NFL Pro Bowl punter Jack Fox hosts kicking camp in Hart

By Brendan Samuels
LocalSportsJournal.com

HART – Hart’s football program hosted a pair of guests on their field on Wednesday.

Current Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox and former NFL kicker Shayne Graham led a group of young athletes in a clinic for special teamers.

Fox is a four-year pro out of Rice University and has served as the Lions’ punter since the 2019-20 season. During that time, Fox has been named to the Pro Bowl roster and awarded Second-Team All-Pro – both honors came in 2020.

“I’m a big fan of Michigan and the west side of the state. I’ve been coming up to Pentwater since I was like 8 years old with my family,” Fox said. “I met Joe Tanis about 3 years ago and he’s been gracious enough to let me use his facilities to train when I’m up here with my family.

“When I was a kid, I grew up playing soccer and then got into kicking and punting in middle school. I always thought it would be the coolest thing in the world to kick or punt with an NFL kicker so now that I’m here, I want to give them that experience that I wanted as a kid.”

Photo/Brendan Samuels

Graham served as an NFL kicker for 15 NFL franchises after going undrafted in the 2000 draft. Graham made his name with the Cincinnati Bengals where he was named to both the Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro roster in 2005. Graham also set the NFL record for tackles by a kicker with 11 in that same year.

Graham now spends his time training kickers and spent time coaching at Central Michigan University, Michigan State University and University of Florida.

With plenty of experience between the two, Hart football and coach Joe Tanis were more than happy to have both join area athletes for a kicking clinic. During the three-hour camp, athletes were taught everything from fundamentals to kicking mechanics.

“Jack had been using our weight room and he asked if there was anything he could do to help give back,” Tanis said. “We thought having a kicking camp would create a great experience and a lot of memories for kids in our program. I hope every kid comes away with something that’s going to make them better.”

Faces around the camp were those of pure joy as they took time to appreciate the time sacrificed by Fox and Graham. In turn, Fox and Graham took time to greet fans and sign autographs before, during and after the camp.