Nathan Rathjen, the team’s back-up punter, averaged 42.3 yards per punt as a high school senior.

Quick, who is No. 29 on the Virginia football team? No, not standout recruit Corey Lillard , a freshman defensive back. The other No. 29. Nathan Rathjen. Who? Nathan Rathjen is a junior reserve punter and holder. He’s also the kind of Hoo fans love to root for.

A walk-on that has yet to appear in a game for UVa, Rathjen diligently goes to practice every day and works on his craft. As the depth chart back-up to Jimmy Howell , the starting punter, Rathjen punts just as many balls in training and takes reps with the team just the same. Once in a recent open practice, he got plowed over by a defensive back after a low snap slipped to the turf.

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