Husker punter Sam Foltz and MSU punter Mike Sadler killed in car crash


Sam Foltz

Sam Foltz, the senior punter for the Nebraska football team, was killed in an automobile crash overnight in Wisconsin, sources told the Journal Star on Sunday.

Foltz was attending a weekend punter's camp. Sources also confirmed that former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler also was in the car and killed in the crash.

The tragic news comes just a day before Nebraska coach Mike Riley and three players are to address the media at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago.

A prayer vigil will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday on the north side of Memorial Stadium, according to a tweet from Husker defensive back Kieron Williams.

Foltz, 22, was the Big Ten punter of the year last year and was on this year's Ray Guy Award watch list as one of the nation's best punters.

The Husker punter was also very active off the field. He volunteered his time with the team hospital visits, School is Cool Week, the ******* Marathon and Nebraska's Sportsmanship Rally.

He was named to the 2016 Brook Berringer and Tom Osborne Citizenship teams.

One of Foltz's last tweets came after he took part in the Nebraska's Uplifting Athletes Road Race on July 17. Attached was a picture of a young boy running side by side with Foltz, the child looking up at Foltz, who tweeted, "You never know who's watching .. What impact do you wanna leave on the next generation to aspire too?!"

He also has been named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll five times.

Former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler dies in car accident


Mike Sadler

Terrible news has arisen from the weekend as one of Michigan State’s all-time best punters, Mike Sadler, was killed in a car accident along with former Nebraska punter Sam Foltz.

This is something you never want to see or hear about, especially when the victims in the accident happen to be so young. Sadler, 24, was just two years removed from his time in East Lansing and was a great leader for the Michigan State Football team.

While you might not think of a punter as a role mode or even a captain to a football team, Sadler garnered respect from his teammates and they poured their hearts out on social media Sunday afternoon in remembrance of their fallen brother.

Sadler will always be remembered as one of those quirky personalities who never seemed to fail at lighting up a room. He was a great mind on and off the field and his brilliance was often turned into jokes. He was one of the best personalities Spartan Nation has ever had and there’s no on who didn’t love him as a person.

Maybe he will be best remembered for his punting, but he really went viral when he was caught by ESPN cameras petting Bo Pelini’s imaginary cat after a strong kick inside opponent’s territory. That’s the kind of person he was — always having fun and putting a smile on everyone’s faces.

Rest in peace, Mike, may you pet as many imaginary cats and pin offenses deep inside heaven’s 20-yard-line. You will be missed more than you could ever know.