Punter Aleksi Pulkkinen has been named Player of the Year by the Finnish Sports Journalists’ Association
Aleksi Pulkkinen, who plays as a punter for the University of South Alabama football team, has been selected by the Finnish Sports Journalists’ Associationas Finland’s 2024 American Football Player of the Year. This year, sports journalists chose the best athletes in 84 different sports.
The Finnish Sports Journalists Association made a historic decision in naming a kicker as American Football Player of the Year — a role that rarely receives the recognition it deserves. Although special teams and the kicking game are said to influence as much as 20 percent of the outcome of an American football game, athletes who specialize in kicking plays are unfortunately given little appreciation in Finland.
Aleksi Pulkkinen earned the starting punter position in the fall of 2024 after the previous starter struggled in the season opener. With strong performances, he solidified his role as the team’s trusted kicker. Over the course of the season, Pulkkinen executed 46 punts, averaging 40.3 yards per kick, with his longest punt traveling an impressive 67 yards.
Kari Grönroos, a pioneer of Finnish American football kicking who played professionally in NFL Europe for the Scottish Claymores in the late 1990s, has followed Pulkkinen’s development for several years and has been impressed by what he has seen:
“Aleksi has long worked on the fundamentals of kicking technique. At its best, his mechanics are top class. Everything that has happened over the years has shaped and developed him in the right direction. He is sufficiently mobile and flexible, has good rhythm in his movement, and there are no ‘leaks’ in his power — meaning his posture holds throughout the kick.”
Pulkkinen’s ambitions are set high
Aleksi Pulkkinen’s “full ride” scholarship worth tens of thousands of euros, his position as the starting punter for the Jaguars, and the recognition now granted to him by the Urheilutoimittajain liitto are excellent examples of how far a determined athlete can go through hard work and strong willpower. However, Pulkkinen, who has played two seasons in Alabama, is still nowhere near the peak of his career. The young man’s goals are set high:
“My intention is to reach the NFL after my college career. If I don’t make it, I’ll head to another league, perhaps the Canadian league, the CFL. There are also other smaller leagues in the U.S., such as the XFL or the USFL. One of these would be my goal.”
Kari Grönroos, who himself gained experience in college football at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, believes that if all the pieces fall into place, Pulkkinen has a chance to become Finland’s first NFL player:
“Going forward, he needs to build more raw strength as well as explosive power without losing range of motion. Hopefully, the college experience will also continue to shape his mental attributes so that there are no major fluctuations in performance. At his best, he is already at NFL level. I believe next season will be a watershed year. If his performance reflects the best version of Aleksi, opportunities will certainly come. In addition, he needs a strong support team to handle the off-field matters.
“I’ve believed for years that the first Finn in the NFL will be a kicker, and now we’re close to something big — as long as everything falls into place.”
