Jason Sanders Selected in Seventh Round of NFL Draft
DALLAS, Texas — Jason Sanders, a four-year placekicker for The University of New Mexico, has been selected by the Miami Dolphins with the 11th pick of the seventh round of the NFL Draft. Overall, he was the 229th selection.
The selection of Sanders is the first draft choice of a Lobo since 2010, when Erik Cook was selected, also in the seventh round and also with the 229th pick. He was selected by the Washington Redskins. He is also the first Lobo kicker to be drafted since 1976, when Bob Berg went to the Buffalo Bills in the 17th round.
He is the 13th Lobo to be drafted into the NFL since 2000, and overall he is the 65th Lobo to be drafted, dating back to Bill Dwyer in 1939.
Sanders has been one of the nation’s best kickers over the last two seasons, hitting 22-of-28 field goals. Sanders also owns the New Mexico record for most 50-yard field goals in a career (four), and for the longest walk-off field goal (53 yards into the wind at Tulsa). For his career, he was 111-of-112 on extra points, the only miss on a blocked kick in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. In that same game he hit a 52-yard field goal into a stifling wind for a 10-6 lead, and that field goal proved the winning margin in a 23-20 win.
However, he is best known for his tremendous leg on kickoffs. Sanders last season was third nationally in touchback percentage at 81.3%, hitting 39 of his 48 kickoffs for touchbacks. In 2016, he led the nation with an 82.6% mark on touchbacks, banging out 69 touchbacks on 84 kickoffs.
He also was successful on 33% of his onside kick attempts over the last two seasons (2-for-6).
Miami went 6-10 in 2017, and are coached by Adam Gase. Sanders is pushing to become Miami’s third different kicker in the last three seasons. Andrew Franks kicked for Miami in 2016, and Cody Parkey in 2017, but Parkey signed a free agent contract with the Chicago Bears.
Additionally, quarterback Lamar Jordan signed a free agent contract as a wide receiver with the Atlanta Falcons, and Corey Bojorquez got a rookie mini camp invitation with the New England Patriots.