No, this is not Jake Herr, but I needed a punter picture. – Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports

I apologize for not getting to this earlier, but it is a holiday weekend, Even blogging warriors like myself need to get away once in awhile. Today does mark the first player on our long countdown to kickoff, and he is backup punter Jake Herr.

Jake Herr -€” Freshman (RS)

Carmel, Indiana (Carmel HS)

6’5″, 220 pounds

Punter

2016 projection: Reserve Punter

Joe Schopper has the top punting job nailed down. Schopper played extensively (far more than we would like) as a true freshman last season and did well, so opportunities for Herr would seem to be limited. He does come from one of the best high school programs in Indiana, however. He was a high school teammate of Jimmy Herman and Race Johnson. As a senior Carmel reached the state championship game with Herr and lost to Ben Davis 42-24. That was the only year he was the regular punter for Carmel. He was also part of the roster as a junior on a team that lost the state championship game 7-6 to Warren Central.

Herr also played a little tight end for Carmel, catching two passes for 22 yards and a touchdown as a senior. It seems unlikely he will play much, if at all, due to Schopper, but if you see No. 96 run onto the field that will be Herr.