Corliss Waitman
{{Short description|Belgian-born gridiron football player (born 1995)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Corliss Waitman
| image = Corliss Waitman 8 25 2023.jpg
| caption = Waitman with the New England Patriots in 2023
| current_team = Pittsburgh Steelers
| number = 3
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|7|21|df=y}}{{Cite web |title=Corliss Waitman – Football |url=https://usajaguars.com/sports/football/roster/corliss-waitman/7925 |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=South Alabama Jaguars Athletics}}
| birth_place = Ghent, Belgium
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 210
| high_school = Milton {{nowrap|(Milton, Florida, U.S.)}}
| college = South Alabama (2014–2018)
| undraftedyear = 2020
| cfldraftyear = 2022G
| cfldraftround = 3
| cfldraftpick = 20
| pastteams =
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2021}})
- Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2022}})
- New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|2024}})*
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statweek =
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Punts
| statvalue1 = 168
| statlabel2 = Punting yards
| statvalue2 = 7,850
| statlabel3 = Average punt
| statvalue3 = 46.7
| statlabel4 = Longest punt
| statvalue4 = 71
| statlabel5 = Inside 20
| statvalue5 = 58
}}
Corliss Leendert Waitman (born 21 July 1995) is a Belgian-American professional football punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the South Alabama Jaguars.
Early life
Waitman's mother's family is from Suriname.{{cite web | last=Batko | first=Brian | title='This guy is in the NFL?': Surinamese Steelers rookie hopes to be | website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | date=2020-08-26 | url=https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2020/08/26/corliss-waitman-suriname-nfl-black-punters-steelers-jordan-berry/stories/202008250070 | access-date=2024-10-05}} His father, José Waitman, was a professional basketball player, and was playing in Belgium when Corliss was born. The family moved to the Netherlands, where Corliss spent his childhood. When he was 15, he moved to the United States to join his father. Waitman switched from playing soccer to football in high school.{{cite web | last=Damien | first=Levi | title=Raiders sign punter Corliss Waitman with unique backstory | website=Raiders Wire|publisher=USA Today | date=2021-07-26 | url=https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2021/07/26/raiders-sign-punter-corliss-waitman-with-unique-backstory/ | access-date=2024-10-05}}
Waitman is fluent in Dutch and English.{{cite web | last=Stephenson | first=Creg | title=South Alabama's Corliss Waitman developing into one of country's top punters | website=AL.com| date=2017-10-18 | url=https://www.al.com/sports/2017/10/south_alabamas_corliss_waitman.html | access-date=2024-10-05}}
College career
Waitman played college football at the University of South Alabama from 2014 to 2018. In February 2019, he transferred to Mississippi State University.{{cite web | last=Stephenson | first=Creg | title=Former South Alabama punter Corliss Waitman signs with Mississippi State | website=AL.com| date=2019-02-06 | url=https://www.al.com/sports/2019/02/former-south-alabama-punter-corliss-waitman-signs-with-mississippi-state.html | access-date=2024-10-05}} However, the NCAA denied Waitman an extra year of eligibility, and he did not play college football in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Nissim |first=Steve |date=30 April 2020 |title=Persistence lands Milton's Corliss Waitman an NFL opportunity |url=https://weartv.com/sports/local-sports/persistence-lands-miltons-corliss-waitman-an-nfl-opportunity |website=WEAR}}{{cite web | last=Olson | first=Andrew | title=NCAA denies Mississippi State grad transfer's 6th year of eligibility waiver | website=Saturday Down South | date=2019-08-03 | url=https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/mississippi-state-football/ncaa-denies-mississippi-state-grad-transfers-6th-year-of-eligibility-waiver/ | access-date=2024-10-05}}
=Statistics=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} ! colspan="5"| Punting | ||||||
| {{abbr|Pnt|Times punted}} | {{abbr|Yds|Punting yards}} | {{abbr|Y/P|Yards per punt}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest punt}} | {{abbr|Blck|Times punts blocked}} | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|South Alabama Jaguars}}"| 2014 South Alabama Jaguars football team
| 0 || colspan="5"| Did not play | ||||||
| 2015 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|South Alabama Jaguars}}"| 2015 South Alabama Jaguars football team
| 3 || 4 || 160 || 40.0 || 49 || 0 | ||||||
| 2016 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|South Alabama Jaguars}}"| 2016 South Alabama Jaguars football team
| 13 || 17 || 621 || 36.5 || 53 || 0 | ||||||
| 2017 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|South Alabama Jaguars}}"| 2017 South Alabama Jaguars football team
| 12 || 70 || 3,167 || 45.2 || 66 || 0 | ||||||
| 2018 || style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|South Alabama Jaguars}}"| 2018 South Alabama Jaguars football team
| 12 || 67 || 2,792 || 41.7 || 58 || 0 | ||||||
| colspan="2" | Career | 40 | 158 | 6,740 | 42.7 | 66 | 0 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 1 5/8
| weight = 213
| note = Values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=132268&DraftYear=2020 |title=2020 NFL Draft Scout Corliss Waitman College Football Profile |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint)=
Waitman was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent on 28 April 2020. He was waived on 5 September 2020 and re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on 14 January 2021. He was waived on 3 May 2021.
=Las Vegas Raiders=
On 26 July 2021, Waitman was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was waived on 23 August 2021.
=New England Patriots (first stint)=
On 23 November 2021, Waitman was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad.{{Cite web |date=23 November 2021 |title=Patriots sign punter Corliss Waitman to the practice squad |url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-punter-corliss-waitman-to-the-practice-squad |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Patriots.com |language=en-US}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)=
Waitman was signed by the Steelers off the Patriots practice squad on 25 December 2021, when Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III took bereavement leave.{{Cite web |date=26 December 2021 |title=USA's Corliss Waitman set for NFL debut on Sunday |url=https://www.al.com/sports/2021/12/south-alabamas-corliss-waitman-set-for-nfl-debut-on-sunday.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226063016/https://www.al.com/sports/2021/12/south-alabamas-corliss-waitman-set-for-nfl-debut-on-sunday.html |archive-date=26 December 2021 |access-date=26 December 2021 |website=al.com |language=en}} He made his NFL debut in the team's week 16 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs the following day. He was waived on 15 January 2022.{{Cite web |last=Varley, Teresa |date=15 January 2022 |title=Steelers activate Smith-Schuster |url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-activate-smith-schuster |website=Steelers.com |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124051112/https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-activate-smith-schuster |url-status=dead }}
=Denver Broncos=
On 17 January 2022, Waitman was claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos.{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Charean |date=17 January 2022 |title=Broncos claim Corliss Waitman off waivers |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/01/17/broncos-claim-corliss-waitman-off-waivers/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=Pro Football Talk |publisher=NBC Sports}}
Waitman was also drafted by the Edmonton Elks in the third round (20th overall) of the 2022 CFL Global Draft.{{Cite web |date=3 May 2022 |title=Kingsley Jonathan leads the Way in Global Draft |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2022/05/03/kingsley-jonathan-leads-the-way-in-global-draft/ |access-date=28 January 2023 |website=CFL.ca}}
Waitman was named the starting punter for the Broncos on 29 August 2022, after veteran punter Sam Martin was released.{{Cite web |date=29 August 2022 |title=Broncos cut punter Sam Martin after he refuses pay cut |url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2022/08/29/broncos-cut-punter-sam-martin-after-he-refuses-pay-cut/ |access-date=29 August 2022 |website=NBC Sports}} In Week 3, Waitman punted 10 times, six of them inside the 20-yard line, in an 11–10 win over the San Francisco 49ers, earning American Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.{{Cite web |last=Gordon, Grant |date=28 September 2022 |title=Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson lead Players of the Week |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2022-week-3-trevor-lawrence-cordarrelle-patterson |website=NFL.com}}
=New England Patriots (second stint)=
On 23 March 2023, Waitman signed a contract with the Patriots, following the Patriots releasing Jake Bailey.{{cite web|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-re-sign-dl-daniel-ekuale-and-sign-p-corliss-waitman|website=patriots.com|title=Patriots Re-Sign DL Daniel Ekuale and Sign P Corliss Waitman|date=23 March 2023|access-date=23 March 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Yang |first=Nicole |date=23 March 2023 |title=Patriots sign left-footed punter Corliss Waitman - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/23/sports/patriots-sign-left-footed-punter-corliss-waitman/ |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Schad |first=Joe |date=March 22, 2023 |title=New Dolphins punter Jake Bailey addresses Patriots' suspension and contract dispute |url=https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/03/22/dolphins-punter-jake-bailey-cited-confusion-in-discussing-patriots-suspension/70037516007/ |access-date=24 March 2023 |website=The Palm Beach Post |language=en-US}} On 28 August 2023, the Patriots released Waitman and was re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite news|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-release-qb-trace-mcsorley-and-p-corliss-waitman|title=Patriots Release QB Trace McSorley and P Corliss Waitman|website=Patriots.com|date=28 August 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/patriots/news/new-england-patriots-practice-squad-bailey-zappe-malik-cunningham-ty-montgomery-kevin-harris-pharoah-brown-roster-sign-update|website=SI.com|title=Patriots Practice Squad Headlined by QBs Zappe, Malik|date=30 August 2023|access-date=30 August 2023}} Waitman was released on 4 October 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-sign-dl-trysten-hill-to-the-practice-squad-release-p-corliss-waitman-fr|work=Patriots.com|title=Patriots Sign DL Trysten Hill to the Practice Squad; Release P Corliss Waitman from the Practice Squad|date=4 October 2023|accessdate=4 October 2023}}
=Chicago Bears=
On 9 January 2024, Waitman signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chicago Bears.{{Cite web |last=Medina |first=Luis |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Punter Corliss Waitman Signs with the Bears |url=https://www.bleachernation.com/bears/2024/01/09/bears-sign-punter-waitman/ |access-date=10 January 2024 |website=Bleacher Nation}} He was waived on August 27.{{cite web|title=Roster Moves: Bears reach 53-man roster limit|url=https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-reach-53-man-roster-limit-2024|author=Mayer, Larry|website=ChicagoBears.com|date=August 27, 2024}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers (third stint)=
On September 9, 2024, Waitman again signed with the Steelers following a season-ending injury to Cameron Johnston.{{cite web | last=Varley | first=Teresa | title=Steelers sign Waitman | website=Steelers.com | date=2024-09-09 | url=https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-sign-waitman | access-date=2024-10-05}}
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
! colspan="2"| Legend |
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league |
| Bold
| Career high |
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| {{abbr|GP|Games played}} ! colspan="5"| Punting | ||||||
| {{abbr|Pnt|Times punted}} | {{abbr|Yds|Punting yards}} | {{abbr|Y/P|Yards per punt}} | {{abbr|Lng|Longest punt}} | {{abbr|Blck|Times punts blocked}} | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | PIT
| 2 || 7 || 365 || 52.1 || 63 || 0 | |||||
| 2022 | DEN
| 17 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 96 || 4,470 || 46.6 || 59 || 0 | |||||
| 2024 | PIT
| 16 || 65 || 3,015 || 46.4 || 71 || 0 | |||||
| colspan="2" | [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WaitCo00.htm Career] | 35 | 168 | 7,850 | 46.7 | 71 | 0 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{footballstats|espn=3125280|yahoo=32942|nfl=corliss-waitman}}
- [https://www.steelers.com/team/players-roster/corliss-waitman/ Pittsburgh Steelers bio]
- [https://usajaguars.com/sports/football/roster/corliss-waitman/7925 South Alabama Jaguars bio]
{{Pittsburgh Steelers roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Waitman, Corliss}}
Category:American football punters
Category:South Alabama Jaguars football players
Category:Sportspeople of Surinamese descent
Category:Sportspeople from Ghent
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Players of American football from Florida
Category:Las Vegas Raiders players
Category:New England Patriots players
Category:Sportspeople from Milton, Florida
Category:Denver Broncos players
Category:Chicago Bears players
Category:Belgian people of Surinamese descent