Adam Korsak: Rutgers punter is at NFL Scouting Combine

INDIANAPOLIS - Adam Korsak jogged out onto the field with 5:02 left in the first quarter of the Senior Bowl last month after the American offense stalled at the 46-yard line.

To no one's surprise, at least those who have watched Korsak set punting records for four years at Rutgers, his first boot in the all-star showcase down in Alabama rolled to a stop at the 1.

"That's kind of what I do," Korsak said with a smile early Thursday morning during his interview session at the NFL Combine.

Korsak's career at Rutgers was legendary. He managed to emerge as the team's best player as a punter, which is no easy task, considering some of the talent the Scarlet Knights have sent to the league in recent years.

He was named the 2022 Ray Guy award winner as the nation's top punter, finishing his career as the NCAA leader in career punts (349), net punting yards in a singe season (45.25), and career punting yards (15,318). This season, he punted 75 times, which was third in the nation. He led the Big Ten with 35 fair catches and pinned opponents inside their own 20 on 32 occasions.

Korsak ended his career in Piscataway without ever having a punt blocked and a streak of 150 consecutive punts without a touchback.

Now comes the next challenge: convincing NFL decision makers that he deserves a job in the league.

Korsak detailed his expectations here at the Combine and explained how he is ready to compete while also tracing his journey from Australia to New Jersey to Mobile and Indianapolis and back, hoping to prove he belongs.

"This is where you want to prove yourself in this sport," said Korsak, 24. "I'm ready to show everyone what I've got."

Korsak played golf, cricket and Australian Rules Football growing up before he became enthralled by NFL and college football. His father made Adam watch football movies such as "Any Given Sunday" and "The Program" stoked the fire; then, Dad brought home the Madden '06 video game with Donovan McNabb on the cover, and it was full bloom love.

Once he graduated high school, he focused on punting an American football and honed his skills at Prokick Australia.

At this point, Korsak knows the NFL scouts want to see the fundamentals at the Combine, and the workouts are structured that way. He is skilled enough to be inventive and creative, and that will come later this month during the Rutgers Pro Day and anticipated private workouts. If invited, Korsak said he will participate in local Pro Days with the Giants, the Jets and the Eagles.

inventive and creative

Korsak can't change what has made him such a success ...

"I think we'd all agree that I need to show some more pro style stuff, that's the foundation of what punting is in the NFL," Korsak said. "I'm not just going to start doing that now, I've been doing that since 2016. It's nothing that's necessarily new to me, I just haven't shown it because of our philosophy and what we did scheme-wise [at Rutgers]. But that's certainly in my bag of tricks, for sure. I'll also keep building on my strengths."

Korsak enrolled early at Rutgers with running back Isiah Pacheco, who went from a seventh-round rookie for the Kansas City Chiefs to Super Bowl hero last month.

"What [Pacheco] did provides tremendous inspiration for the rest of us at Rutgers," Pacheco said. "He was here at a small table talking to reporters last year and now he's dancing in a Super Bowl parade. Everyone has self doubts, but it's just a matter of fighting through it, staying consistent and believing in yourself."

The competition heats up Friday inside Lucas Oil Stadium when the specialists hit the field for their workouts. Korsak is one of five punters at the Combine, and he is excited for the opportunity. The New Jersey Generals drafted him last week in the relaunch of the USFL, so a path to becoming a pro is already there.

Korsak has loftier goals, though, and the next two months will go a long way in determining his fate.

"It has a chance to get very competitive, especially with the format being ball for ball," he said. "You see everyone else's punts, and can't wait for that exposure to show teams what we can do. There are five punters, we get two kicks at a time, and then the next person goes, the next person goes. Whether it's a good one, a bad one or an average one, now you have to watch the other guy hit his ball. Obviously, you can let that affect you, and you have to stay in your game, but I think naturally, whatever the situation is, you want to show that you're the best."