Will Putnam
{{Short description|American football player (born 2000)}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Will Putnam
| image = Will Putnam (240924-F-OA359-1015) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Putnam with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024
| currentteam = Las Vegas Raiders
| number = 67
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|8|13}}
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.{{cite web|url=https://clemsontigers.com/will-putnam-2023-program-story/|title=Will Putnam {{!}} More Than Just Football|website=clemsontigers.com|first=Andrew|last=Cameron|date=September 22, 2023|access-date=September 21, 2024}}
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 310
| highlights =
| high_school = Plant (Tampa, Florida)
| college = Clemson (2019–2023)
| undraftedyear = 2024
| pastteams =
- Las Vegas Raiders ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)*
| status = Active
| pfr = PutnWi00
}}
William Putnam (born August 13, 2000) is an American professional football center for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Clemson Tigers.
Early life and high school
Putnam grew up in Chatham, Illinois and attended Glenwood High School before transferring to Henry B. Plant High School during his junior year due to his father being with the U.S. Army as well as his job.{{cite web|url=https://www.channel1450.com/2017/03/30/will-putnam-discusses-reasons-for-transferring-to-plant-high-school-4-star-ol-offers-recruiting-update/|title=Will Putnam Discusses Reasons For Transferring To Plant High School; 4 Star OL Offers Recruiting Update|website=channel1450.com|date=March 30, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2024}} He was selected to the 2019 All-American Bowl.{{cite web|url=https://phsnews.com/10125/sports/student-receives-u-s-army-all-american-bowl-jersey/|title=Student receives U.S. Army All-American Bowl jersey|website=phsnews.com|first=Kate|last=Caranante|date=December 4, 2018|access-date=September 20, 2024}} He was a four-star rated recruit and committed to play college football at Clemson University{{Cite web |last=Stockdale |first=Brandon |date=December 20, 2018 |title=4-star OL Will Putnam commits to Clemson |url=https://clemsonsportstalk.com/s/3067/4-star-ol-will-putnam-commits-to-clemson |access-date=September 21, 2024 |website=Clemson Sports Talk}} over offers from Florida State, Auburn, Miami (FL), Michigan and Penn State.{{cite web|url=https://247sports.com/player/will-putnam-85976/high-school-200837/|title=Will Putnam, Plant, Offensive Guard|website=247Sports.com|access-date=September 20, 2024}}
College career
During Putnam's true freshman season in 2019, he played in 11 games, finishing the season with 192 snaps.{{cite web|url=https://theclemsoninsider.com/2020/01/17/putnam-says-clemson-experience-has-been-life-changing-already/|title=Putnam says Clemson experience has been 'life-changing' already|website=The Clemson Insider|first=Gavin|last=Oliver|date=January 17, 2020|access-date=September 21, 2024}} During the 2020 season, he played in and started all 12 games, finishing the season with 790 snaps and a tackle leading the ACC as the only ream to allow fewer than two sacks per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.on3.com/college/clemson-tigers/news/will-putnam-clemson-offensive-line-tigers-football/|title=How Will Putnam can revamp Tigers offensive line|website=On3.com|first=Adam|last=Luckett|date=April 13, 2021|access-date=September 21, 2024}} During the 2021 season, he played in and started 10 games, finishing the season with 633 offensive snaps and was a third-team all-conference pick by Phil Steele.{{cite web|url=https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/sports/2022/01/26/clemson-football-roster-depth-chart-position-breakdown-quarterback-dj-uiagalelei-will-shipley/9118534002/|title=Position-by-position breakdown of Clemson's offense for 2022|website=Greenville Online|date=January 26, 2022|access-date=September 21, 2024}} During the 2022 season, he played in and started all 14 games as a first-year center. He finished the season with 996 offensive snaps which was the fourth-most in a season at center in Clemson history. He was also a third-team All-ACC selection.{{cite web|url=https://www.postandcourier.com/sports/clemson/will-putnam-a-creature-of-garage-gyms-brings-intensity-to-clemsons-line/article_293201ca-7baf-11ed-833c-ffd5af801586.html|title=Will Putnam, a creature of garage gyms, brings intensity to Clemson's line|website=Post and Courier|first=Jon|last=Blau|date=December 15, 2022|access-date=September 21, 2024}} During the 2023 season, he played in and started all 13 games as a permanent team captain, finishing the season with 953 offensive snaps and as a third-team All-ACC selection.{{cite web|url=https://roanoke.com/sports/college/football/virginia-tech-hokies/2024-summer-reading-early-look-at-virginia-tech-s-week-11-opponent-clemson/article_0063a8c0-395e-11ef-9bf9-375e04c0b456.html|title=An early look at Virginia Tech's Week 11 opponent Clemson|website=Roanoke Times|first=Damian|last=Sordelett|date=July 17, 2024|access-date=September 21, 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 1/2
| weight = 301
| dash = 5.48
| ten split = 1.81
| twenty split = 3.15
| shuttle = 4.69
| cone drill = 7.85
| vertical = 24.0
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 4
| bench = 28
| arm span = 31
| hand span = 9 3/8
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Will Putnam College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1029962&DraftYear=2024 |access-date=September 17, 2024 |website=DraftScout.com}}
}}
Putnam signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2024.{{cite web|title=Raiders announce undrafted free agents|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-undrafted-free-agents-nfl-2024-rookies|website=Raiders.com|date=April 27, 2024}} He was waived on August 27, and re-signed to the practice squad.{{cite web|title=Raiders make moves to bring roster to 53-player limit|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-make-moves-to-bring-roster-to-53-man-roster-nfl-2024-transactions|website=Raiders.com|date=August 27, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Raiders announce practice squad additions|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-announce-practice-squad-additions-nfl-roster-2024-transactions|website=Raiders.com|date=August 28, 2024}} He signed a reserve/future contract on January 6, 2025.{{cite web|title=Raiders sign 12 players to Reserve/Future contracts|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-12-players-reserve-future-contracts-nfl-transactions-2025|website=Raiders.com|date=January 6, 2025}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://clemsontigers.com/sports/football/roster/will-putnam/ Clemson Tigers bio]
- [https://www.raiders.com/team/players-roster/will-putnam/ Las Vegas Raiders bio]
{{Las Vegas Raiders roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Putnam, Will}}
Category:Players of American football from Illinois
Category:Sportspeople from Sangamon County, Illinois
Category:American football centers
Category:Henry B. Plant High School alumni