Saints Invite North Dakota State Kicker For Try Out
Not leaving any stone or position unturned following the 2015 NFL Draft, the New Orleans Saints have invited North Dakota State University kicker Adam Keller in for a try out according to Keller’s Twitter account.
Officially invited to mini camp with the Minnesota Vikings this weekend and New Orleans Saints nxt weekend. So blessed for this opportunity!
— Adam Keller (@A_Kell17) May 3, 2015
The NDSU Athletic Website listed this regarding Keller:
"Graduated as NDSU’s career leader in PAT kicks made (191) and attempted (198), field goals made (56) and percentage (.800) despite just three playing seasons…Ranked second in career field goal attempts (70) and third in scoring (359)…Went 14-for-19 outdoors with a long of 41 (three times) and 42-for-51 indoors with a long of 50 yards…Made 117 consecutive extra-point kicks over his final 28 games, a streak that ranks second in Missouri Valley Football Conference history…Part of four straight conference and national championship teams."
A checklist might be the best way to pass along Keller’s career achievements. He also was a finalist for the 2014 Fred Mitchell Award, given annually to the FCS, Division II, Division III, NAIA or NJCAA placekicker that excels on the field and in the community.
Jan 10, 2015; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison place kicker Adam Keller (17) kicks a field goal in the game against the Illinois State Redbirds in the Division I championship at Pizza Hut Park. North Dakota State beat Illinois State 29-27. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Keller spent his first two seasons as a starter kicking through a hip injury that required surgery last offseason. Seven months of recovery time allowed Keller to play pain-free while adding distance to his kicks in 2014.
A bigger leg isn’t the only thing Keller’s picked up during his time in Fargo. His friends and family tease him about the new accent he picked up there, which is evident in every “O” he pronounces, each one sounding like it came off the set of the classic film of the same name.
Even if Keller doesn’t accomplish his NFL dream, he says that he’s not worried because he already has a real world job lined up at a private equity firm in Dallas, Tex.
If Keller makes it past his visit with the Vikings and impresses the Saints, then he’ll join the kicker competition that head coach Sean Payton implements every season.
Currently the Saints only have two kickers on their roster, Shayne Graham and Dustin Hopkins…