Justin Medlock
Encyclopedia
Justin Charles Medlock is a professional American and Canadian football
placekicker
for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs
in the fifth round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at UCLA
.
Medlock has also been a member of the St. Louis Rams
, Omaha Nighthawks
, Washington Redskins
, Detroit Lions
, Toronto Argonauts
, and the Edmonton Eskimos
.
in his junior and senior years.
.
by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 160th overall pick. Medlock was thought to go into the preseason competing with Lawrence Tynes
for the kicking job, but the Chiefs traded Tynes to the New York Giants
, thus making Medlock the de facto
starter
. Medlock was inconsistent in the preseason, making 3 of 6 kicks; the Chiefs released Medlock on September 10, 2007, after he converted a 27-yard field goal and missed on a 30-yard attempt in Week 1 against the Houston Texans
, and signed Dave Rayner
as a replacement.
. The Rams allowed Medlock to seek a trade after the signing of Josh Brown. He was later released on August 26, 2008.
on April 16, 2009 and competed with fellow new import kicker Eddie Johnson
for the kicking spot vacated by the retirement of Mike Vanderjagt
. At the end of training camp, the Argos elected to keep both kickers and coach Bart Andrus
elected to start Johnson for game one and placed Medlock on the practice roster. Johnson, however, was injured on the opening kickoff
when he separated his shoulder when tackling the return man and Medlock was slated to kick for game two of the 2009 Toronto Argonauts season
.
On August 14, 2009, Medlock scored seven field goals, tying Lance Chomyc
's Argonauts single-game team record and just short of the league record of eight shared by Dave Ridgway
, Mark McLoughlin
, and Paul Osbaldiston
.
signed Medlock to a future contract. He was waived on June 14, 2010.
claimed him off waivers. He was waived on June 29, 2010.
of the United Football League on September 8, 2010.
, the Toronto Argonauts elected to re-sign Medlock through the 2011 CFL season
. On October 12, 2010, Medlock was released by the Argonauts after the team traded for kicker Noel Prefontaine
.
Gridiron football
Gridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
in the fifth round of 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 UCLA
UCLA Bruins Football
The UCLA Bruins football program represents the University of California, Los Angeles in college football as members of the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The Bruins have enjoyed several periods of success in their history, having been ranked in the top ten of the AP Poll...
.
Medlock has also been a member of the St. Louis Rams
St. 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,...
, Omaha Nighthawks
Omaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
, Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
, Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
, and the Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton Eskimos
The Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...
.
Early years
Medlock played football for the Mission San Jose High School Warriors as both a punter and a kicker. Justin was ranked ninth in the country and was all-county and all-league at both positions. He averaged 43.1 yards per punt as a punter and made 11 out of 19 field goalsField goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
in his junior and senior years.
College career
Medlock attended UCLA where he set a UCLA career record with six 50 yard field goals, and was a four year letterman. Overall, he attempted 88 field goals and made 70 of them. He kicked 147 of 148 PATsExtra Point
Extra Point is a twice-daily, two-minute segment on ESPN Radio that covers generic sports-related topical news and opinion. The AM edition airs Monday through Saturday at various times between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. ET, and the PM edition airs Monday through Friday between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET...
.
Kansas City Chiefs
Medlock was drafted in the fifth round of 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...
by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 160th overall pick. Medlock was thought to go into the preseason competing with Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence James Henry Tynes is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2001.-Early years:...
for the kicking job, but the Chiefs traded Tynes to the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, thus making Medlock the de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
. Medlock was inconsistent in the preseason, making 3 of 6 kicks; the Chiefs released Medlock on September 10, 2007, after he converted a 27-yard field goal and missed on a 30-yard attempt in Week 1 against the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and signed Dave Rayner
Dave Rayner
David Michael "Dave" Rayner is an American football placekicker who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
as a replacement.
St. Louis Rams
On February 11, 2008, Medlock signed with 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,...
. The Rams allowed Medlock to seek a trade after the signing of Josh Brown. He was later released on August 26, 2008.
Toronto Argonauts
Medlock signed with the Toronto ArgonautsToronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
on April 16, 2009 and competed with fellow new import kicker Eddie Johnson
Eddie Johnson (punter)
Edward Lynn Johnson is a professional American and Canadian football punter who is currently a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
for the kicking spot vacated by the retirement of Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
. At the end of training camp, the Argos elected to keep both kickers and coach Bart Andrus
Bart Andrus
Bart Andrus is the current Offensive Coordinator for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League.He is the former head coach of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League...
elected to start Johnson for game one and placed Medlock on the practice roster. Johnson, however, was injured on the opening kickoff
Kickoff (American football)
A kickoff is a method of starting a drive in American football and Canadian football. Typically, a kickoff consists of one team – the "kicking team" – kicking the ball to the opposing team – the "receiving team"...
when he separated his shoulder when tackling the return man and Medlock was slated to kick for game two of the 2009 Toronto Argonauts season
2009 Toronto Argonauts season
The 2009 Toronto Argonauts season was the 52nd season for the team in the Canadian Football League and their 137th overall. The Argonauts attempted to win their 16th Grey Cup championship, but they failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year, finishing the season with a 3–15 record for...
.
On August 14, 2009, Medlock scored seven field goals, tying Lance Chomyc
Lance Chomyc
Lance Chomyc is a former placekicker from 1985 to 1993 for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In 1986 and 1991 he was a CFL All-Star. He now teaches English at Bear Creek Secondary School in Barrie, Ontario....
's Argonauts single-game team record and just short of the league record of eight shared by Dave Ridgway
Dave Ridgway
David "Dave" Ridgway was a placekicker for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. His CFL career began in 1981 when he was drafted by the Montreal Alouettes. He did not make the squad that year and returned to the University of Toledo to complete his degree in Marketing...
, Mark McLoughlin
Mark McLoughlin
Mark McLoughlin is a former placekicker in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders from 1988 to 2003 and the BC Lions in 2005...
, and Paul Osbaldiston
Paul Osbaldiston
Paul Osbaldiston is a former punter and placekicker for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League from 1986-2003. Osbaldiston was a three-time CFL All-Star, seven-time East Division All-Star and a member of Hamilton’s 1986 and 1999 Grey Cup championship teams...
.
Washington Redskins
On February 12, 2010 the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
signed Medlock to a future contract. He was waived on June 14, 2010.
Detroit Lions
On June 15, 2010 the Detroit LionsDetroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
claimed him off waivers. He was waived on June 29, 2010.
Omaha Nighthawks
Medlock was signed by the Omaha NighthawksOmaha Nighthawks
The Omaha Nighthawks are a professional American football team based in Omaha, Nebraska, which plays in the United Football League, joining the league as an expansion team in 2010. For their first season, the Nighthawks played their home games at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium before moving to TD...
of the United Football League on September 8, 2010.
Return to Toronto Argonauts
With struggles by incumbent placekicker Grant ShawGrant Shaw
Grant Shaw is a professional Canadian football Defensive back and placekicker for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted eleventh overall by the Argonauts in the 2010 CFL Draft and signed with the team on May 22, 2010...
, the Toronto Argonauts elected to re-sign Medlock through the 2011 CFL season
2011 CFL season
The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the league. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on...
. On October 12, 2010, Medlock was released by the Argonauts after the team traded for kicker Noel Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine
Noel Prefontaine is a professional Canadian football punter / kicker with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League.- Early years :...
.