The beginning of NFL free agency has been eventful. The league’s legal tampering period began on Monday afternoon, and qualified players were promptly picked up left and right. One of the guys was Cameron Johnston, a former Ohio State punter.
According to Aaron Wilson of Houston’s KPRC 2, Johnston has come to terms with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This will be Johnston’s third team, as he enters his eighth NFL season. Johnston started his career with the Philadelphia Eagles and then moved to the Houston Texans.
After a productive four-year career at Ohio State, Johnston was an undrafted free agent in 2017. The Geelong, Victoria, Australia native signed a contract with the Eagles shortly after the NFL Draft. Johnston quickly became a key special teams player in Philadelphia, averaging 48.1 yards per punt during his rookie season. During his three seasons with the Eagles, Johnston averaged 47 yards per kick, 41.8 net yards per punt, managed 17 touchbacks and 78 punts that landed inside the 20-yard line.
Following the 2020 season, Johnston became a free agency and signed a contract with the Texans. He remained effective with Texas, averaging 47.4 yards per attempt, 41.8 net yards per attempt, 11 touchbacks, and 104 punts inside the 20-yard line. Johnston led the NFL in total punts (88) and punt yards (4,108) in 2021, and he had his greatest season in 2022, averaging 48.1 yards per punt and downing a career-high 37 kicks inside the 20-yard line.
When Johnston came to Columbus in 2013, finding a former Australian Rules Football player to be a collegiate punter was still a relatively new idea. Four years later and programs across the country look down under in hopes to find the range and specificity Johnston brings to his punts.
After leading the Big Ten in punting in two of his first three seasons, Johnston came into 2016 with high hopes. He was twice a Ray Guy Award semifinalist but never won the award.
His senior year was one to remember. Johnston ranked fifth nationally and first in the conference with an average of 46.2 yards per punt, contributing to Ohio State’s near-top ranking in the opponent’s average starting field position.
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