When it comes to flipping the field in college football, no state is doing it better than North Carolina right now.
Elon’s Jeff Yurk, a 2024 All-American, currently leads all of FCS punters with an eye-popping 51.38-yard average through three games (13 punts). Right behind him is Gardner-Webb’s Brady Braun, averaging 50.62 yards per punt across the same span. To put it in perspective, the next closest punter in the entire FCS is more than two yards behind these two leaders with a 48.12 yard average.
Yurk has stacked up plenty of honors already this fall. The Southern Pines native and former Pinecrest High standout was named the Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week, the CAA Co-Special Teams Player of the Week and The College Football Network’s FCS Special Teams Player of the Week after a booming game at Western Carolina, 37-31 Elon win.
He also shared honors as NC Football News Special Teams Player of the Week.
Braun, a senior from Indianapolis, Ind., is making an immediate splash after transferring to Gardner-Webb from Coffeyville Community College. His 50.62-yard average has helped the Runnin’ Bulldogs (2-1) consistently win the field-position battle in their early-season games.
And it’s not just the FCS. Only one punter in the FBS is topping those numbers — Western Kentucky’s Cole Maynard, who sits at 51.62 yards per punt. The kicker (literally and figuratively)? Maynard is a North Carolina product himself, a Mooresville native who starred at Hough High School before starting his college career at UNC.
From the CAA to the Big South to Conference USA, the message is the same: when it comes to special teams weapons, North Carolina is producing the nation’s best legs.
👉 Want to see who else is on top of the stat sheets across the state? Check out our NC College Football Season Stat Leaders page for the latest in passing, rushing, receiving, defense and special teams numbers across all 33 NC college football programs.
