When Reid Ferguson and Jamie Keehn arrived on the LSU campus together for the 2012 season, they had no idea about the incredible feats they would accomplish in the ensuing years.
Keehn, a senior punter, ranks third in school history with 43.1 yards per punt, and Ferguson, a senior long snapper, holds a streak of 391 perfect snaps, 137 of which Keehn has fielded.
This may impress someone from the outside looking in, but these numbers did not surprise their teammates.
“How far Reid and Jamie have come with those records is not surprising because of how hard-working they are,” junior placekicker Colby Delahoussaye said.
Ferguson has only been off-target on one snap in his career, and it was on his first collegiate snap on a punt.
In the 2012 season opener against North Texas, Keehn unexpectedly got the start for the game as a true freshman after the returning starter at punter, Brad Wing, was unable to play.
There was a lot of pressure on Keehn and Ferguson as they lined up in their inaugural punt formation in front of 92,059 fans. On the play, Ferguson overshot Keehn and he couldn’t quite handle it. The ball was loose on the turf and disaster was imminent for the Tigers. Fortunately, Keehn recovered the loose ball and made an athletic play to dodge oncoming defenders on a 40-yard punt.
“I think he got a little excited and flicked it over my head there,” Keehn said. “Poor Reid was white as a ghost. He thought he was going to get chewed out, but Coach (Les) Miles loved it. He thought it was the funniest thing ever. Reid’s been good ever since, so we’re glad he got that one out of the way early.”
Miles understood Ferguson may have been a bit rattled, and after the game, he expressed confidence in his ability to be an elite snapper.
“Our young freshman snapper got a little excited and put a little too much grease on that one,” Miles said. “We think our young snapper is going to be one of the best snappers that we have had.”
“There were a lot of nerves going on,” Ferguson said. “Seeing the coaches laughing on the sideline didn’t kill my confidence. I knew I had a chance to go out there and still prove myself.”
And, he did prove himself by snapping the ball perfectly for his next 391 tries. Ferguson’s consistent snapping has prevented turnovers and loss of yardage, and it has allowed his fellow specialists to excel in their positions.
“When Reid can zip one back there on a rope, it changes the whole game,” junior kicker Trent Domingue said. “I have found myself, not one time, worrying about if the snap is going to be in the right spot. It’s going to be right in the holder’s hand every time. Last year, we were timing snaps from Reid, and there were five in a row that were .73 seconds.”
Delahoussaye agreed that having an elite snapper has elevated his game. Delahoussaye has made more than 82 percent of his field goals at LSU, a figure Ferguson has helped him accomplish, he said.
“It takes all the pressure off of worrying about the snap or the hold. I can just put all my concentration on the kick,” Delahoussaye said. “You can put your hand out and he’ll hit your hand from 15 yards away every time. It’s really impressive.”
“A lot of people don’t understand how hard it is to snap a ball 15 yards and put it perfectly on a punter’s hips,” Keehn said.
Meanwhile, on the receiving end of Ferguson’s snaps, Keehn has put up some of the best punting averages in school history.
“Jamie has a big leg and that helps everybody out,” Ferguson said.
“His legs are so strong that even if he does mishit a ball, it’s still going to go 40 to 45 yards. He has so much leverage,” Delahoussaye said. “He’s always watching film. He’s always trying to get better.”
“If he has a bad punt, he will be the first guy in here the next morning to look at the film and see what he did wrong,” Domingue said.
If any of his teammates had told him any of this before 2011, he probably would have asked them “What’s a punt?”
Keehn is from Queensland, Australia and in 2011 he picked up an American football for the first time in his life. He started training with Pro Kick Australia and sent out film to colleges. He liked LSU because of Wing, also a native of Australia. When LSU offered Keehn, he committed on the spot.
Keehn is joined on campus this year by a plethora of athletes hailing from Down Under — freshman punter Josh Growden and basketball players Darcy Malone and Ben Simmons.
“It’s great LSU is getting a lot of exposure back home,” Keehn said. “It’s getting more recognition now.”
And for those who enjoy seeing the Ferguson to Australian punter combo, there is good news. Reid Ferguson‘s younger brother, Blake, joined the team this fall as a long snapper. He and Growden will have an opportunity to take starting roles next season when Keehn and Reid Ferguson graduate.
“Coming to LSU was definitely a dream come true,” Blake Ferguson said. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time. I never got to play on the team with my brother.”
Keehn has high expectations for the younger Ferguson.
“He’s going to be great. Josh (Growden) is going to be lucky having him for four years.” Keehn said. “I’ll take reps from Blake and you expect the same out of him because he’s so consistent.”
After the season, Reid Ferguson and Jamie Keehn will have an opportunity to join the prestigious fraternity known as NFLSU. LSU leads the nation with 40 former players on NFL rosters. According to NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier, they both have a good chance to add to this number next season.
“Jamie has an NFL leg. He has a super strong leg with great hang time and he puts some real air under his kicks,” Detillier said. “He has good kicking form and he is a huge punter.
“I am a big fan of Reid Ferguson. He is sharp and quick with his deep snaps. He gets downfield fast, and he’s accurate with his deep snaps. He’s a good athlete overall. Good technical deep snapper. I like his chances in the NFL.”
Both of these players are set to leave LSU with a degree in hand. Ferguson graduated in May with a degree in sports administration and is currently working on his master’s degree in liberal arts. Keehn will graduate in December with a degree in sports administration.
This may be these specialists’ last season at LSU, but they say they will always be Tigers.
“Coming to LSU probably ranks Number 1 so far on my life decisions. Well, other than long snapping,” Ferguson chuckled.
“I love it here. It’s fun, I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Keehn said.