THE OFFICIAL ATHLETICS SITE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH ALABAMA LIONS

Four-year starting punter for the Lions who also handled place-kicking duties in 2019 and led the team in scoring with 60 points...179 career punts for a 40.3-yard average and a long of 61 yards (twice)...UNA 2020: Earned first-team All-Big South Conference honors as a punter in 2020 with a 43.8-yard average on 18 punts over four games...Long punt of 60 yards with three boots downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line...Missed both of his field goal attempts from 51 and 34 yards in the season-opener at Liberty...UNA 2019: Handled the majority of all place-kicking, kickoff and punting duties for the Lions in 2019...Named to the second-team of Phil Steele's All-Big South Conference team as a kicker and third-team as a punter...Earned three Big South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors...Received his first award after UNA's 26-17 season-opening win over Western Illinois where he hit field goals of 48 and 42 yards, made both of his extra-point attempts and averaged 40 yards on seven punts with a long of 54....Named Player of the Week for the second time for his performance in the Lions' 41-21 Homecoming win over Presbyterian where he was a perfect five-for-five on extra-point attempts, made both of his field goal attempts from 21 and 30 yards and averaged 43.5 yards on four punts, tying his career long of 61 yards. He accounted for 11 points in the UNA win...Received his third Big South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week award for his performance in the Lions' 25-24 win over Campbell where he made a 20-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired to provide the winning margin for the Lions. He was also perfect on two extra-point attempts, averaged 39.5 yards on eight punts and had two touchbacks on kickoffs.... Punted 60 times for a 42.4-yard average with 14 punts of over 50 yards and 16 downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line...Ranked third in the Big South Conference in punting average (42.4)...Hit 14 of 17 total field goal attempts, including making his first seven straight before missing on a 48-yard attempt at Jacksonville State...His first made field goal of the season was a career-best 48-yarder against Western Illinois...He was 6-of-7 from 20-29 yards, 4-of-5 from 30-39 and 4-of-5 from 40-49...Ranked second in the Big South in field goals made (14), third in field goals attempted (17), second in field goals made per game (1.27) and second in accuracy (82.4)...Made 18 of his 22 extra-point attempts...Handled 40 of the team's 57 kickoffs for the season and averaged 57.4 yards per kick with 12 touchbacks...UNA 2018: Handled all punting duties in 2018 with 44 punts for 1,707 yards and a 38.8-yard average...Three punts over 50 yards and had 13 punts downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line...There were 13 fair catches and only 10 of his punts were returned for 52 yards or 5.2 yards per return...His long punt was 55 yards and he only had four touchbacks all season...Had eight kickoffs for a 58.8 average kicked one extra point and ran in for a two-point conversion after UNA's initial touchdown against Alabama A&M...UNA 2017: Handled UNA's starting punter duties as a true freshman...57 total punts with a 38.3 average and a long of 59...Four touchbacks, 23 fair catches and 16 downed inside the opponents 20 yard line...Four punts of over 50 yards....Made one of two field goal attempts...Missed a 55-yard attempt against Texas A&M-Commerce and made a 27-yarder against Shorter...Also handled 14 kickoffs with one touchback...HIGH SCHOOL: Played wide receiver, cornerback, punter and kicked under head coach Brad Black at Brooks High School…Helped lead the Lions to third round of Class 4A state playoffs in 2015, second round of 5A state playoffs in 2016 and the 2016 week 0 Crampton Bowl vs. Andalusia…Named 2016 all-state punter and 2015 all-area punter…Broke school record for longest field goal at 49 yards…Also lettered in track and basketball…Member of All-A honor roll throughout high school and participant in Alabama Boys State…PERSONAL: Full name is Joseph Gurley…Son of John and Dana Gurley and has one sister, Lindsey…Major is Business Management.
 
Year     Punts   Yds      Avg      Long    50+      I20
2017      57      2181    38.3     59          4        16
2018      44      1707    38.8     55          3        13
2019      60      2545    42.4     61        14        16
2020      18        789    43.8     60          1          3
Career  179      7222    40.3     61        22        48
 
Year     FG       Long    PAT     2-Pt      PTS
2017    1-2       27          0-0     0            3
2018    0-0         0          1-1     1            3
2019    14-17   48        18-22   0          60
Career  15-19   48        19-23   1          66