Jacob Herbers

Class:
Redshirt Freshman
Position:
1B
Hometown:
Battle Creek, Mich.
High School:
Lakeview

PRONUNCIATION

HONORS:
Academic All-Big Ten (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016)
Bobby Bell Award - Outstanding Special Teams Player (2019)
Big Ten Distinguished Scholar (2018-19)
All-Big Ten Honorable Mention (2018)

2019 • SENIOR SEASON: Started all 13 games at punter and holder • punted 42 times (fewest for the Gophers in a season since they punted 38 times in 2005) for 1,607 yards and averaged 38.3 yards • placed 19 punts inside the 20 and allowed only two touchbacks • opponents returned only six punts all season for a total of one yard, as Minnesota finished second in the nation in punt return defense with an average of .17 yards per return. Game-by-Game: Placed two of his five punts inside the 20 against South Dakota State • averaged 46 yards at Fresno State (two punts) and against Georgia Southern (three punts) • punted four times and averaged 41.2 yards at Purdue and had punts downed at the 1 and 2-yard line • averaged 41.2 yards on four punts against Illinois • placed three of five punts inside the 20 against Nebraska • punted three times for 111 yards at Rutgers • punted one time against Maryland • placed two of his four punts inside the 20 against Penn State • placed one of his two punts inside the 20 at Iowa • lone punt at Northwestern traveled 42 yards and was inside the 20 • placed all four of his punts inside the 20 against Wisconsin • averaged 40.8 yards on four punts in an Outback Bowl win against Auburn.

2018 • JUNIOR SEASON: Punted 51 times and averaged 41.24 yards per punt (13th in school history) • held on 23 field goal attempts and 43 point-after attempts • did not attempt a punt in the final 101:48 of the season (final Minnesota punt of the season came at Wisconsin with 11:48 remaining in the second quarter). Game-by-Game: Averaged 41.4 yards on five punts against New Mexico State • punted six times for 231 yards against Fresno State • placed four of six punts inside the 20 against Miami - including two inside the five - as he averaged 42.7 yards • averaged 47.0 yards on five punts at Maryland and placed four punts inside the 20 • placed one of four punts inside the 20-yard line against Iowa • averaged 43.5 yards on two punts at Ohio State • averaged 41.3 yards on six punts at Nebraska, where he also had a career best 58-yard punt • averaged 39.7 yards on three punts against Indiana (did not punt until the fourth quarter against the Hoosiers) • punted six times for 238 yards at Illinois • punted three times against Purdue • punted three times against Northwestern and tied his career long with a 58-yard effort • held eight times (4 FG, 4 PATs) and punted only twice (both in the first half) in win at Wisconsin • held seven times (3 FS, 4 PATs) against Georgia Tech and did not attempt a punt during the game.

2017 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Served as the team's holder in all 12 games and held 20 field-goal attempts and 31 point-after tries • attempted his first career punt at Purdue.

2016 • FRESHMAN SEASON: Served as the team's holder in all 13 games and held 24 field goal attempts and 44 point-after tries.

2015: Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Lakeview High School • helped lead team to an overall 9-2 record and a 5-0 mark in conference play • named AP Division 1-2 All-State as a punter • punted 34 times as a senior and averaged 40.88 yards • connected on nine of 11 field goals and also made 41 of 45 point-after attempts • kicked off 66 times and recorded 37 touchbacks • a finalist for the Michigan High School Athletic Association 2014-15 Scholar-Athlete Awards • also lettered in soccer and baseball • received three-star rating from ESPN, who also listed him as the No. 38 punter in the nation and the No. 25 prospect in Michigan • Rivals and Scout had him as a two-star recruit, while Scout rated him as the No. 9 punter in the nation and the 68th-best prospect in the state • received five stars as a punter from Kohl’s and four stars as a kicker • ranked as the No. 20 punter in his class by Kohl’s.

PERSONAL: Also plays baseball for the Gophers • son of Greg and Beth Herbers • has one brother, Matthew, who was a three-time American Collegiate Rowing Association national champion and won a gold medal in the eight-man boat during the 2015 World University Games.