Enters his third season as the Bears' top place kicker ... Looks to continue to produce as a consistent scorer and special teams performer ... Was 6-for-9 on field goal attempts in spring scrimmages, including makes from 47 and 48 yards ... Was also a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points in spring ball.
2011: Finished third on the team in scoring (40) and was 25-for-26 on extra points and 5-for-10 on field goals ... Averaged 61.9 yards on 43 kickoff attempts with 12 touchbacks ... Finished fifth in the MVFC in field goals per game (0.45) ... Was 5-for-5 on extra points with 8 points in win at Youngstown State (11/19/11) ... Had his only multiple field goal effort against Indiana State (11/12/11) with a 2-for-3 day and 8 points ... Was 4-for-4 on extra points with a field goal and his only tackle of the year in win at Western Illinois (10/22/11) ... Was also 4-for-4 on extra points on homecoming against South Dakota State (10/29/11) ... Kicked off a season-high 7 times at YSU with 4 touchbacks ... Averaged a perfect 70 yards per kickoff twice, including UNI game (10/1/11) and Indiana State game (11/12/11) ... Landed a spot on the MVFC All-Academic Team as an honorable mention selection ... Was also an MVFC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award honoree ... Earned a spot on the MVFC Honor Roll and MSU Athletic Director's Honor Roll both semesters.
2010: Played all 11 games, but took over PAT/field goal duties in game 7 against Western Illinois (10/23/10) ... Earned Sports Network National Special Teams Player of the Week and MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week following win over Southern Illinois (10/30/10) by going 3-for-3 on field goals and 6-for-6 on PATs with 4 touchbacks on kickoffs ... Knocked season-long 42-yard field goal through at South Dakota State (11/6/10) ... Finished season 10-for-10 on extra points and 6-for-9 on field goals ... His only 3 FG misses were in the season finale, in which he redeemed himself with the game-winning 22-yarder in a 3-0 win over No. 17 North Dakota State ... Averaged 60.3 yards on 59 kickoffs with 9 touchbacks ... Kicked off 11 times in SIU game and 10 times at Murray State (10/9/10) ... Earned MVFC Honor Roll distinction after posting a 4.00 GPA during his first semester in the program.
High School: A four-year letterman at Grand Island (Neb.) Catholic High, Witmer kicked 76 extra points and converted 24 field goals during his prep career for the Crusaders ... Played his senior season for Coach Charlie Shoemaker and his first three years for Coach Scott Rezac ... Earned first-team all-state honors in 2008 and 2009 after claiming honorable mention all-state distinction as a sophomore ... He was all-conference and all-district three seasons and averaged 57.9 yards per kickoff his senior year while helping his team to an 8-2 season ... Was also a four-year starter for the soccer team and played basketball.
Personal: Austin M. Witmer was born 2/18/92 in Joplin, Mo. ... Son of Gary and Sharon Witmer of Grand Island, Neb. ... Has three siblings, Aaron, Alex and Audra ... Majoring in Accounting.
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