Johnny Hekker: Undrafted to Elite Punter in 2015

Sep 13, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams punter Johnny Hekker (6) punts the ball against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Over the course of his four-year career, Hekker boasts a 46.3 gross punting yard average (42.3 net average), 86 punts downed in the 20, and only 15 touchbacks.

This year? Hekker is currently 11^th in the NFL punting average (47.3), 9^th in net average (42.1), and tied for 7^th in punts landing inside the 20 (12).

Hekker is and has been a model of consistency at the punter position. And when a punter can positively affect field position on a week-to-week basis, his team will find much more success.

Johnny Hekker was never supposed to be a good punter in the NFL. He was the starting varsity quarterback for his high school, he embarrassingly shanked a punt as an Oregon State Beaver for negative yardage, and he went undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft.

However, through hard work and determination as an undrafted free agent signing on a struggling St. Louis Rams team, Hekker was finally recognized as the best special teams player in the NFC during the month of October 2015.

Now, Johnny Hekker may very well be the best punter in the NFL.

Who do you think is the best punter in the NFL? Leave a comment below! Watch Johnny Hekker and the St. Louis Rams (3-3) take on the rival San Francisco 49ers (2-5) this Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome.