Joey Hildbold Hometown: Centreville, VA High School: Robinson Height / Weight: 5-10 / 191 Position: Punter Birthdate: 05/29/1981

AS A JUNIOR: Irish punter in 2001…ranked 35th in the nation in punting average at 42.2…ranks second in Notre Dame history for career punting average at 39.1…recorded a then career-high punt average of 50.1 yards vs. Michigan State on nine kicks…just missed the Notre Dame record for punting average in a game (five punts for 258 yards and a 51.6 average set by Joe Restic vs. Air Force in 1975)…followed that game with a career-high punt average of 50.5 yards vs. Texas A&M on six kicks, and led the nation in punting that week with a cumulative 48.8 average…vs. USC recorded four punts for 190 yards (47.5 average) including two inside the 20. . .recorded four punts for 42.3 average vs. Tennessee…recorded nine punts for 41.7 average vs. Purdue…. .recorded 19 punts inside the 20-yard line…a Ray Guy Award candidate… Street and Smith's preseason honorable mention All-American…Football News preseason all-independent team.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Number-one Irish punter in 2000 . . . named one of 10 finalists for Ray Guy Award as top collegiate punter for 2000, as one of only two sophomores listed . . . ranked 39th in NCAA statistics with 40.93 average . . . helped Irish rank 10th nationally in net punting with 38.44 average . . . named to the All-Independent teams by Football News and Collegefootballnews.com . . . played large role in Irish breaking season record for fewest punt return yards given up per attempt (4.7), breaking the previous mark of 5.0 set in 1951 . . . booted career-long 69-yard punt in the third quarter against Texas A&M, pinning the Aggies on their three-yard line . . . his first three punts against Purdue were for 63, 58 and 51 yards and he averaged 48.8 yards on five punts . . . punted a career-high nine times vs. Stanford . . . averaged over 45 yards on eight boots vs. West Virginia, including four punts of 50 or more yards . . . sprained right ankle in practice week prior to Boston College game, causing him to miss that contest . . . returned to action vs. Rutgers . . . had 15 punts for 50 or more yards during regyular season and pinned the opposition inside its 20 on 22 occasions.

AS A FRESHMAN: Top name on Irish punting list throughout '99 . . . finished season with 39.0-yard average on 54 punts . . . punted seven times vs. Michigan State for 43.4 yard average after 46.4 mark on five kicks vs. Purdue . . . booted career-long 56-yard punt vs. the Spartans following 54-yard punt vs. Purdue . . . had 43.5 average on four kicks vs. Tennessee . . . matched career high with seven punts vs. Boston College, including a 35-yard punt which was downed on the Eagles' one-yard line.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Virginia first-team Associated Press all-state punter at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax, Va. . . . first-team selection as punter on Washington Post all-metro team . . . AP second-team all-state kicker in '98 . . . second-team all-state pick by coaches as punter . . . averaged 39.7 yards per punt as senior in '98, with only 22 yards in punt returns against his team . . . hit 19 of 22 PATs and seven of 14 field goals in '98, with long of 45 yards . . . first team as both punter and kicker on Washington Post all-Virginia AAA Patriot team for '98 . . . rated one of top 40 players in Virginia by Richmond Times-Dispatch . . . earned three letters in football as punter, placekicker and wide receiver . . . put 60 percent of his kickoffs into end zone in '98 . . . 21 of his 37 '98 kickoffs were for touchbacks . . . caught 12 passes, two for touchdowns, as wide receiver in '98 . . . helped '97 team to 14-0 record by hitting two of four field goals and 31 of 41 PATs . . . helped team to '97 Virginia Group AAA Division 6 state title . . . selected to Chesapeake Classic all-star game between Maryland and Virginia players . . . earned four letters in wrestling, helping team to three conference titles . . . finished second in district time all-conference pick in wrestling and captain of team as senior . . . won three letters in soccer as sweeper, helping team to league title as sophomore . . . father Bill is 1973 Notre Dame graduate who competed in wrestling and rowing at Notre Dame . . . attended Notre Dame summer football camp . . . brother Billy was wrestler at George Mason . . . full name is Joseph Matthew Hildbold . . . youngest of three children . . . born 5-29-81 in Falls Church, Va. . . . earned 3.0 grade-point average during '99 fall semester . . . enrolled in Mendoza College of Business.

Hildbold Game By Game
1999

2000

2001