Regarded by many as the best athlete in the country at the punter's position, Podlesh (pronounced PAHD-lesh) gave the Terrapins an extremely consistent kicker with not only a powerful leg to boom his punts, but one with great directional kicking skills.

The only four-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in school history, Podlesh finished his career ranked second in school history and ninth in ACC annals with an average of 43.1 yards per punt. Each of his averages from his four seasons at the school rank among Maryland's top 10 in the record books. His ability to angle his kicks saw 38 percent of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line, with 16 percent getting placed inside the 10.

Podlesh lettered three times in football at Pittsford Sutherland High School, where he competed as a punter, fullback and linebacker as a senior. He was named first-team all-state as a scholar-athlete by the New York Coaches' Association and earned all-region honors from SuperPrep. He also received first-team all-state honors as a punter/kicker from the New York State Writers Association in 2001. As a senior, Podlesh connected on 4-of-6 field-goal attempts (including kicks of 47 and 37 yards) and punted for a 40.7-yard average.

In addition, 86 percent of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. He also totaled 92 tackles, five sacks, 638 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while playing on both sides of the ball. He was selected first-team All-Greater Rochester by the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and first-team All-Monroe County. He also competed in track, posting the fastest 200- (21.58) and 400-meter times (50.5) in the state as a junior. He also ran the third leg of the state title-winning 4x100 relay team in 2000.

Podlesh enrolled at Maryland in 2002, choosing the school over scholarship offers from Penn State, Syracuse, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Stanford. He spent the season on the scout team, but won the starting punter's job in 2003. He was a second-team All-ACC selection and a Ray Guy Award semifinalist. He finished the regular season second in the ACC (36th nationally) with a 42.3-yard average per punt, which ranks eighth on the Terps' single-season record list and best ever by a freshman.

In 2004, he averaged 43.7 yards on 63 punts for 2,755 yards. Podlesh had 21 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line and 14 punts for 50 yards or longer. The second-team All-ACC pick and Ray Guy Award semifinalist ranked seventh in the nation with a net punting average of 39.4, as he dropped 33 percent (21-of-63) of his punts inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

As a junior, Podlesh was a second-team All-ACC and first-team Academic All-ACC pick. He ranked second in the ACC and 13th in the nation in punting average at 43.6 yards, gaining 1,920 yards on 44 attempts, with 17 kicks downed inside the 20-yard line and 10 more that went for 50 yards or longer.

During his final season at Maryland, Podlesh punted 56 times for 2,400 yards (42.9 avg.) with 23 downed inside the 20-yard line. He was an honorable mention All-American choice by Pro Football Weekly and a second-team All-ACC pick. He ranked 22nd nationally and second in the ACC in punting average, as 23 of his 56 punts (41 percent) landed inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He was also a semifinalist for the Draddy Award, honoring the top student-athlete in the nation.

In 48 games at Maryland, Podlesh punted 216 times for 9,314 yards (43.1 avg.), the second-best total in school history that also ranks ninth in ACC annals. He had 83 of his attempts downed inside the 20-yard line, including 35 he placed inside the 10-yard line. Ninty-two of his 216 kicks were returned for 1,008 yards and three touchdowns, as he finished with a 38.45-yard net average. He also recorded six tackles (4 solos).

Positives: Has good upper body definition with a thick chest and good arm muscles … Possesses outstanding leg strength and runs downfield faster than his coverage unit, as he is one of the quickest punters in the collegiate ranks (4.43 40-yard dash) … Even though he has smaller-than-ideal hands, he field the ball cleanly and has the body flexibility to adjust to the poor snap … Catches the ball away from his frame and can generate excellent power to gain distance and height on his kicks … Demonstrates the proper leg swipe and swing, getting good explosion on contact … Has solid directional type quickness and shows good ball control and spin on his punts … Able to kick in poor weather conditions, adjusting to handle the elements and has the leg strength to kick into the wind … Smooth open-field runner who shows toughness and aggression as a tackler on special teams … Hits the ball squarely and is consistent in his approach and rhythm, getting good rise in an instant (has never had a punt blocked) … Shows accuracy on his punt attempts, with the ability to control and place the ball on pooch punts … Has the agility and flexibility to field the off-target snaps with ease … Two-step punter who quickly adjusts to pressure, showing great coordination and the ability to improvise … Has good mechanics and knows how to angle his punts toward the sidelines to take away the field for the returner … Consistently turns his punts over, especially when backed up near the goal line … Because of his ability to get great height on his kicks, the coverage team was able to get down field to prevent big returns (23 of his 56 punts in 2006 resulted in fair catches and only 18 were returned) … With his quickness, he could be a dangerous threat to run with the ball on fake punts.

Negatives: While he has learned to hit the ball squarely, he will ever so often hit it flat … Struggles some refocusing after a bad kick … Has no problems getting off his kicks in pressure situations, but tends to look a bit deliberate in his approach at times … Gets decent placement on pooch punts, but needs to work on angling his punts toward the sidelines better.

Compares To: Brad Maynard, Chicago Bears … Like Maynard, Podlesh has exceptional speed to get downfield and help the coverage unit … He is a master at kicking towering punts, and more often than not his coverage team can break for coffee before his punts land … He needs to work a bit on angling his punts better along the sidelines, but if the opposition can't field them, they are not going to return many of his kicks … He is by far the best athlete at this position since Maynard left college 10 years ago.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.43 in the 40-yard dash … 375-pound bench press … 435-pound squat … 325-pound power clean … 34-inch vertical jump … 30¼-inch arm length … 8½-inch hands … Right-footed conventional style kicker … Right-handed … Wears contacts.

Attended Pittsford (N.Y.) Sutherland High School, playing football for head coach Scott Barker … Lettered three times in football, competing as a punter, fullback and linebacker as a senior … Named first-team all-state as a scholar-athlete by the New York Coaches' Association and earned all-region honors from SuperPrep … Received first-team all-state honors as a punter/kicker from the New York State Writers Association in 2001 … As a senior, Podlesh connected on 4-of-6 field-goal attempts (including kicks of 47 and 37 yards) and punting for a 40.7-yard average … In addition, 86 percent of his kickoffs resulted in touchbacks … Also totaled 92 tackles, five sacks, 638 rushing yards and nine touchdowns while playing on both sides of the ball … Selected first-team All-Greater Rochester by the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle and first-team All-Monroe County … Also competed in track, posting the fastest 200- (21.58) and 400-meter times (50.5) in the state as a junior … Ran the third leg of the state title-winning 4x100 relay team in 2000.

Graduated in December 2006 with a degree in Marketing … Son of Jean and Jack Podlesh (pronounced PAHD-lesh) … Born Aug. 11, 1983 … Resides in Pittsford, N.Y.