James Burnip P Alabama | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
James Burnip P Alabama
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| Last Updated: 01/29/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.95 seconds (17%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Last Updated: 01/29/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.95 seconds (17%*) | |
| Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 82.9 / 100 | |
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| Focus: |
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91% |
| Placement: |
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88% |
| Leg Strength: |
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93% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#149
Position rank:
#4
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| College Games: 55 | ||
Draft Profile: Bio
The path from Melbourne, Australia to the bright lights of Bryant-Denny Stadium isn't exactly well-traveled, but James Burnip has made it look natural. After decommitting from Ole Miss, the former ProKicker.com 4.5-star prospect found his home with the Crimson Tide in 2021, where he immediately seized control of the starting punter role as a true freshman.Over four seasons in Tuscaloosa, Burnip's progression has been remarkable. His journey from a 43.9-yard career average to leading the SEC with 2,806 punt yards in 2023 speaks volumes about his development. The 2024 campaign saw him post an impressive 45.4-yard average while helping Alabama lead the nation in punt return defense, allowing just 1.00 yards per return.
The Ray Guy Award semifinalist's senior season featured 20 punts of 50+ yards, including a booming 64-yarder against Wisconsin. His consistent improvement culminated in a stellar performance against Michigan in the College Football Playoff, where he averaged 51.0 yards on four punts, including three bombs of 50+ yards.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Exceptional hang time on punts allows coverage unit to get downfield, consistently forcing fair catches and limiting return opportunities to virtually nothing
- Demonstrates rare directional control, particularly effective at pinning returners against the sideline with precision placement and spin
- Outstanding size at 6'6", 236 pounds gives him natural leverage for generating power through his lower half on contact
- Shows advanced feel for situational punting, regularly dropping kicks inside the 20 without sacrificing distance when field position demands it
- Maintains excellent mechanics under pressure, showing no signs of rushing or altering his motion even with rushers bearing down
- Versatile arsenal includes traditional spiral punts, end-over-end kicks, and Australian-style roll-outs that make returns extremely difficult
- Reliable holder on field goals and extra points, adding valuable versatility to his special teams repertoire
- Battle-tested against elite competition in the SEC, proving himself in high-pressure situations including multiple College Football Playoff appearances
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Operation time from snap to punt occasionally runs slightly long, could face challenges against aggressive NFL punt rush units
- Shows some inconsistency in cold weather games, with slight dip in distance and hang time noted in late-season matchups
- Limited experience as a traditional-style punter prior to college could lead to longer adjustment period with NFL coaching techniques
- Secondary punt techniques like running fakes or executing rugby-style kicks remain relatively unexplored in his repertoire
Scouting Report: Summary
Burnip's progression from raw Australian prospect to polished SEC punter demonstrates both his natural talent and dedication to mastering his craft. His combination of size, leg strength, and refined technique makes him an intriguing option for teams looking to upgrade their punt game.His skill set particularly suits teams that emphasize directional punting and field position. The ability to consistently flip field position while limiting returns will appeal to defensive-minded head coaches. His experience holding on kicks adds valuable roster flexibility that NFL special teams coordinators covet.
While punters rarely hear their names called during the draft, Burnip's exceptional size-speed combination and proven production against elite competition make him a draftable prospect. His ceiling projects as a long-term NFL starter who could excel in any scheme, though teams in outdoor stadiums will want to thoroughly evaluate his cold-weather performance during pre-draft workouts.
James Burnip percentiles vs other Punters (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate James Burnip (Overall Rank)
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.