Caleb_Sturgis

Caleb Sturgis

Caleb Sturgis

American football player (born 1989)

Caleb James Sturgis (born August 9, 1989) is a former American football placekicker. He played college football at Florida, setting team records for field goals completed in a season and a career, and was recognized as a first-team All-American. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.[1]

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Early years

Sturgis was born in St. Augustine, Florida.[2] He attended St. Augustine High School, where he played for the St. Augustine Yellow Jackets high school football team. During his senior season, he completed 13 of 25 field goal attempts and 63 of 64 extra-point attempts. He was named to the Class 3A all-state first-team at the placekicker position. Sturgis also played on his high school soccer team.[3]

College career

Sturgis with the Florida Gators in 2009

Sturgis accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and played for coach Urban Meyer and coach Will Muschamp's Florida Gators football teams from 2008 to 2012. As a true freshman in 2008, he handled kickoffs for the Gators, and averaged 63.7 yards on 90 total kicks. He did not attempt a field goal as a freshman.[3] The Gators won the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.[4]

Sturgis made 22 of 30 field goal attempts in 2009. Against the Georgia Bulldogs, he made a 56-yard field goal, which was the longest field goal in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) that season and was also a career-long for him.[3] He completed one of two field goal attempts in the 2010 Sugar Bowl, which Florida won.[5] In 2010, Sturgis made two of four field goal attempts in four games before he suffered a back injury that ended his season. He was given a medical redshirt.[3]

In 2011, Sturgis made 22 of 26 field goal attempts. His 22 completed field goals were the third-best total in the nation and the best in the SEC. He was named to the All-SEC first-team and was a Lou Groza Award finalist.[3][6] He made his only field goal attempt in a 2012 Gator Bowl win.[7] Sturgis made 24 of 28 field goal attempts in 2012. His 24 completed field goals led the SEC and set a new team record.[3] Sturgis was a Lou Groza Award finalist.[3] He made his only field goal attempt in the 2013 Sugar Bowl, which Florida lost.[8]

In his career as a Florida Gator, Sturgis made 70 of 88 field goal attempts (79.5%) and 130 of 136 extra-point attempts (95.6%). His 70 completed field goals and 88 field goal attempts are both team records.[3] He also averaged 64.4 yards on 343 kickoffs, with 67 touchbacks.[3] Sturgis graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sport Management in 2011, and Master of Science degree in Management in 2012.

Professional career

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Miami Dolphins

In the 2013 NFL Draft, Sturgis was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fifth round, as the 166th overall pick.[11] He was the first placekicker taken in the draft.[12]

On August 14, 2013, Sturgis became the starter for the 2013 season after a short-lived competition with Dan Carpenter and with the latter being released that day. In his professional debut, Sturgis did not miss any of his 3 field goal attempts. In Week 5 against the Baltimore Ravens, Sturgis tried to send the game into overtime when he attempted a 57-yard field goal near the end of fourth quarter as the Dolphins lost 26–23. In Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sturgis kicked a 44-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with 11 seconds to go in regulation as the Dolphins won 22–20 in overtime.

Sturgis was released by the team on September 5, 2015, and was replaced by Andrew Franks.[13]

Philadelphia Eagles

On September 28, 2015, Sturgis signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, following a season-ending injury to Cody Parkey.[14]

In his first game with the Eagles, Sturgis missed a 30-yard field goal attempt and an extra point attempt, which could have turned the scoreboard in favor of the Eagles as they went on to lose 23–20 to the Washington Redskins. After the game Sturgis took responsibility, saying "the rest of the team gave such a good effort today. [They] played so well. It's tough knowing I didn't do my part. I just went out there and missed. Hurt the team. It's on me." After the game, head coach Chip Kelly decided Sturgis is better than anyone else they could sign. "We looked at what's out there," Kelly said. "I think the state of kicking in the league now is not very good. There's been a lot of changes. ...We feel in terms of what's available out there, we're going to stick with Caleb."[15][16] In his second game with the Eagles, Sturgis missed another extra point, but was able to make all four of his field goals including one that broke a 7–7 second quarter tie in a 39–17 victory over the New Orleans Saints.[17] However, Kelly did not show much confidence in his kicker as he went for it two times on fourth and long early in the game.

On September 7, 2016, Sturgis signed a one-year extension worth $900,000 to remain with the Eagles after beating out Parkey in training camp.[18]

On September 10, 2017, in the season opening 30–17 victory over the Washington Redskins, Sturgis converted three field goals, a 50-yarder, a 42-yarder, and a 37-yarder.[19] However, Sturgis suffered a hip injury in the game and was placed on injured reserve on September 12, 2017.[20] Without Sturgis, the Eagles won Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots.[21]

Los Angeles Chargers

On March 16, 2018, Sturgis signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.[22] He won the Chargers starting kicking job after beating out Roberto Aguayo.[23] Sturgis was released by the Chargers on November 5, 2018, after missing a field goal and two extra points in Week 9.[24]

Personal life

Sturgis married Kimberly Davidson, a former University of Florida cheerleader, in July 2014. Sturgis has five siblings. His older brother, Nathan, plays in Major League Soccer. One of his younger brothers, Mark, was also a placekicker at Saint Augustine High, following in his brother's footsteps.[25] His father, Smiley Sturgis, is a pastor.[26]

As of 2018, Sturgis coached at Kohl's Kicking Camps, a training camp.[27][28]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    NFL Draft Results: Dolphins add K Caleb Sturgis with pick 166 in 5th round
  2. [2]
    "Caleb Sturgis". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  3. [3]
    "Caleb Sturgis" Archived May 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. gatorzone.com. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  4. [4]
    "Caleb Sturgis 2008 Game Log". espn.go.com. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  5. [5]
    "Caleb Sturgis 2009 Game Log". espn.go.com. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  6. [6]
    "Caleb Sturgis Stats". sports-reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  7. [7]
    "Caleb Sturgis 2011 Game Log". espn.go.com. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  8. [8]
    "Caleb Sturgis". espn.go.com. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  9. [9]
    "2013 NFL Draft Scout Caleb Sturgis College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  10. [10]
    "Caleb Sturgis 2013 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  11. [11]
    "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  12. [12]
    Thompson, Edgar. "Dolphins select kicker Caleb Sturgis with the 166th pick". orlandosentinel.com. April 27, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2013. Archived May 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  13. [13]
    @OmarKelly (September 5, 2015). "The Dolphins have released Caleb Sturgis, selecting Andrew Franks as their kicker for this season" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. [14]
    Hanzus, Dan (September 28, 2015). "Eagles move Cody Parkey to IR; Caleb Sturgis signs". NFL.com. Retrieved October 3, 2015.
  15. [15]
    Gantt, Darin (October 4, 2015). "Caleb Sturgis struggling in Eagles debut, but he's not alone". NBCSports.com. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  16. [16]
    "Chip Kelly is sticking with Caleb Sturgis". NBCSports.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015.
  17. [17]
    Benjamin, Cody (October 1, 2015). "Game-by-game 2015 Eagles notebook". EaglesNotebook.com. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015.
  18. [18]
    Shorr-Parks, Elliot (September 7, 2016). "Eagles sign K Caleb Sturgis to 1-year extension". NJ.com. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  19. [19]
    "Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins - September 10th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
  20. [20]
    George, David (September 12, 2017). "Eagles Agree To Terms With K Jake Elliott; Place Caleb Sturgis On Injured Reserve". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  21. [21]
    "Eagles dethrone Tom Brady, Patriots for first Super Bowl title in stunner". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  22. [22]
    Henne, Ricky (March 16, 2018). "Chargers Sign Kicker Caleb Sturgis". Chargers.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2018.
  23. [23]
    Gantt, Darin (September 1, 2018). "Chargers settle kicking competition, cut Roberto Aguayo". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
  24. [24]
    Patra, Kevin (November 5, 2018). "Chargers cut Caleb Sturgis after three botched kicks". NFL.com.
  25. [25]
    Edgar Thompson, "Clutch kicker Caleb Sturgis poised to play his final game at Florida," Orlando Sentinel (December 22, 2012). Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  26. [26]
    "Learning Legacy awards presented to former St. Johns County students". The St. Augustine Record. October 28, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  27. [27]
    "Staff". Kohl's Kicking Camps. September 29, 2018. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  28. [28]
    Elwood, Hayley (March 16, 2018). "Five Fun Facts: Caleb Sturgis". chargers.com. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
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