Rigoberto Sanchez
{{Short description|American football player (born 1994)}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Rigoberto Sanchez
| image = Rigoberto Sanchez.jpg
| caption = Sanchez with the Indianapolis Colts in 2018
| current_team = Indianapolis Colts
| number = 8
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|09|08|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Chico, California, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 0
| weight_lbs = 195
| high_school = Hamilton Union
(Hamilton City, California)
| college = Butte (2012–2013)
Hawaii (2015–2016)
| undraftedyear = 2017
| pastteams =
- Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2017}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
| statweek = 16
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Punts
| statvalue1 = 432
| statlabel2 = Punt yards
| statvalue2 = 20,010
| statlabel3 = Punt average
| statvalue3 = 46.3
| statlabel4 = Inside 20
| statvalue4 = 160
| statlabel5 = Longest punt
| statvalue5 = 79
| pfr = SancRi00
}}
Rigoberto Jovany Sanchez (born September 8, 1994) is an American professional football punter for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
Early life
Sanchez attended and played high school football at Hamilton Union High School in Hamilton City, California.{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2020 |title=Every NFL player from 2019 that played high school football in California |url=https://www.maxpreps.com/news/os2xqYSmoEq-WEqsLq6M-g/every-nfl-player-from-2019-that-played-high-school-football-in-california.htm |access-date=October 2, 2020 |website=MaxPreps.com |language=en}}
College career
Sanchez initially played football for Butte College in Oroville, California, located roughly 30 miles southeast of Hamilton City before transferring to the University of Hawaii. While at Hawaii, Sanchez played on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez College Stats |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rigoberto-sanchez-1.html |access-date=November 14, 2017 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} During the 2015 season, he punted 74 times for 3,335 net yards for a 45.1 average. He handled placekicking duties and converted 23 of 24 extra point attempts and 8 of 11 field goal attempts.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2015 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rigoberto-sanchez-1/gamelog/2015/ |access-date=November 14, 2017 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}} In 2016, he punted 70 times for 3,122 net yards for a 44.6 average. He converted 49 of 50 extra point attempts and all 13 field goal attempts.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2016 Game Log |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/rigoberto-sanchez-1/gamelog/2016/ |access-date=November 14, 2017 |website=Sports Reference |language=en}}
=College statistics=
| class="wikitable"
! style="font-weight:bold;" | Year ! style="font-weight:bold;" | School ! style="font-weight:bold;" | Conf ! style="font-weight:bold;" | Class ! style="font-weight:bold;" | Pos ! style="font-weight:bold;" | G ! style="font-weight:bold;" | Punts ! style="font-weight:bold;" | Yds ! style="font-weight:bold;" | Avg ! style="font-weight:bold;" | XPM ! style="font-weight:bold;" | XPA ! style="font-weight:bold;" | XP% ! style="font-weight:bold;" | FGM ! style="font-weight:bold;" | FGA ! style="font-weight:bold;" | FG% ! style="font-weight:bold;" | Pts |
| 2015
| Hawaii | MWC | JR | K | 12 | 74 | 3,335 | 45.1 | 23 | 24 | 95.8 | 8 | 11 | 72.7 | 47 |
| 2016
| Hawaii | MWC | SR | PK | 14 | 70 | 3,122 | 44.6 | 49 | 50 | 98.0 | 13 | 13 | 100.0 | 88 |
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Career
| style="font-weight:bold;" | Hawaii | style="font-weight:bold;" | | style="font-weight:bold;" | | style="font-weight:bold;" | | style="font-weight:bold;" | 26 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 144 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 6,457 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 44.8 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 72 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 74 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 97.3 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 21 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 24 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 87.5 | style="font-weight:bold;" | 135 |
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 5
| height in = 11 7/8
| weight = 193
| arm span = 31
| hand span = 8 1/4
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2017 NFL Draft Scout Rigoberto Sanchez College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1016270&DraftYear=2017 |access-date=December 31, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
File:Adam Vinatieri.png in a game against the Tennessee Titans in 2019]]
Sanchez was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Bowen, Kevin |date=May 4, 2017 |title=Who Are The Colts 18 Undrafted Free Agents In 2017? |url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Who-Are-The-Colts-18-Undrafted-Free-Agents-In-2017/6fa0bf30-eb66-4ab8-bbc8-ab7a8f7c31a8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111020956/http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Who-Are-The-Colts-18-Undrafted-Free-Agents-In-2017/6fa0bf30-eb66-4ab8-bbc8-ab7a8f7c31a8 |archive-date=November 11, 2017 |access-date=September 9, 2017 |website=Colts.com}} He won the Colts' starting punter job as a rookie after beating out veteran Jeff Locke.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Andrew |date=August 28, 2017 |title=Rookie Rigoberto Sanchez Wins Colts' Punter Competition |url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Rookie-Rigoberto-Sanchez-Wins-Colts%E2%80%99-Punter-Competition/226bebf0-b84e-47d5-87f8-ab30864dd762 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171109151311/https://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Rookie-Rigoberto-Sanchez-Wins-Colts%E2%80%99-Punter-Competition/226bebf0-b84e-47d5-87f8-ab30864dd762 |archive-date=November 9, 2017 |website=Indianapolis Colts}}
On September 10, 2017, Sanchez made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. In the 46–9 loss, he punted six times for 302 total yards for a 50.30 average.{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams - September 10th, 2017 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201709100ram.htm |access-date=October 7, 2017 |website=Pro Football Reference}} Overall, in his rookie season, he totaled 84 punts for 3,764 net yards for a 44.81 average.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2017 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SancRi00/gamelog/2017/ |access-date=October 5, 2018 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.{{Cite web |title=2017 NFL All-Rookie Team |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/nfl-all-rookie-2017.htm |access-date=2024-07-29|website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2018 season, he had 57 punts for 2,629 net yards for a 46.12 average.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2018 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SancRi00/gamelog/2018/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2019 season, he had 59 punts for 2,619 net yards for a 44.39 average.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SancRi00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On June 4, 2019, Sanchez signed a four-year, $11.6 million contract extension with the Colts through the 2023 season.{{Cite web |last=Hickey |first=Kevin |date=June 5, 2019 |title=Colts' Rigoberto Sanchez gets $11.6M in new extension |url=https://coltswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/05/indianapolis-colts-rigoberto-sanchez-contract-details/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |website=Colts Wire |publisher=USA Today}} In the 2019 season, he had 59 punts with a 44.39 average.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2019 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SancRi00/gamelog/2019/ |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} In the 2020 season, he had 42 punts for a 46.19 average.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2020 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SancRi00/gamelog/2020/ |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
In Week 4 of the 2021 season, Sanchez averaged 50 yards per punt on four punts, including two inside the 20, in a 27–17 win over the Miami Dolphins, earning American Football Conference (AFC) Special Teams Player of the Week.{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Grant |date=October 6, 2021 |title=Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Giants QB Daniel Jones lead Players of the Week |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2021-week-4-joe-burrow-daniel-jones |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=NFL.com}}
In Week 7 of the 2021 season, Sanchez kicked the longest punt of his career, and in Colts history, 79 yards, in a 30–18 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.{{Cite web |title=2021 NFL Week 7 Leaders & Scores |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/week_7.htm |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}} He had 59 punts for a 44.53 average in the 2021 season.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SancRi00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On August 31, 2022, Sanchez was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a torn Achilles.{{Cite web |date=August 30, 2022 |title=Colts Announce Final 2022 Roster Cuts |url=https://www.colts.com/news/final-2022-roster-cuts-philip-lindsay-tyson-williams-jack-coan |access-date=October 3, 2023 |website=Colts.com}} In the 2023 season, he punted 68 times for 3,281 total yards for a 48.25 average.{{Cite web |title=Rigoberto Sanchez 2023 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SancRi00/gamelog/2023/ |access-date=2024-09-30 |website=Pro Football Reference |language=en}}
On March 12, 2024, the Colts signed Sanchez to a three-year contract extension.{{cite web |last=Erickson |first=Joel A. |date=March 12, 2024 |title=Colts avoid roster hole by keeping punter Rigoberto Sanchez |website=The Indianapolis Star |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2024/03/12/colts-avoid-roster-hole-by-keeping-punter-rigoberto-sanchez/72944014007/ |access-date=March 12, 2024}} In Week 6, Sanchez punted five times, three inside the 20-yard line and two inside the 10-yard line in a 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.{{cite web|title=Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker highlight Players of the Week|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/players-of-the-week-2024-week-6-derrick-henry-sean-tucker|author=Gordon, Grant|website=NFL.com|date=October 16, 2024}}
Personal life
Sanchez grew up playing soccer before joining his high school's football team.{{Cite news |last=Holder |first=Stephen |date=September 30, 2017 |title=Colts Q&A: Rigoberto Sanchez, the accidental punter |language=en |work=Indianapolis Star |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2017/09/30/colts-q-a-rigoberto-sanchez-accidental-punter/715934001/ |access-date=November 18, 2017}} He is of Mexican descent.{{Cite news |last=Salgado |first=Gabe |date=November 10, 2017 |title=These Five Latino NFL Players Are Making Their Marks This Season |language=en |work=NBC News |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/latinos-leave-their-mark-nfl-season-n819796 |access-date=November 21, 2017}}
Rigoberto met his wife, Cynthia, when they attended junior college together. Cynthia grew up in the nearby community of Corning, CA. After receiving blessings from her family, he proposed to her at the Circle of Lights at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis on December 26, 2017.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Heather |date=December 28, 2017 |title=Rigoberto Sanchez Gets Engaged At The Circle Of Lights |url=https://www.colts.com/news/rigoberto-sanchez-gets-engaged-at-the-circle-of-lights-20153116 |access-date=March 3, 2021 |website=Colts.com |language=en-US}} They were married the following spring.{{Cite web |last=Lloyd |first=Heather |date=July 30, 2019 |title=Rigoberto Sanchez Has A Secret Weapon: His Wife |url=https://www.colts.com/news/rigoberto-sanchez-has-a-secret-weapon-his-wife |access-date=March 3, 2021 |website=Colts.com |language=en-US}}
On November 30, 2020, it was announced he would undergo surgery the next day to have a cancerous tumor removed.{{Cite web |last=Wells |first=Mike |date=November 30, 2020 |title=Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez to have cancerous tumor removed |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30421907/indianapolis-colts-punter-rigoberto-sanchez-cancerous-tumor-removed |access-date=August 6, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}} The surgery was reported as successful and he returned to practice two weeks later.{{Cite web |last=Shook |first=Nick |date=December 16, 2020 |title=Colts P Rigoberto Sanchez rejoins team after cancer surgery |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/colts-p-rigoberto-sanchez-rejoins-team-after-cancer-surgery |access-date=March 3, 2021 |website=NFL.com |language=en-US}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{footballstats|yahoo=30534|espn=3914922}}
- [http://hawaiiathletics.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=14591 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors bio]
- [https://www.colts.com/team/players-roster/rigoberto-sanchez/ Indianapolis Colts bio]
{{Indianapolis Colts roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanchez, Rigoberto}}
Category:American football punters
Category:American sportspeople of Mexican descent
Category:Butte Roadrunners football players
Category:Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football players
Category:Indianapolis Colts players
Category:People from Glenn County, California
Category:Players of American football from Chico, California
Category:Hispanic and Latino American players of American football