Brad Wing
Encyclopedia
Bradley T. Wing is an American football
punter. He currently attends Louisiana State University
as a redshirt
freshman. Wing has achieved notoriety during several nationally televised games for his accuracy and leg strength in LSU's punting game. He was also the first college football player to be penalized under a new rule regarding on-field taunting.
, Australia
. His parents are Kathi and David Wing, the latter of whom punted professionally for the Scottish Claymores
for a time after unsuccesfully trying out with the Detroit Lions
. Growing up, Brad played Australian rules football
which he says has contributed to his ability to so accurately punt. The younger Wing was cut from his local junior
club, the Sandringham Dragons, ending his Australian rules career. At that time, family friends of the Wings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
offered to host him for his senior year of high school as part of a student exchange program
while trying out American football punting. He attended Parkview Baptist High School, where he was named All-State, and received a scholarship
offer from LSU. Notably, though not surprisingly for someone not regularly exposed to American football, he did not recognize LSU head coach Les Miles
when the latter made his first visit to recruit him; he had to be told who Miles was. His family moved to Baton Rouge during the 2011 season in order to be with him during his LSU career.
9–6 overtime win
at #2 Alabama
in the 2011 season. From LSU's red zone, Wing kicked a 73-yard punt, his season long, to pin Alabama back, eventually forcing overtime. Going into the SEC Championship Game
against Alabama, opponents had attempted to return Wing's punts only 13 times for a total of 6 yards.
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. He currently attends Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...
as a redshirt
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
freshman. Wing has achieved notoriety during several nationally televised games for his accuracy and leg strength in LSU's punting game. He was also the first college football player to be penalized under a new rule regarding on-field taunting.
Early life
Wing was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. His parents are Kathi and David Wing, the latter of whom punted professionally for the Scottish Claymores
Scottish Claymores
The Scottish Claymores were an American football team from Scotland. The franchise played in the World League of American Football between 1995 and 2004, initially playing all home games at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh and latterly sharing home games with Hampden Park, Glasgow...
for a time after unsuccesfully trying out with the 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...
. Growing up, Brad played Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
which he says has contributed to his ability to so accurately punt. The younger Wing was cut from his local junior
TAC Cup
The TAC Cup is an under 18 Australian rules football representative competition held in Victoria, Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing 12 Victorian regions....
club, the Sandringham Dragons, ending his Australian rules career. At that time, family friends of the Wings in Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
offered to host him for his senior year of high school as part of a student exchange program
Student exchange program
A student exchange program generally could be defined as a program where students from secondary school or university choose to study abroad in partner institutions...
while trying out American football punting. He attended Parkview Baptist High School, where he was named All-State, and received a scholarship
Athletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
offer from LSU. Notably, though not surprisingly for someone not regularly exposed to American football, he did not recognize LSU head coach Les Miles
Les Miles
Leslie Edwin "Les" Miles, nicknamed "The Mad Hatter", is an American college football coach and the current head coach of the Louisiana State University football team. Prior to holding that position, he was head coach at Oklahoma State...
when the latter made his first visit to recruit him; he had to be told who Miles was. His family moved to Baton Rouge during the 2011 season in order to be with him during his LSU career.
College career
As a redshirt freshman, Wing has averaged 43.0 yards per punt in 42 punts with a long of 73 yards through 12 games. He has landed 20 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Some have credited Wing with being the crucial element in top-ranked LSU's2011 LSU Tigers football team
The 2011 LSU Tigers football team represents Louisiana State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tigers are led by seventh year head coach Les Miles and play their home games at Tiger Stadium...
9–6 overtime win
2011 LSU vs. Alabama football game
The 2011 LSU vs. Alabama football game was a regular season college football game between the unbeaten LSU Tigers , and the unbeaten Alabama Crimson Tide on November 5, 2011. The game took place at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on the campus of the University of Alabama...
at #2 Alabama
2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2011 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represents the University of Alabama in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It marks the Crimson Tide's 119th overall season, 79th as a member of the Southeastern Conference and its 20th within the SEC Western Division...
in the 2011 season. From LSU's red zone, Wing kicked a 73-yard punt, his season long, to pin Alabama back, eventually forcing overtime. Going into the SEC Championship Game
2011 SEC Championship Game
The 2011 SEC Championship Game will be played on December 3, 2011, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to determine the 2011 football champion of the Southeastern Conference . The game will feature the Georgia Bulldogs of the Eastern division against the LSU Tigers of the Western division. LSU...
against Alabama, opponents had attempted to return Wing's punts only 13 times for a total of 6 yards.