« Football 2019

Sterling Hofrichter

School
Syracuse University
Position
Punter
Major
Public Health

Classroom

Sterling Hofrichter earned his undergraduate degree in health and exercise science from Syracuse University’s prestigious School of Education in 2018. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health. Hofrichter is a four-time SU Athletic Director’s Honor Roll selection (min. 3.0 GPA) and was named to the 2016-17 ACC Honor Roll (min. 3.0 GPA).

Character

A redshirt senior, Hofrichter is a two-time captain and has the opportunity to be just the third three-year captain in the history of the Orange football program. As the veteran of Syracuse’s specialists (kickers, punters, snappers), he is in charge of organizing that group’s practice periods. Hofrichter is also a member of the team’s leadership council, which is made up of 12 individuals who meet with the head coach to discuss team issues and have a voice in a number of program decisions.

Community

Hofrichter has served as a guest speaker at the Onondaga County Justice Center, helping to educate children and young people about the importance of school and making good life choices. He has also made multiple appearances at Crouse Hospital, visiting patients to brighten their days.

In 2016, Hofrichter was a member of the Syracuse chapter of Uplifting Athletes leadership team. In that role, he assisted in the organization of the group’s annual “Lift for Life,” which raised a chapter record of more than $20,000 to support those affected by rare diseases. Additionally, Hofrichter participated in the School of Education’s SU Fit Families program. SU Fit Families was formerly a research-based physical activity program that offered workshops to assess families with children with autism on a variety of physical skills. Hofrichter worked with children one-on-one, leading them through different games and obstacles, while their parents were in another area learning different strategies to help them connect with their child.

Hofrichter has also participated in multiple team community engagement activities, including the 2015 Fort Drum Football Youth Clinic and the 2018 Camping World Bowl Day for Kids. He was a station leader for the youth clinic, teaching football skills to children of military families stationed at Fort Drum. During the Camping World Bowl Day for Kids, Hofrichter was paired with an Orlando-area child for a morning of fun at Andretti Indoor Karting & Games. Together, Hofrichter and his partner engaged in a variety of activities including bowling, laser tag and go-karting.

Competition

Now in his fourth season as Syracuse’s starting punter, Hofrichter was named to the 2019 Ray Guy Award Watch List (nation’s top punter) and the 2019 Preseason All-ACC Team in July. A two-time All-ACC selection (first-team 2018, third-team 2016) and a freshman All-American by Athlon, Hofrichter entered his final season ranked third in program history for career punting average (42.9) and sixth in both number of punts (201) and punting yards (8,625).

As a junior in 2018, Hofrichter was presented with the Joe Szombathy Award as the program’s most outstanding special teams player after leading the ACC in most punts downed inside the 20-yard line (26) and ranking second in gross punting average (42.9) and punts of 50+ yards (17). Hofrichter has been the catalyst for a Syracuse punting unit that led the ACC in net average two years running. Largely because of his precision placement and hang time, the 2017 Orange finished the year ranked fourth nationally in punt return yardage defense (2.67 avg.) and set the school single-season records for the fewest opponent punt returns (9) and fewest opponent punt return yards (24).

As a rookie in 2016, Hofrichter was named to the Athlon Freshman All-America First Team after tying for second nationally among first-year players in punting average at 42.7 yards per kick. He ranked second in the ACC that season in number of punts (94) and yardage (3,601), while tying for the conference lead with 23 punts of 50 yards or more.