Iowa offensive lineman Brandon Scherff is never going to make a dime returning punts, but for an All-Big Ten left tackle who is considered one of the top 2015 NFL Draft prospects at his position, it never hurts to show off the athleticism for it. Scherff and fellow draft prospect Carl Davis, a defensive lineman, went head-to-head in a punt-catching contest in fall camp last year at the behest of special-teams coach Chris White.
And according to Scherff, things didn't go well for Davis.
"I think it was best out of three, and I caught all three, and Carl missed all three," Scherff said. "So that worked out perfect."
Cleanly fielding three consecutive punts is impressive for a 320-pound offensive lineman who hasn't had his hands on a football since his days as a high school quarterback. But Scherff isn't the first to do it. As a matter of fact, he'll have to step up his punt-fielding game if he wants to put himself in Terrence Cody territory.
The Baltimore Ravens' 350-pound nose guard caught a punt with just one hand during Ravens camp in 2012, and there is video to back it up.
Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter *@ChaseGoodbread.*