2017 College Net Average in Cold Weather Leaders
Net average counting only punts in outdoor games played below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold air is dense and the ball is hard and slick, so distance drops and returners get fewer clean catches.
Domes and closed roofs are left out. Only punters with enough cold-weather punts are ranked, and the sample is often small, so read it next to his overall net average. In 2017, Tim Zaleski (42.1) led college football punters in net average in cold weather, ahead of A.J. Cole III (41.6) and Hunter Niswander (41.3). 15 punters qualify (minimum 10 punts in cold weather (under 40 F)). The median qualified punter had 38.2.
Final 2017 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.
| Rk | Player | Team | Net (cold) | Punts | Avg | Net | In 20 | In 20 % | TB % | FC % | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tim Zaleski | Wyoming | 42.1 | 81 | 39.4 | 37.4 | 28 | 35% | 5% | 30% | −0.6 |
| 2 | A.J. Cole III | NC State | 41.6 | 53 | 43.8 | 37.9 | 23 | 43% | 8% | 26% | −5.8 |
| 3 | Hunter Niswander | Northwestern | 41.3 | 63 | 42.9 | 39.9 | 21 | 33% | 5% | 28% | +5.5 |
| 4 | Caleb Lightbourn | Nebraska | 39.9 | 59 | 42.1 | 39.7 | 24 | 41% | 7% | 32% | +3.9 |
| 5 | Blake Hayes | Illinois | 39.7 | 77 | 42.0 | 40.2 | 31 | 40% | 3% | 19% | +8.3 |
| 6 | Colten Rastetter | Iowa | 38.4 | 49 | 38.4 | 37.5 | 10 | 20% | 0% | 14% | −10.0 |
| 7 | Derek Adams | Kent State | 38.3 | 79 | 43.6 | 40.5 | 22 | 28% | 11% | 29% | +8.8 |
| 8 | Anthony Lotti | Wisconsin | 38.2 | 51 | 40.3 | 37.4 | 25 | 48% | 4% | 28% | +2.6 |
| 9 | Blake Cusick | Fresno State | 37.0 | 64 | 42.4 | 37.2 | 20 | 32% | 13% | 35% | +1.0 |
| 10 | Brad Robbins | Michigan | 37.0 | 58 | 40.9 | 36.9 | 24 | 42% | 7% | 35% | −5.6 |
| 11 | Jack Sheldon | Central Michigan | 36.6 | 72 | 43.6 | 38.5 | 26 | 36% | 10% | 7% | +1.7 |
| 12 | Logan Laurent | Massachusetts | 36.1 | 65 | 42.6 | 34.3 | 19 | 30% | 9% | 14% | −15.4 |
| 13 | Ryan Santoso | Minnesota | 34.9 | 66 | 43.0 | 38.5 | 19 | 29% | 14% | 29% | +6.1 |
| 14 | Joe Schopper | Purdue | 33.9 | 67 | 40.2 | 37.3 | 28 | 44% | 5% | 49% | +0.4 |
| 15 | Morgan Hagee | Ball State | 30.9 | 20 | 34.5 | 32.4 | 6 | 29% | 0% | 0% | −9.6 |
All 2017 College punter rankings
Net Average in Cold Weather in other seasons: 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011
More 2017 College punter leaderboards
- Punts
- Punting Yards
- Gross Punting Average
- Net Punting Average
- Punts Inside the 20
- Inside the 20 Percentage
- Longest Punts
- Punt Touchbacks
- Fair Catches Forced
- Punts Downed
- Punts Out of Bounds
- Punts Returned
- Punt Return Yards Allowed
- Average Punt Return Allowed
- Blocked Punts
- Punt Points Added
- Punt Points per 100 Punts
- Fair Catch Percentage
- Punt Touchback Percentage
- Touchbacks Avoided (STOP Rank)
- Punts Out of Bounds Percentage
- Punts Downed Percentage
- Punt Return Percentage
- Return Yards Allowed per Punt
- Opponent Starting Field Position
- Punts Inside the 10
- Punts of 50+ Yards
- 50+ Yard Punt Percentage
- Inside-20 to Touchback Ratio
- Net Average in Opponent Territory
- Net Average in Wind
Other 2017 College rankings
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