McAfee trying to improve his kicking and punting
Monday July 16, 2007

http://www.dailymail.com/story/Sports/20...d-punting/

by Mickey Furfari
For the Daily Mail

MORGANTOWN -- West Virginia University's leading scorer from last season is doing well in summer workouts.
And, no, that's not either one of the Mountaineers' phenomenal one-two punch -- Steve Slaton or Patrick White.

Place-kicker Pat McAfee was WVU's leading scorer. He not only scored a team-high 113 points on 17 field goals in 22 attempts and all 62 extra points but also averaged 43.2 yards punting on 18 attempts.

In the process, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound junior from Plum, Pa., continued to live up to his self-adopted role as the team's "good humor man."

McAfee's 113-point total was five points higher than that of both Slaton and White, who tallied 108 each. Only Art Carmody of Louisville (123) and Ray Rice of Rutgers (120) scored more points last season in the Big East.

Despite his impressive performances in 2006, McAfee expressed hope that the kicking is even better this year as WVU attempts to prove it's a solid top five team and national championship contender.

"Yes, I did well last year," McAfee said. "But everything can be improved and with what we're doing it will be. Hopefully, we'll have an even greater year. But I'm excited for camp to start (Aug. 4). I'm looking at it in a positive manner."

McAfee believes his kicking is as strong as it ever has been.

"I also think it's smoother," he said. "I need to be more fluid. That's what I've been working on and I think it's doing well."

While he split the punting job with Scott Kozlowski last season, he would like to do both the kicking and punting the entire season and see how he fares.

But McAfee will face more competition this year. Besides Kozlowski, a sophomore, newcomers from Virginia and Pennsylvania will be competing for the punting job.