Ken DeBauche

DeBauche has been a model of consistency since taking over punting duties for the Badgers. Each season, he produced at least 57 quality kicks, going on to rank third in school history with 231 attempts. His 42.49-yard average rank second in Wisconsin annals while his 9,815 yards gained rank third. His 44.8-yard average as a sophomore in 2005 stands as the team's single-season record. Only 115 of his kicks were returned during his career, finishing with a 38.55-yard net average. Consistency and production are his call letters, but DeBauche has also proven to be a capable holder for field goals and placements. Serving in that capacity, he also showed an efficient arm for throwing the ball on fake punt attempts. At Bay Port High School, DeBauche was an honorable mention All-State choice in 2002, adding first-team All-Area honors as a punter and All-Area recognition as a kicker in 2001. The first-team All-Conference punter and kicker also competed as a receiver in his senior year. DeBauche boasted a career 44.3-yard punting average and caught 27 passes for 470 yards, including seven touchdowns. He scored 50 points (six touchdowns plus field goals and PATs) as a senior. He was a three-time letter-winner in football, basketball and baseball, earning second-team All-Conference honors as a pitcher during his junior campaign. He also served as the basketball team captain as a senior and was a National Honor Society member and honor roll student. DeBauche redshirted at Wisconsin in 2003, taking over punting chores the following season. He was name UW's Special Teams Player of the Year, adding Freshman All-Big Ten Conference honors from The Sporting News and Academic All-Big Ten accolades. He ranked sixth in the league with a 41.75-yard average on 57 punts, as he had 17 boots that were downed inside the 20-yard line and six that went for distances of 50 yards or longer. He finished with a 35.67-yard net average, having 22 of his kicks returned. As a sophomore, DeBauche was named second-team All-American by Sports Illustrated and a consensus All-Big Ten Conference first-team pick. He led the league and ranked eighth nationally with 57 attempts for a 44.82-yard average, including 22 punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line and 18 that went for 50 yards or longer. He had 31 kicks returned for 303 yards, attaining a 37.75-yard net average, leading Big Ten kickers. In 2006, DeBauche was chosen All-Big Ten honorable mention. He had eight kicks for more than 50 yards, 15 that were downed inside the 20-yard line and averaged 41.8 yards on 59 tries. Thirty-one of his attempts were returned, amassing a 37.47-yard net average. As a senior, DeBauche was again selected All-Big Ten honorable mention by the league's coaches and second-team by the media. He finished third in the conference with a 41.59-yard average on 58 kicks. He had 16 attempts that were downed inside the 20-yard line and 10 for 50 yards or longer. He had a 35.31-yard net average on 31 returns. In 51 games, DeBauche punted 231 times for 9,815 yards (42.49 avg), with two attempts blocked, 23 that went for touchbacks, 36 that were ruled fair catches, 70 that were downed inside the 20-yard line and 42 for 50 yards or longer. He had 115 kicks returned for 911 yards (7.92 avg) and two touchdowns, finishing with a 36.55-yard net average. He hit on 1-of-4 pass attempts for 31 yards and rushed twice for minus-6 yards

positives

Needs to add more upper body muscle tone, but has well-developed thighs and defined calves, large hands and the ability to field the high snap...Ambidextrous...Shows good poise and confidence as a punter (bit erratic as a holder, though)...Does a good job handling block pressure and has shown the ability to kick in poor weather conditions...More of a "one of the guys" type rather than a typical punter, as he enjoys working out with the team and sees snaps as a receiver on the scout team...Game preparation is very important to him, as he will spend hours watching film to catch tendencies of his upcoming opponent's punt returners...Hard worker in the weight room and is not the type that will let aches and pains keep him off the field...Has adequate quickness and mobility, showing good leg strength and a fluid stride in his touch-to-toe mechanics...Has the power to get the ball up with hood trajectory and height, but is best angling his kicks towards the sidelines...Self-coached, but has done a good job of refining his mechanics and techniques...Has good hands to handle the high and low snaps and also does the holding for placements...Adjusts well to the poor snaps and has the ability to get good extension and lift with his leg...Shows good rise on his kicks, averaging 4.33-4.54 on his attempts as a senior...Does a good job getting into position to field the snap and has very good leg control on pooch kicks (70 of 231 attempts were downed inside the 20-yard line)...Knows how to handle windy conditions by kicking with a lower trajectory against it and with a higher one kicking into the wind...Can detach himself from emotion and block pressure, doing a nice job of adjusting to move laterally and away from the oncoming kick blocker to get his attempts away...Has sure hands, demonstrating good catch-and-release quickness.

compares to

JEFF FEAGLES-New York Giants...Like Feagles, DeBauche lacks an overpowering leg, but is a model of consistency, especially with his ability to angle punts inside the 20-yard line. He needs to get his kicks off quicker as he is a bit deliberate in his approach, yet has had just two attempts blocked during his career. He is a solid poor weather kicker and outside of a few panic attacks as a holder, he generally keeps his cool under pressure. He will be a long-time performer in the league if taken by a team needing consistency rather than flash.

negatives

Has adequate upper body thickness and a slender frame that could use more bulk...Has a consistent leg, but lacks overpowering strength to boom the ball long distances (never had a punt for longer than 59 yards)...Provides little to no support for the coverage unit, as he prefers to not get involved in the action (never recorded a tackle on 115 punts that were returned)...Has a deliberate approach and needs to get the ball off quicker...Good pooch kicker, but those attempts hang dangerously low, inviting a big return or a block...Needs to show better patience as a kick holder, as he tends to bolt at the first sign of pressure or attempt a pass with dire consequences....Has a tendency to rush the punt, trying to over-kick in an attempt to get off a long punt.

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.87 in the 40-yard dash

Bench pressed 225 pounds 11 times

30 1/2-inch arm length

9 3/8-inch hands

Ambidextrous

26/42 Wonderlic score. Combine: Did not receive an invitation.

Attended Bay Port (Green Bay, Wis.) High School, playing football for head coach Mike Williquette

Honorable mention All-State choice in 2002, adding first-team All-Area honors as a punter and All-Area recognition as a kicker in 2001

The first-team All-Conference punter and kicker also competed as a receiver in his senior year

Had a career 44.3-yard punting average and caught 27 passes for 470 yards, including seven touchdowns

Also scored 50 points (six touchdowns plus field goals and PATs) as a senior

Three-time letter-winner in football, basketball and baseball, earning second-team All-Conference honors as a pitcher during his junior campaign

Served as the basketball team captain as a senior and was a National Honor Society member and honor roll student.

Sociology and Environmental Studies major

Son of Jean and Steven DeBauche

Born 9/26/84

Resides in Suamico, Wisconsin.