Brandon Fields
Encyclopedia
Brandon David Fields is an American football
punter for the Miami Dolphins
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round in the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Michigan State
.
in Toledo, Ohio
. During his senior season, he handled kickoff duties for the football team and was a first-team all-state selection as a punter while also playing tight end. Fields also lettered in basketball at St. John's.
. He earned numerous honors during his freshman season in 2003. He led the Big Ten
and was second in the nation with a 46.4-yard average. In a game against Nebraska
, Fields set an Alamo Bowl
record with a 62-yard punt.
Fields had the most productive season of his collegiate career as a sophomore in 2004, leading the nation with a 47.9-yard punting average. Honors on the season included numerous All-Big Ten and All-America
n selections. He was also a finalist for the Ray Guy Award
, given annually to the nation's top punter.
As a junior in 2005, Fields handled the kickoff duties for the first four games of the season in addition to being the team's punter. He wrapped up his collegiate career with a 45.0-yard punting average as a senior.
On Dec. 13, 2010, the Big Ten Conference instituted the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year award to honor Fields and Thomas "Dike" Eddleman, Illinois punter from 1946-48.
Freshman (2003)
Sophomore (2004)
In addition to his football accolades, Fields was an Academic All-Big Ten selection each of his four years at Michigan State.
, Fields was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis
. At his Pro Day in April, Fields measured in at 6-foot-4 7/8 and 236 pounds.
earlier in the offseason in exchange for punter Donnie Jones
. Fields was the first punter drafted by the Dolphins since Brent Bartholomew
in 1999
and was the first rookie to handle punting duties for the team on a full-time basis since Reggie Roby
in 1983. On May 24, the Dolphins signed Fields to a four-year contract.
Fields handled punting duties for the Dolphins during all 16 games of his rookie season. His 77 punts averaged 43.2 yards in length, with 10 of them landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He also served as the holder on field goals and extra points. His gross average ranked seventh in the AFC
and led all four rookie punters in the NFL that season.
During the 2008 offseason, it was reported that new Dolphins Vice President Bill Parcells
"absolutely loves Brandon Fields." The team did not pursue competition for him that offseason.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Dolphins in the seventh round in the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Michigan State
Michigan State Spartans football
The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football as members of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level...
.
Early years
Fields attended St. John's Jesuit High SchoolSt. John's Jesuit High School and Academy
St. John's Jesuit High School and Academy comprises two schools on the same campus: St. John's Jesuit High School and St. John's Jesuit Academy. It is located within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Toledo. Both are private, all-male Jesuit schools in Toledo, Ohio.-History:St. John's was founded...
in Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
. During his senior season, he handled kickoff duties for the football team and was a first-team all-state selection as a punter while also playing tight end. Fields also lettered in basketball at St. John's.
College career
After high school, Fields attended Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
. He earned numerous honors during his freshman season in 2003. He led the Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and was second in the nation with a 46.4-yard average. In a game against Nebraska
Nebraska Cornhuskers football
The Nebraska Cornhuskers represent the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in college football. The program has established itself as a traditional powerhouse, and has the fourth-most all-time victories of any NCAA Division I-A team. Nebraska is one of only six football programs in NCAA Division I-A...
, Fields set an Alamo Bowl
Alamo Bowl
The Alamo Bowl is a major American college football bowl game played annually since 1993 in the 65,000-seat Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It matches the second choice team from the Pacific-12 Conference and the third choice team from the Big 12 Conference.Traditionally, the Alamo Bowl has been...
record with a 62-yard punt.
Fields had the most productive season of his collegiate career as a sophomore in 2004, leading the nation with a 47.9-yard punting average. Honors on the season included numerous All-Big Ten and All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n selections. He was also a finalist for the Ray Guy Award
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
, given annually to the nation's top punter.
As a junior in 2005, Fields handled the kickoff duties for the first four games of the season in addition to being the team's punter. He wrapped up his collegiate career with a 45.0-yard punting average as a senior.
On Dec. 13, 2010, the Big Ten Conference instituted the Eddleman-Fields Punter of the Year award to honor Fields and Thomas "Dike" Eddleman, Illinois punter from 1946-48.
Awards and honors
During his collegiate career at Michigan State, Fields earned the following honors:Freshman (2003)
- Mid-season SI.comSports IllustratedSports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
All-AmericaAll-AmericaAn All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n - Second-team coaches All-Big TenBig Ten ConferenceThe Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
- First-team media All-Big Ten
- First-team Sporting News Freshman All-American
- Honorable mention Rivals.comRivals.comRivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
All-American - Second-team Sporting News All-American
Sophomore (2004)
- Second-team coaches All-Big Ten
- First-team media All-Big Ten
- First-team APAssociated PressThe Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
All-American - First-team FWAAFootball Writers Association of AmericaThe Football Writers Association of America is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA...
All-American - First-team Rivals.com All-American
- First-team SI.com All-American
- First-team Walter CampWalter Camp Football FoundationThe Walter Camp Football Foundation is one of the organizations whose College Football All-America Team is recognized by the NCAA. The organization also presents various awards.-Awards:*Walter Camp Player of the Year*CT Player of the Year...
All-American - Ray Guy AwardRay Guy AwardThe Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
finalist
In addition to his football accolades, Fields was an Academic All-Big Ten selection each of his four years at Michigan State.
Pre-draft
Prior to the 2007 NFL Draft2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
, Fields was invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
. At his Pro Day in April, Fields measured in at 6-foot-4 7/8 and 236 pounds.
Miami Dolphins
Fields was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round (225th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. The pick used to select Fields was acquired from the St. Louis RamsSt. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
earlier in the offseason in exchange for punter Donnie Jones
Donnie Jones
Donald Scott Jones, Jr. is an American football punter for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He played collegiately at Louisiana State University.-High school career:...
. Fields was the first punter drafted by the Dolphins since Brent Bartholomew
Brent Bartholomew
Brent Robert Bartholomew is a former American football punter of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at Ohio State.Bartholomew was also a member of the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins....
in 1999
1999 NFL Draft
The 1999 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 17-18, 1999...
and was the first rookie to handle punting duties for the team on a full-time basis since Reggie Roby
Reggie Roby
Reginald Henry "Reggie" Roby was an American football punter in the National Football League and a three-time Pro Bowler. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft out of the University of Iowa...
in 1983. On May 24, the Dolphins signed Fields to a four-year contract.
Fields handled punting duties for the Dolphins during all 16 games of his rookie season. His 77 punts averaged 43.2 yards in length, with 10 of them landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He also served as the holder on field goals and extra points. His gross average ranked seventh in the AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
and led all four rookie punters in the NFL that season.
During the 2008 offseason, it was reported that new Dolphins Vice President Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
"absolutely loves Brandon Fields." The team did not pursue competition for him that offseason.
Statistics
| Year | Team | G | No. | Yards | Lng | Avg. | Net Avg. | Blk | In 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | MIA | 16 | 77 | 3,327 | 61 | 43.2 | 36.6 | 0 | 10 |
| 2008 | MIA | 16 | 74 | 3,249 | 71 | 43.9 | 35.5 | 0 | 24 |
| 2009 | MIA | 16 | 75 | 3,472 | 66 | 46.3 | 39.8 | 0 | 26 |
| Total | 48 | 226 | 10,048 | 71 | 44.5 | 38.9 | 0 | 60 |