New York Guardians punter Justin Vogel had a very impressive rookie season in the NFL. Vogel spoke with Back Sports Page about punting in the XFL and his football career in the NFL.
Vogel grew up in Tampa, Florida rooting for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His father, Paul Vogel, played one game at LB for the Houston Oilers. During college, Justin stayed local punting at the University of Miami.
Vogel went undrafted during the 2017 NFL Draft but afterward received interest from a couple of teams. Vogel signed with the Green Bay Packers and won the starting punter job after the incumbent had a season-ending injury.
In his rookie season, Vogel broke the Packers franchise record for net punt average with 41.6 yards per punt. For his efforts, he was a 2018 Pro Bowl alternate. Vogel went from an undrafted punter to alternate in the Pro Bowl- an impressive feat considering his circumstances. Vogel told BSP how he felt about being recognized by the league in the Pro Bowl.
“That was wild. That year was really exciting and fun. Crazy, in terms of it all because I didn’t expect to do that well. You don’t know coming in as a rookie how well you’re gonna do, how it is, because you’ve thought about the moment but you’ve never actually played a whole season. I was happy what I put out on tape that year.”
After Vogel’s phenomenal rookie season, the Packers drafted a punter and cut Vogel. Vogel bounced around to a couple of teams but hasn’t stuck onto anywhere.
It is strange to see a player have such a successful rookie season and not find a job. You’d think that a Pro Bowl would send any team that needed a punter knocking on Vogel’s door. If a wide receiver or quarterback or any position, really, had a rookie season as Vogel had, there would be no way they’d get cut.
I’m guessing that there is less turnover for punters in the NFL than other positions and there isn’t an abundance of opportunities for them in the NFL. Most teams don’t carry backup punters, so only 32 punters have a job, which is a very small number.
Without an NFL opportunity, Vogel was drafted in the second round of the XFL Draft by the New York Guardians. Vogel is happy to have the opportunity to be a Guardian.
“It’s great. It’s a great second opportunity, another chance. I started getting fewer looks and [the Guardians] called. I was excited to come out here and show this team and other teams that I’m still a ready punter and can perform at a high level. I want to show that I still have the same abilities from my rookie year.”
Throughout two games in the XFL, Vogel is averaging 43.2 yards per punt. Vogel’s punting average is fifth amongst XFL punters, with Marquette King topping the leaderboard.
Vogel spoke about the difference in punting between the NFL and the XFL.
“In terms of regular punting, they’re about the same. There are rules where you can’t really directional kick in the XFL because the out of bounds is basically the same as a touchback in the XFL. Your team can’t release down the field that fast so it’s really hard to force a fair catch in the XFL. In terms of my job and the balls I hit, I hit the same punt as I would in the NFL. However, the rules are different for everyone else around me involved in the play.”
Vogel had a message for Guardian fans coming into their Week 3 matchup against the St. Louis Battlehawks.
“Keep showing out. Our team is getting better every week, and we’re looking to keep winning games. The last turnout we had was great. If we could do more than that’ll be fantastic.”
