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Cowboys Open Up A Kicker Competition For 2022

Originally posted on The Cold Wire
By Lawrence Fernandez  |  Last updated 7/4/22

Last season, the Dallas Cowboys did have an All-Pro in special teams through punter Bryan Anger.

He had the fourth-best average at 48.4 yards per attempt and had 24 kicks inside the 20-yard line.

However, kicker Greg Zuerlein wasn’t exactly accurate with an 82.9 percent conversion rate.

But while the Cowboys ranked 21st in that category, their point after is even worse.

They ranked 26th in that category, converting only 47 of 53 attempts.

That said, the Cowboys called for a change because every point counts.

But just when everyone thought they had their guy, they are pitting one kicker against another.

NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero tweeted, “The #Cowboys are re-signing kicker Lirim Hajrullahu, source said. They now have two kickers on the roster: undrafted rookie Jonathan Garibay and Hajrullahu, the former CFL all-star who made his NFL debut for Dallas last season and also kicked for Carolina.”

Garibay played for Texas Tech and he could be the next great Mexican kicker in Cowboys history after Efren Herrera and Rafael Septien.

In two seasons with the Red Raiders, he made 23 of 27 field-goal attempts and 55 out of 57 extra points.

In his final season in college alone, he missed only one field goal try and converted a 62-yard attempt which is the longest in the school’s history.

He also made his first 13 attempts to tie the school record for most consecutive field-goal tries converted.

A Quick Glance At Hajrullahu’s Career

He was born in what is now known as Kosovo but migrated to Canada in 1999.

Though he was already playing soccer at a young age, fate had it that football would be his future.

He played in the Canadian Football League and won a Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts.

Aside from the Cowboys, Hajrullahu has also played for the Carolina Panthers in the NFL.

This article first appeared on The Cold Wire and was syndicated with permission.

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