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At least for 2018, Vanderbilt has found its replacement for departed punter Sam Loy.
Excited to announce that I will be playing a 5th year as a grad-transfer at Vanderbilt University! https://t.co/WvTIRXucoL
— Parker Thome (@parkerthome) February 7, 2018
Parker Thome announced early Wednesday morning that he would transfer to Vanderbilt for his final year of eligibility. Thome was a First Team All-Ivy League punter at Columbia in 2017, but thanks to Ivy League rules, he was out of eligibility at Columbia.
That opened up the possibility of a graduate transfer, and Thome will likely step in as Vanderbilt’s starting punter in 2018. According to his bio on Columbia’s website, Thome ranked 11th nationally in FCS with a 42.9 yard punting average in 2017, his only season as Columbia’s starting punter. He placed 23 of his 50 punts on the season inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, and he had a long of 66 yards at Dartmouth on October 21. The Hortonville, Wisconsin, native also served as the holder in 2014 and 2015, and was named to the Dean’s List.