NFL Draft 2011: Punters Projected to Go on Draft Day

One of the most overlooked positions in football, the punter is an extremely important part of an NFL team’s success.

The Redskins, Falcons and Giants were among teams with issues at the position in 2010, and several others might make a move at the position.

The following list reveals the only guys with a real chance at getting drafted on April, 28^th.

1. Chas Henry, Florida

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 30: Chas Henry #17 of the Florida Gators raises his helmet in vicrtory following the game against the Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank Field on October 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

Chas Henry won the Ray Guy award in 2010 as the nation’s best punter. He was a consensus first team All-American and finished the season averaging an impressive 45.1 yards per attempt. He was considered the No. 1 punting recruit coming out of high school and cemented a shot at the NFL with four excellent seasons in Florida.

Henry managed two of the ten longest punts in Gator’s history with a 75-yarder against Alabama and a 67-yarder against Mississippi State. Scouts also like that he has experience place-kicking, holding kicks and as a kick-off specialist.

Henry is a three-step punter, which is something that will need to be addressed at the next level. He has a solid chance at getting taken in the late fifth or early sixth round.

2. Ryan Donahue, Iowa

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IOWA CITY, IA - NOVEMBER 8: Iowa Kicker Daniel Murray #1 celebrates with teammate Ryan Donahue #5 after kicking the game winning field goal defeating Penn State Nittany Lions with six seconds left on the clock at Kinnick Stadium on November 8, 2008 in Io

A finalist for the Ray Guy award and honorable-mention all-Big Ten, Donahue should get a shot to punt for an NFL team in 2011.

As a senior, he was invited to the East-West Shrine Game. He won national Punter of the Week vs. Wisconsin and honorable mention Punter of the Week vs. Northwestern and Minnesota. He averaged 44.6 yards per attempt as a senior and helped lead Iowa to a 27-24 Insight Bowl win over Missouri.

Donahue is has already developed further than several punters in the league and will go in the sixth or seventh round.

3. Reid Forrest, Washington

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SEATTLE - NOVEMBER 24: Anthony Russo #5 of the Washington Huskies rushes against Reid Forrest #32 of the Washington State Cougars during the 100th Apple Cup game at Husky Stadium on November 24, 2007 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty

Forrest had 66 attempts in 2010, averaging 45.4 yards per attempt. He finished his career in Washington with school records in both attempts and total punt yardage.

Forrest was a semi-finalist for the Ray Guy award and drew a lot of attention after posting the second longest punt in school history for 84 yards against Arizona. It was also tied for the fourth longest punt in Pac-10 history.

The only way Forrest will go is if Donahue and Henry go before him. If he is taken, it’ll be in the seventh round.