Corliss Waitman Explained

Corliss Waitman
Current Team:Chicago Bears
Number:37
Position:Punter
Birth Date:21 July 1995[1]
Birth Place:Ghent, Belgium
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:210
High School:Milton (Milton, Florida)
College:South Alabama (2014–2018)
Undraftedyear:2020
Cfldraftyear:2022G
Cfldraftround:3
Cfldraftpick:20
Pastteams:
Status:Active
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Punts
Statvalue1:103
Statlabel2:Punting yards
Statvalue2:4,835
Statlabel3:Average punt
Statvalue3:46.9
Statlabel4:Longest punt
Statvalue4:63
Statlabel5:Inside 20
Statvalue5:31
Pfr:W/WaitCo00

Corliss Leendert Waitman (born 21 July 1995) is a Belgian-born American football punter for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Alabama.

Early years

Waitman's mother's family is from Suriname.[2] His father, José Waitman, was a professional basketball player, and was playing in Belgium when Corliss was born. The family moved to the Netherlands, where Corliss spent his childhood. When he was 15, he moved to the United States to join his father. Waitman switched from playing soccer to football in high school.[3]

College career

Waitman played college football at South Alabama from 2014 to 2018. In February 2019, he transferred to Mississippi State University.[4] However, the NCAA denied Waitman an extra year of eligibility, and he did not play college football in 2019.[5] [6]

Professional career

Pittsburgh Steelers (first stint)

Waitman was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent on 28 April 2020. He was waived on 5 September 2020 and re-signed to the practice squad. He signed a reserve/future contract on 14 January 2021. He was waived on 3 May 2021.

Las Vegas Raiders

On 26 July 2021, Waitman was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was waived on 23 August 2021.

New England Patriots (first stint)

On 23 November 2021, Waitman was signed to the New England Patriots practice squad.[7]

Pittsburgh Steelers (second stint)

Waitman was signed by the Steelers off the Patriots practice squad on 25 December 2021, when Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III took bereavement leave.[8] He made his NFL debut in the team's week 16 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs the following day. He was waived on 15 January 2022.[9]

Denver Broncos

On 17 January 2022, Waitman was claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos.[10]

Waitman was also drafted by the Edmonton Elks in the third round (20th overall) of the 2022 CFL Global Draft.[11]

Waitman was named the starting punter for the Broncos on 29 August 2022, after veteran punter Sam Martin was released.[12] In Week 3, Waitman punted 10 times, six of them inside the 20-yard line, in an 11–10 win over the San Francisco 49ers, earning American Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week.[13]

New England Patriots (second stint)

On 23 March 2023, Waitman signed a contract with the Patriots, following the Patriots releasing Jake Bailey.[14] [15] [16] On 28 August 2023, the Patriots released Waitman and was re-signed to the practice squad.[17] [18] Waitman was released on 4 October 2023.[19]

Chicago Bears

On 9 January 2024, Waitman signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chicago Bears.[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Corliss Waitman – Football . 28 January 2023 . South Alabama Jaguars Athletics.
  2. https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2020/08/26/corliss-waitman-suriname-nfl-black-punters-steelers-jordan-berry/stories/202008250070 steelers story
  3. https://raiderswire.usatoday.com/2021/07/26/raiders-sign-punter-corliss-waitman-with-unique-backstory/ unique backstory
  4. Web site: 6 February 2019 . Ex-USA punter Corliss Waitman signs with Miss. State . AL.com.
  5. Web site: Nissim . Steve . 30 April 2020 . Persistence lands Milton's Corliss Waitman an NFL opportunity . WEAR.
  6. Web site: 3 August 2019 . NCAA denies Mississippi State grad transfer's 6th year of eligibility waiver . Saturday Down South.
  7. Web site: 23 November 2021 . Patriots sign punter Corliss Waitman to the practice squad . 28 January 2023 . Patriots.com . en-US.
  8. Web site: 26 December 2021 . USA's Corliss Waitman set for NFL debut on Sunday . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211226063016/https://www.al.com/sports/2021/12/south-alabamas-corliss-waitman-set-for-nfl-debut-on-sunday.html . 26 December 2021 . 26 December 2021 . al.com . en.
  9. Web site: Varley, Teresa . 15 January 2022 . Steelers activate Smith-Schuster . Steelers.com . 15 January 2022 . 24 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220124051112/https://www.steelers.com/news/steelers-activate-smith-schuster . dead .
  10. Web site: Williams . Charean . 17 January 2022 . Broncos claim Corliss Waitman off waivers . 28 January 2023 . Pro Football Talk . NBC Sports.
  11. Web site: 3 May 2022 . Kingsley Jonathan leads the Way in Global Draft . 28 January 2023 . CFL.ca.
  12. Web site: 29 August 2022 . Broncos cut punter Sam Martin after he refuses pay cut . 29 August 2022 . NBC Sports.
  13. Web site: Gordon, Grant . 28 September 2022 . Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence, Falcons RB Cordarrelle Patterson lead Players of the Week . NFL.com.
  14. Web site: Patriots Re-Sign DL Daniel Ekuale and Sign P Corliss Waitman. patriots.com. 23 March 2023. 23 March 2023.
  15. Web site: Yang . Nicole . 23 March 2023 . Patriots sign left-footed punter Corliss Waitman - The Boston Globe . 24 March 2023 . BostonGlobe.com . en-US.
  16. Web site: New Dolphins punter Jake Bailey addresses Patriots' suspension and contract dispute . 24 March 2023 . The Palm Beach Post . en-US.
  17. News: Patriots Release QB Trace McSorley and P Corliss Waitman. Patriots.com. 28 August 2023.
  18. Web site: Patriots Practice Squad Headlined by QBs Zappe, Malik. SI.com. 30 August 2023. 30 August 2023.
  19. Web site: Patriots Sign DL Trysten Hill to the Practice Squad; Release P Corliss Waitman from the Practice Squad. Patriots.com. 4 October 2023. 4 October 2023.
  20. Web site: Medina . Luis . January 9, 2024 . Punter Corliss Waitman Signs with the Bears . 10 January 2024 . Bleacher Nation.

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