As Clemson punter gets ready for NFL Draft, ex-Tiger Gardocki says he had it easier

Clemson University's Bradley Pinion made waves in January when he announced his intention to forgo one more year of eligibility to declare for the NFL draft.

At least one person knows exactly how he is feeling. Chris Gardocki went through the same thought process 24 years ago.

With the benefit of hindsight, Gardocki admits that he sometimes thinks about how lucky he was. The former Bears, Colts, Browns and Steelers punter spent 16 long years in the NFL, but he knows things could have turned out very differently. That's why Pinion's decision struck a chord with the Hilton Head resident.

"I would say everything has changed now," Gardocki said.

Back in 1991, Gardocki, a place-kicker and punter for the Tigers, was coming off of two outstanding seasons. His performance drew the attention of some professional teams, which Gardocki said made the idea of turning pro prematurely more realistic.

"That sort of helped," Gardocki said. "I was getting feedback from some teams."

This may be the case with Pinion, who averaged 42.6 yards per punt this year, but Gardocki warned against trusting too heavily in pre-draft chatter.

"I can tell you this: You can't believe any of them," Gardocki said. "Those guys get in those draft rooms and something can change. It's all dependent on what teams need. When I came out, I think it was probably a whole lot easier."

Gardocki's risk-taking was rewarded with a third-round selection. The chances that Pinion is selected that high are slim. Professional football is an entirely different world, Gardocki said, where players are stronger and faster. Different (colder) environments require an adjustment in technique. There are more demands placed on punters by professional coaching staffs, and higher expectations come with a shorter leash.

Pinion's former teammate, Chandler Catanzaro, is currently a place-kicker for the Arizona Cardinals.

"There are so many good kickers now, and punters," Gardocki said. "You've got to go in there and compete. I assume that he's getting some kind of feedback that he's got a pretty good chance. He's had a great year and he's definitely got the ability."

Pinion's decision may pay off just like Gardocki's, who played his last NFL game in 2006. But the Hilton Head resident, who admitted he watches more English Premier League than NFL these days, knows that Pinion is embarking on rough seas.

"It was sort of off the cuff," Gardocki said of leaving Clemson early. "Then you've got to perform."

This story was originally published April 29, 2015 at 9:28 PM with the headline "As Clemson punter gets ready for NFL Draft, ex-Tiger Gardocki says he had it easier."