Feb. 23, 2010
By Christian Edwards
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The 2009 season was former UCF kicker Matt Prater's second year handling the kicking duties for the Denver Broncos. Prater was signed as a free agent by the Broncos at the end of the 2007 season and played in two games as the kickoff specialist. He finished the 2008 season 25-of-34 on field goals, including a long of 53 yards. Prater was also 39-of-40 on extra point attempts.
Prater produced a solid 2009 season as he went 30-of-35 on field goals, with a long of 51. His 30 made field goals was tied for third-most in the NFL. Prater was perfect on extra points as he connected on all 32 attempts, and recorded a career-high 28 touchbacks on kickoffs. His 28 touchbacks tied for second-most in the NFL. Prater made a game-winning 41-yard field goal in overtime against the New England Patriots on October 11th. On November 26th against the New York Giants he made four field goal attempts (26, 32, 47, 24) and connected on two extra point attempts. He finished the game with 14 points and five touchbacks, which were both career highs. Prater was also named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September, making it the fourth time a Bronco player has received the award since it was created in 1993.
Prater played high school football at Estero High School in Estero, Florida. He was consistent, making 56-of-58 extra point attempts. He made 14 field goals, including a 49-yarder. Prater also put 84 percent of his kickoffs into the end zone. He was named second team all-state and was first team all-conference and all-Southwest Florida. Additionally, he was named to the second team "Dream Team."
At UCF, Prater started all four seasons. He earned fourth team Sporting News All-Freshman honors in 2002 after connecting on 14-of-21 field goal attempts. Prater made three field-goals in his first career game at Penn State on August 31st, including a season-high 53-yarder. The 53-yard field goal was the longest field goal by a player in the MAC in 2002. In 2003, Prater took on punting duties and led the nation in punting. He set a school and MAC record with a 47.9 yard per punt average. In his first game punting against Virginia Tech, Prater punted six times and booted punts of 71 and 67 yards. Both punts were two of the top five punts in school history. He was 10-of-13 on field goal attempts. In his junior season, Prater started nine games before suffering a season-ending leg injury. Prater converted 17-of-26 field goal attempts as a senior. He finished his UCF career connecting on 50-of-74 field goal attempts. Prater is tied with Ed O'Brien (1984-87) for the school record of 50 field goals made, and is fifth in school history in scoring with 258 points.
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