Justin Medlock

Not sine the John Lee era (1982-85) has the Bruins faithful been able to boast about having one of the elite kicking specialists in the nation. Often overlooked by the media earlier in his career, Medlock forced his way into the national scene as a senior, when he led Division 1-A in field goals (2.15 per game) and tied for second in the country in kick scoring (8.69 ppg). Medlock finished second to Lee (390) in UCLA scoring annals with 357 points, and his 70 field goals are topped only by Lee's mark of 85. His six field goals of 50-plus yards are the most ever by a Bruins place-kicker. Medlock lettered twice in football at Mission San Jose High School. He was rated the ninth-best in the nation and earned a four-star rating by PacWest Football. He was a four-star prospect by Max Emfinger, a Prep Star All-American (rated the fourth-best kicker in the West by that recruiting service) and was a member of the Tacoma News Tribune Western 100. Medlock was named All-County and All-League at both kicker and punter as a senior and junior. He made 4-of-6 field goals as a senior, including a long of 48 yards, missing from 47 and 50 yards. He also averaged 43.1 yards per punt with a long of 73 yards. Eighteen of his 20 kickoffs went for touchbacks. As a junior, he made 7-of-13 field goals with a long of 47 yards (all six of his misses were from at least 50 yards). He kicked four field goals of longer than 40 yards and made 29 of 30 extra points. Medlock also lettered three years in soccer, earning All-League honors as a sophomore and senior. Medlock enrolled at UCLA, spending the 2002 season on the scout team. In 2003, he was named to The Sporting News Pac-10 Conference All-Freshman team. He was the team's leading scorer with 68 points, as his 5.23 scoring average placed him 11th in the Pac-10 and he also ranked fourth in the conference in field goals per game (1.08) and field goal percentage (.737). He converted all 26 extra points and made 14-of-19 field goals with a long of 48 yards. As a sophomore in 2004, Medlock again led the team in scoring with 87 points and was one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Award. He was a first-team All-Pac-10 pick and co-winner of UCLA's Tommy Prothro Award for Outstanding Special Teams Player. On the year, he made 15 of 20 field-goal attempts and 42 of 43 extra points. He ranked second in the Pac-10 in field goal percentage (75.0), second in kick scoring (7.25), third in scoring (7.25) and fourth (20th in NCAA) in field goals (1.25). He also became the first UCLA player to kick two field goals of at least 50 yards in the same game at Oregon. Medlock earned All-Pac-10 Conference first-team honors in 2005. On the year, he made 13 of 17 field goals (.765) and all 50 extra points for 89 points, second on the team. He ranked fourth in the Pac-10 in field goals (1.18), 33rd in the NCAA and seventh in the league in scoring (8.09) and third in kick scoring (8.09). In addition, 33 of his 76 kickoffs were touchbacks. Medlock was a consensus first-team All-American and unanimous All-Pac 10 first-team choice in 2006. He led the nation with an average of 2.15 field goals per game, while also leading the team in scoring with 113 points. He made all 29 extra points, extending his consecutive extra point string to 112. He connected on 28-of-32 field goals, the second-highest total in school history. In 49 games at UCLA, Medlock scored 357 points, the second-best total in school annals. He made 79.5 percent of his field-goal attempts (70-of-88) and 147-of-148 extra-point attempts. He was successful on 31-of-42 field goals from beyond the 40-yard line, including 6-of-9 from 50-plus yards. Of his 214 kickoffs during his final three seasons, the opposition returned 137.

positives

Has good upper body thickness with well-developed legs...Displays solid work habits in practice and in the weight room....Has adequate playing speed, quickness, body control and change of direction agility...Generates good explosion through the ball with leg extension and follow through...Displays good consistency on field goals and extra-point attempts, but his kickoffs could use some improvement...Lacks strength to make the physical tackle on the coverage team, but plays with good effort and can impede a returner's progress by occupying space...Has adequate pop and explosion on his approach to the ball...Best in the intermediate field-goal area, but is capable of making the long-range kicks (25-of-33 from 40-49 yards, 6-of-9 from 50-plus yards)...Shows good snap-to-toe mechanics and timing (1.33 second average)...Thanks to his quick approach to the ball and the immediate rise it generates, none of his 88 field-goal attempts were ever blocked...Looks very relaxed before the kick and is the type who works hard all the time during practice...Has above average leg strength with good tempo, and power through the ball with classic leg extension...The ball explodes off his foot, as he starts his motion early to get full force behind his attempts...Right-footed soccer style kicker.

compares to

JOSH BROWN-Seattle...Like Brown, Medlock has the leg strength and quick follow-through to get his kicks off with good rise. He has never had a field goal or extra point blocked, as he takes an early approach to the ball. He needs to improve the hang time on his kickoffs, but he has proven to be a consistent field goal kicker whose accuracy will earn him a pro job in 2007.

negatives

Seems to shy away from contact -- even though he will get down field to support, it is passive, at best (one tackle for his career)...Has decent poise, but can be taken out of his game at times in pressure situations...Gets good height on his kickoffs, but needs to drive through the ball better, as it does not make it into the end zone on a consistent basis...Hang time is also marginal on his kickoffs, averaging less than 3.85 seconds (137 of his 214 kickoffs were returned).

No injuries reported.

Campus: 4.9 seconds in the 40-yard dash.

Attended Mission San Jose (Fremont, Cal.) High School, playing football for head coach Kevin Lydon

Lettered twice in football

Rated the ninth-best in the nation and earned a four-star rating by PacWest Football

Was a four-star prospect by Max Emfinger, a Prep Star All-American (rated the fourth-best kicker in the West by that recruiting service) and was a member of the Tacoma News Tribune Western 100

Named All-County and All-League at both kicker and punter as a senior and junior

Made four of six field goals as a senior, including a long of 48 yards, missing from 47 and 50 yards

Also averaged 43.1 yards per punt with a long of 73 yards. Eighteen of his 20 kickoffs went for touchbacks

As a junior, he made seven of 13 field goals with a long of 47 yards (all six of his misses were from at least 50 yards)

Kicked four field goals longer than 40 yards and made 29 of 30 PATs

Also lettered three years in soccer, earning All-League honors as a sophomore and senior.

Sociology major, earning a berth on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll in 2005

Son of Tammy Medlock

Born Justin Charles Medlock on 10/23/83 in Santa Clara, California

Resides in Fremont, California.