter
Personal information
Born: (1999-04-26) April 26, 1999 (age 25)
Waterford, Michigan, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Notre Dame Preparatory
(Pontiac, Michigan)
College:Illinois (2017)
Michigan State (2018–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 6 / pick: 192
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 9, 2024
Punts:143
Punting yards:6,854
Average Punt:47.9
Net punting average:41.0
Inside 20:59
Longest punt:79
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Bryce Baringer (born April 26, 1999) is an American professional football punter for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting Illini and Michigan State.

Early life

Baringer was born and grew up in Waterford, Michigan and attended Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy.[1] He initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play college football at Southern Illinois, but was granted a release and committed to play at Illinois as a preferred walk-on.[2]

College career

Baringer began his college career at Illinois, where he redshirted his true freshman season.[3] After the season, he transferred to Michigan State University.[4]

Baringer enrolled at Michigan State and originally did not plan on continuing his football career until he was contacted by the Spartans coaching staff. He took part in two tryouts, but was not offered a spot on the roster after either one. Baringer eventually joined the team after punters Jake Hartbarger and Tyler Hunt both suffered injuries during the 2018 season.[3] He played in four games and punted 15 times for an average of 32.4 yards.[5] Baringer was cut by the Spartans entering the 2019 season after the team added Australian punter Jack Bouwmeester to their recruiting class.[6]

Baringer continued to practice punting independently and was offered to rejoin the team after Bouwmeester left the team at the conclusion of the season. He entered his redshirt junior season competing with Mitchell Crawford, a graduate transfer from UTEP, but ultimately won the punting job early in the season and averaged 43.6 yards per punt on 37 punts.[7] As a redshirt senior, Baringer punted 59 times for a Michigan State record 48.4 yard average and was named second team All-Big Ten Conference.[8] Baringer used the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and returned to Michigan State for a sixth year.[9] He entered his final season ranked as the best punting prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper.[10]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span
6 ft 1+3⁄4 in
(1.87 m) 		216 lb
(98 kg) 		30+1⁄2 in
(0.77 m) 		9 in
(0.23 m)
All values from NFL Combine[11][12]

Baringer was selected by the New England Patriots in the sixth round, 192nd overall, of the 2023 NFL draft.[13] He signed a standard four-year rookie contract with a total value of about $4.02 million, including a signing bonus of $178,459.[14] He was named to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team.[15]

Baringer started his career with a punt of at least 50 yards in each of his first 26 games. The streak ended in Week 11 of the NFL 2024 season.

Personal life

Baringer is a close friend of professional golfer James Piot, who was also his roommate at Michigan State.[16]

References

  1. ^ Charboneau, Matt (September 26, 2018). "Baringer gets chance to get leg up in crowded MSU punting mix". Detroit News. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  2. ^ Werner, Jeremy (February 25, 2017). "Illini add preferred walk-on punter". 247Sports.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Pouncy, Colton (September 30, 2021). "'The prize is in the journey': How Bryce Baringer worked his way into a key role for Michigan State". The Athletic. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  4. ^ Solari, Chris (September 27, 2018). "Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer explains unique journey to college football". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  5. ^ Wenzel, Matt (March 31, 2020). "Australian punter Jack Bouwmeester no longer on Michigan State roster, Julian Barnett listed at CB". MLive.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Wenzel, Matt (September 30, 2022). "Three years after being cut, Michigan State's Bryce Baringer could be best punter in nation". MLive.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  7. ^ "Why Mike Sadler's words stay with Michigan State P Bryce Baringer". Detroit Free Press. October 2, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  8. ^ Garcia, Tony (September 7, 2022). "Michigan State football's Bryce Baringer a special teams star, but other questions persist". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Wenzel, Matt (December 16, 2021). "Michigan State punter Bryce Baringer returning for sixth year". MLive.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  10. ^ Wenzel, Matt (May 30, 2022). "Michigan State's Bryce Baringer ranked No. 1 punter for 2023 NFL draft by Mel Kiper". MLive.com. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  11. ^ "Bryce Baringer Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  12. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Bryce Baringer College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  13. ^ Wenzel, Matt (April 30, 2023). "Michigan State's Bryce Baringer fulfills 'lifelong dream' being drafted by Patriots". MLive.com. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  14. ^ Williams, Charean (May 10, 2023). "Sixth-round picks Bryce Baringer, Demario Douglas agree to terms". NBC Sports. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  15. ^ "2023 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "Michigan State football: Bryce Baringer skips practice to see Masters". Detroit Free Press. April 13, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.