Caleb Sturgis: 5 Things You Need to Know About the Florida K

Fellow Floridian footballer Dustin Hopkins gets all the pre-draft buzz at the kicker position, but Caleb Sturgis is lurking like an alligator in the Everglades.

The kicker out of Florida challenged Hopkins for the Lou Groza Awards last season, though neither won it. Can he challenge him to become the first kicker taken this year?

In the meantime, here are five things you should know about him.

Combine results courtesy of NFL.com. College stats courtesy of sports-reference.com.

Background

Full Name: Caleb Sturgis

Birthday: August 9, 1989

Hometown: St. Augustine, Florida

School: Florida

Year: Senior

Major: Sports Management

Sturgis came into college as the No. 3 nationally rated kicker of 2008. He was barely a 50 percent kicker in high school, but he has improved to become one of the most reliable kickers in the FBS.

Collegiate Stats

Caleb Sturgis had an outstanding career. His field goal percentages showed nice improvement from year to year, save his sophomore season which was cut short by injury. 

He made the most field goals in Florida school history.

Kicking

Year	XPM	XPA	XP%	FGM	FGA	FG%	Pts
2008	2	2	100	0	0		2
2009	44	47	93.6	22	30	73.3	110
2010	19	21	90.5	2	4	50	25
2011	31	31	100	22	26	84.6	97
2012	34	35	97.1	24	28	85.7	106
Career	130	136	95.6	70	88	79.5	340

Draft Process

Measurables

Height: 5'10"

Weight: 188 pounds

Arm Length: 30"

Hand Size: 8 3/4"

Who needs to participate in combine events?

At least if you are a kicker, all that matters is how well you can get the ball through the uprights, right? Caleb Sturgis has not participated in any draft process events save for kicking some field goals at Florida's pro day.

Special Teams

Caleb Sturgis and Kyle Christy formed one of the best kicker-punter duos in the country.

Outside Quinn Sharp, who was a kicker-punter unto himself, the Florida pair was key to the team's success. Christy averaged 45.8 yards per punt last season—better than soon-to-be drafted Brad Wing—and Sturgis hit 85 percent of his field goals.

Unfortunately for them, neither won their position's respective awards—the Lou Groza and Ray Guy Awards. But Sturgis hopes to lay claim to top kicker out of this class, and Christy is sure to follow once he gets the college experience out of the way.

Observations

Here's what some have to say about the kicker:

"

He might be the first Kicker taken next weekend: Florida Kicker, Caleb Sturgis @calebsturgis1, is live on Late Hits right now w Alex & Gil

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) April 18, 2013"

"

Two best PK's in USA might reside in Sunshine State. Caleb Sturgis/Florida last week and FSU's Hopkins today, both potential draft picks.

— Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) March 19, 2013"

"

#Steelers among several teams that spent some extra time watching UF K Caleb Sturgis. Best kicker in draft, late round type

— Jason Cole (@JasonColeYahoo) March 12, 2013"

"

Muschamp says he texted players to say congrats to K Caleb Sturgis (preseason All-SEC), but the coaches don't think much of the rest of you.

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"— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) July 18, 2012"

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