Kicking specialists are often an afterthought in football, unless they pull off some crazy highlight. Like when Cam Little kicked the longest field goal in NFL history, or when Pat McAfee obliterated a ball-carrier on a kick return.
Historically, specialists in the NFL Draft are late-round picks. Teams that have taken the chance on early picks with specialists tend to regret it, but there is a player in the 2026 class who should make a team consider using a draft pick early on Day 3 for him.
Jaffer Murphy is a kicker who spent his final collegiate season with UTSA. He attempted only one extra point but handled kickoffs. Because they don't show up on the typical stat sheet, Murphy flew under the radar. That all changed when results and highlights from his UTSA pro day went viral on social media.
Murphy ran a blistering 4.50-second 40-yard dash and registered a 45-inch vertical jump. If you're thinking those don't translate into being a good kicker, he was also 12-13 on field goals, including one from 70 yards, in crosswinds.
Here is more on Murphy's impressive pro day performance.
MORE: Why is the perfect College Football Playoff format 16 teams?
Who is the UTSA kicker?
The UTSA kicker who is making headlines from his pro day is Jaffer Murphy. He is 6-foot-1 and 185 lbs. Murphy has a background in soccer, playing at both Drake and Florida Gulf Coast. He transferred to UTSA ahead of the 2025 season and, instead of playing soccer, joined the football team as a kicker.
Murphy was not responsible for field goals or extra points, focusing on kickoffs. He attempted just one extra point all season, but he did make it. Murphy showed off his leg at his pro day, with reports saying he made a 70-yard field goal.
Jaffer Murphy pro day highlights
Murphy dominated his pro day, showing off his athleticism. Kickers are known to have strong legs, and while he has that aspect of his game, he showed off rare explosiveness with an impressive vertical jump and one of the fastest 40-yard dashes ever measured for a kicker.
🏈 This isn’t your typical kicker.
UTSA’s Jaffer Murphy is drawing NFL interest after a jaw-dropping Pro Day that included a 70-yard field goal and a 4.5-second 40-yard dash. At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, he looks more like a skill-position player than a specialist.
With new kickoff… pic.twitter.com/o6VUHoBAc2
— Chron (@chron) March 19, 2026
Murphy didn't kick field goals at UTSA, but he did at his pro day. He reportedly made 12 of his 13 attempts, including one from 70 yards.
Can your kicker do this?! 🤔#210TriangleOfToughness | #BuiltByUTSA pic.twitter.com/7XWXrZGPuW
— UTSA Football 🏈 (@UTSAFTBL) March 19, 2026
Kickers are usually undrafted free agents, but Murphy's performance garnered him plenty of interest from those in attendance. Reports say that he ended up talking with every team that had a representative at UTSA's pro day.
UTSA Kicker Jaffer Murphy (@jaffermurphy ) spoke with every team that was at their Pro Day. Murphy also nailed a 70yg Field Goal too. pic.twitter.com/CUQ2zvae7g
— Easton Butler (@Easton__Butler) March 19, 2026
UTSA made headlines in 2021 and 2021 when the Roadrunners finished 12-2 and 11-3, respectively, but they have come back down to Earth in the last three years. UTSA isn't expected to be a draft powerhouse this season, but Murphy turned enough heads that he could end up being one of the Roadrunners selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Who got the most NFL attention after UTSA's Pro Day? Kick off specialist Jaffer Murphy, a former college soccer player, turned D-2 place kicker. Jaffer made 12 of his 13 FG's through a heavy cross wind, including a 70-yarder that hit the back net. He also ran a 4.5! @jaffermurphy pic.twitter.com/Xg6prPhQNx
— Chuck Miketinac (@MaxSportsSA) March 19, 2026
Part of Murphy's impressive profile is his vertical jump. He had a 45-inch vertical, which would have ranked as the second-best at the 2026 NFL Combine had he been invited.
Kicker with a 45 inch vert👀‼️
4.53 40 pic.twitter.com/DCGKXFYQ9z
— JafferMurphy (@jaffermurphy) February 19, 2026
MORE: Who were the fastest players at the 2026 NFL Combine?
Jaffer Murphy 40 time
Murphy was clocked at his pro day with a time of 4.50 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
This would have ranked 64th at the 2026 NFL Combine ahead of players like tight end Eli Stowers and wide receiver Carnell Tate, who are both considered top prospects in the draft class.
Murphy's 40-yard dash time is the fastest for a kicker or a punter since 2010. Specialists are following the recent trend of more and more players passing on working out at the NFL Combine. Marshall Koehn ran a 4.61 40 in 2016 and is still the fastest 40-yard dash for a kicker ran at the Combine. If you include punters, Jake Camarda ran a 4.56 40 in 2022.
Here are the top 10 punter and kicker 40-yard dashes since 2010.
Rank Player 40-yard dash time
1. Jaffer Murphy 4.50
2. Jake Camarda 4.56
3. Marshall Koehn 4.61
4. Mitch Wishnowsky 4.63
5. Jordan Stout 4.65
6. Alex Pechin 4.69
7. Justin Vogel 4.70
8. Jake Bailey 4.72
9. Jack Fox 4.73
10. John Lunsford 4.74
Jaffer Murphy soccer career
Murphy began his collegiate career at Drake. He was on the soccer team and played in six games, making four starts. Murphy didn't score a goal, but did have five total shots on the season. He then played in 13 matches and had seven starts in 2021. Murphy scored a game-winning goal to help Drake defeat Omaha.
He transferred to Florida Gulf Coast and played in 11 games in 2023. Murphy then transferred again, this time to Lake Erie College, and he began playing football. As their kicker, he made 13 field goals and all 17 of his extra point attempts. Murphy went through spring practice with North Carolina, but didn't register any stats for the Tar Heels. He transferred for the final time to UTSA and stuck with football for the 2025 season.