Lac Edwards

{{Short description|Australian American football player (born 1992)}}

{{Infobox NFL biography

| name = Lac Edwards

| image = Lac Edwards.JPG

| alt =

| caption = Edwards with the New York Jets in 2017

| current_team =

| number = 4, 10

| position = Punter

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1992|4|27}}

| birth_place = Hastings, Australia

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lbs = 209

| high_school = Mornington Secondary College {{nowrap|(Mornington, Australia)}}

| college = Sam Houston State

| draftyear = 2016

| draftround = 7

| draftpick = 235

| pastteams = * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2016}}–{{NFL Year|2019}})

Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2020}})*
Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2021}})*
Carolina Panthers ({{NFL Year|2021}})

| highlights = * NFL punting yards leader (2019)

| statlabel1 = Punts

| statvalue1 = 376

| statlabel2 = Punt yards

| statvalue2 = 17,189

| statlabel3 = Punt average

| statvalue3 = 45.7

| statlabel4 = Inside 20

| statvalue4 = 116

| pfr = EdwaLa01

}}

Lachlan Edwards (born 27 April 1992) is an Australian former professional American football punter. He played college football at Sam Houston State University.

Early life

Edwards was born in Hastings, Victoria, and attended Mornington Secondary College.{{Cite news |url=http://mpnews.com.au/2016/05/10/punter-lands-a-first-for-australia/ |title=Punter lands a first for Australia |last=Taylor |first=Stephen |date=10 May 2016 |work=MPNEWS |access-date=30 January 2018 |language=en-US}} In his youth, he was a promising player of Australian rules football, winning selection for the Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup (Victoria's under-18 competition). Edwards subsequently went on to the North Ballarat Football Club, who play in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He spent three years on North Ballarat's list, but was unsuccessful in his attempts to be drafted into the Australian Football League (AFL).{{Cite web |date=1 May 2016 |title=Former North Ballarat footballer lands NFL contract |url=https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/3880723/former-north-ballarat-footballer-lands-nfl-contract/ |access-date=9 January 2024 |website=The Courier |language=en-AU}} Prior to emigrating to the United States, Edwards attended the University of Ballarat, where he represented the university in Australian rules football, rugby, cricket, and track and field. He was selected to the 2012 All-Australian University team.{{citation needed|date=May 2021}}

College career

Edwards played college football for the Sam Houston State Bearkats of Sam Houston State University. He was selected to the All-Southland Conference First-team and Sports Network FCS All-America third-team. Edwards led the NCAA with a 44.4 yard punting average.{{Cite web |url=http://stats.washingtonpost.com/cfb/players.asp?id=231962 |title=Player Stats - Lac Edwards - Sam Houston State Bearkats - washingtonpost.com |website=stats.washingtonpost.com |access-date=30 January 2018}}

Professional career

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 4 1/8

| weight = 209

| arm span = 32 3/8

| hand span = 9 3/8

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/lachlan-edwards/32004544-5757-1443-fba6-1caa54c3ff64 |title=Lachlan Edwards Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=1 January 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1004977&DraftYear=2016 |title=2016 Draft Scout Lachlan Edwards, Sam Houston NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile |access-date=1 January 2023 |website=draftscout.com}}

}}

=New York Jets=

On 30 April 2016, Edwards was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round (235th overall) in the 2016 NFL draft.{{cite web | title=Jets Select Lachlan Edwards With the 235th Pick in the 2016 NFL Draft | work=ganggreennation.com | date=30 April 2016 | url=http://www.ganggreennation.com/2016/4/30/11545968/jets-select-lachlan-edwards-with-the-235th-pick-in-the-2016-nfl-draft |access-date=30 April 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Johnson|first1=Logan|title=Why the New York Jets should embrace Aussie rules|url=http://isportsweb.com/2016/05/15/new-york-jets-adopt-aussie-rules/|publisher=isportsweb|access-date=15 May 2016|archive-date=15 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515220936/http://isportsweb.com/2016/05/15/new-york-jets-adopt-aussie-rules/|url-status=dead}} As a rookie in 2016, Edwards appeared in 16 games making 75 punts with 3,236 total punting yards, 24 attempts inside the 20, one attempt blocked, 59 yards at the longest, six landed out of bounds, and four touchbacks.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EdwaLa01/gamelog/2016/ |title=Lac Edwards 2016 Game Log |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |access-date=30 January 2018}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2016/kicking.htm |title=2016 NFL Kicking & Punting |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |access-date=30 January 2018}} In Week 4, against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he completed his first professional pass attempt, which went for 31 yards to Marcus Williams.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201710010nyj.htm |title=Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Jets - October 1st, 2017 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |access-date=30 January 2018}} Overall, in the 2017 season, he had 94 punts for 4,378 net yards for a 46.57 average.{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EdwaLa01/gamelog/2017/ |title=Lac Edwards 2017 Game Log |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en |access-date=30 January 2018}}

=Buffalo Bills=

Edwards signed with the Buffalo Bills on 19 August 2020, but was waived eight days later.{{cite news |author=Glab, Maddy |title=Bills sign punter Lachlan Edwards |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-punter-lachlan-edwards |website=BuffaloBills.com |date=19 August 2020 |access-date=19 August 2020}}{{cite web|title=Bills release kicker Stephen Hauschka and punter Lachlan Edwards|url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-release-kicker-stephen-hauschka-and-punter-lachlan-edwards|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=27 August 2020}}

=Los Angeles Chargers=

On 2 December 2020, Edwards was signed to the practice squad of the Los Angeles Chargers.{{cite tweet |user=Chargers |title=We've signed P Lachlan Edwards to our practice squad. |number=1334226573910634497 |date=2 December 2020 |access-date=10 January 2021}} He was released on 7 December.{{cite news |author=Bouda, Nate |title=NFL Transactions: Monday 12/7 |url=https://nfltraderumors.co/nfl-transactions-monday-12-7/ |website=NFLTradeRumors.co |date=7 December 2020 |access-date=14 January 2021}} He re-signed to the practice squad on 12 December.{{cite news |title=Chargers Activate Justin Jackson from Injured Reserve |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-activate-justin-jackson-from-injured-reserve-dec-12 |website=Chargers.com |date=12 December 2020 |access-date=27 January 2021}} He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on 5 January 2021.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Chargers Re-Sign 10 Players to Contracts|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-re-sign-10-players-to-contracts|website=Chargers.com|date=5 January 2021}} He was waived on 16 August.

=Detroit Lions=

On 25 September 2021, Edwards was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad, but was released two days later.{{Cite web |last=Reisman |first=Jeremy |date=2021-09-25 |title=Lions sign P Lachlan Edwards, LS Beau Brinkley to practice squad |url=https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/9/25/22693364/detroit-lions-sign-p-lachlan-edwards-beau-brinkley-practice-squad-special-teams |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Pride Of Detroit |publisher=SB Nation |language=en}}

=Carolina Panthers=

On 26 October 2021, Edwards was signed to the Carolina Panthers practice squad.{{cite web|title=Panthers place John Miller on IR, waive punter Ryan Winslow|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-place-john-miller-on-ir-waive-punter-ryan-winslow|author=Gantt, Darin|website=Panthers.com|date=26 October 2021}} He was promoted to the active roster on 8 November 2021.{{cite web|title=Panthers place two starting linemen on injured reserve|url=https://www.panthers.com/news/panthers-place-two-starting-linemen-on-injured-reserve|author=Gantt, Darin|website=Panthers.com|date=8 November 2021}}