Jamie Gillan has beaten out 10-year veteran Britton Colquitt for the Browns punting job.
Gillan was signed following the draft as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas Pine Bluff where he won All-SWAC honors as both a kicker and punter.
He will be paired with rookie and fifth-round pick Austin Seibert on special teams. Seibert beat out Greg Joseph for the kicking job by making his last 8 kicks – 6 field goals and 2 PATs – in the final 2 preseason games.
“I think what it reflects is we’re comfortable with where we are with those two young guys. I think that they have demonstrated their ability to be skillful at both of their positions,” Browns general manager Dorsey said. “I think the organization is excited for the two young men. I think we have complete confidence in both of their abilities.”
Gillan and Seibert were given the final two preseason games to earn the job, and both succeeded.
“We knew what Greg Joseph was and we knew what Britton Colquitt was as players,” Dorsey explained. “That’s why we gave those guys those two games to play because we really didn’t know how they’d respond under pressure. I thought they did a really nice job of taking on the challenge, accepting it and succeeding at achieving that goal.”
By going with Gillan, the Browns save just over $2.2 million in cash and salary cap space. Colquitt, who had his contract officially terminated, was scheduled to make $2.7 million this season while Gillan will cost approximately $498,000.
“You want to thank a veteran like Britton Colquitt for all he’s done for the Cleveland Browns and you want to thank Greg Joseph for all that he’s done,” Dorsey said. “That’s why we talk about increasing competition. That’s why you have those battles. Because those two young guys made this decision really hard and I’m happy with where we are in the kicking game.”
Born in the Highlands of Scotland, Gillan went to boarding school while his father, a member of the Royal Air Force, was stationed in Maryland.
When he joined his parents in the states, Gillan spent his last two years of high school in Browns general manager John Dorsey’s hometown – Leonardtown, Maryland – where he played soccer and rugby.
Gillan decided to give football a try after he saw a kicker hit an offensive lineman on an extra point attempt and thought he could do better. He tried out and made the team as a punter and kicker, which is where the real legend of ‘The Scottish Hammer’ began.
His high school coach gave him the nickname, and it’s stuck since.
Gillan accepted a scholarship from Arkansas Pine-Bluff sight unseen after a friend saw on Facebook that the school was looking for a kicker and his information was sent in.
As a senior, Gillan averaged 42.5 yards per punt with 27 of them downed inside the 20. He averaged 43.7 yards per punt and had 17 downed inside the 20 as a junior. He also made 20 of 29 field goal attempts last season, his longest successful kick coming from 47 yards.