Andrew Franks' Longest Field Goal is 73 Yards
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DAVIE (CBSMiami) -- Andrew Franks may not be human.
The rookie Miami Dolphins kicker appears to be an earth import after taking the kicking gig away from former fifth-rounder Caleb Sturgis out of nowhere in the preseason.
Nowhere is Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a tiny Division III school where Franks' accuracy during his senior year was iffy at first glance. He connected on just 16 of 25 attempts (64%). The NFL's most inaccurate kicker (to qualify) last season was the Vikings' Blair Walsh at 74 percent.
Local Dolphins writers rightfully expressed concern after the team made it clear they were going into Week 1 with Franks as the starter after cutting Sturgis last week. Franks did make all three of his attempts in the preseason with a long of 51 yards, but he was inconsistent throughout Training Camp.
There's no question it's the boom of his right leg that makes this 22-year-old so intriguing.
"73," Franks said when asked of his longest made field goal after practice on Thursday. "That was just warming up over the summer, last summer actually."
To fully comprehend how outlandish that distance is, consider that "kick" took place from his own 44-yard line. Can you imagine Joe Philbin trotting out the kicking team on the wrong side of the 50 this season?
As for game conditions, the max distance he's comfortable kicking at is still hulking and record-breaking.
"Depends on the weather, obviously," Franks said, "but a nice sunny Florida day it could be 65. It could be a little longer than that so I'll be ready for any long kicks that we may encounter."
The franchise record is 60 yards, set by Dan Carpenter in 2010 -- in Cleveland in December, nonetheless.
The NFL record? 64 yards, set by Matt Prater in 2013.
There may not be a bigger question mark on the Dolphins roster than Andrew Franks, potential alien, heading into the 2015 season but the kicker from nowhere is up for the challenge.
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