Rhys Lloyd

Infobox NFLactive


width=
caption=
currentteam=Carolina Panthers
currentnumber=5
currentposition=Placekicker
birthdate=birth date and age|1982|6|5
birthplace=Dover, England
country=UK
heightft=5
heightin=11
weight=231
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Baltimore Ravens
highlights=
* Honorable mention All-Big Ten (2003)
* NFLE Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 3, 2007)
college=Minnesota
undraftedyear=2005
pastteams=
* Baltimore Ravens (2005)*
* Green Bay Packers (2006)*
* Baltimore Ravens (2007)
* Carolina Panthers (2007-present):*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
nfl=LLO676464

Rhys Lloyd (born June 5, 1982 in Dover, England) is an American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Minnesota.

Early years

Lloyd attended Eastview High School in Apple Valley, Minnesota and lettered in football and soccer. In football, as a senior, he was an All-Conference selection and an All-State selection. In soccer, he was an All-State selection.

College career

Lloyd was the placekicker, kickoff man and punter for the Minnesota Golden Gophers from 2003 to 2004. Rhys was also a two-time All-American placekicker for Rochester Community and Technical College. He was famous for his rugby-style punting, amazing concentration under pressure and long-distance field goals. Teammates referred to Lloyd by the nickname "Winston Churchill", after the English prime minister that led the United Kingdom through World War II. Lloyd is best remembered for a 42-yard field goal in the dying seconds of the 2003 Sun Bowl to beat the University of Oregon 31-30.

NFL career

Lloyd entered the NFL draft, but had to sign as an undrafted free agent after the 2005 draft with the Baltimore Ravens, who released him before the start of the regular season. On April 10, 2006, he was signed by the Green Bay Packers; however, he was subsequently released on May 1, 2006. Rhys was signed by the Frankfurt Galaxy of the NFL Europa in 2007. He was named the NFL Europa special teams player of the week in week 3 by tying the league record for the longest field goal in League history with a 56 yarder.

Lloyd had signed with the Frankfurt Galaxy at the conclusion of NFL Europa kicking camp in Tampa, Florida. He played the 2006-2007 season in Europe and then and came back to the US.

Lloyd signed with the Baltimore Ravens again as a free agent in 2007 and made an impressive 55 yard field goal in the Ravens preseason finale against Atlanta and, subsequently, survived the Ravens final cut and signed with the team for the regular season as a kicker. [http://www.baltimoreravens.com/Common/Article.aspx?id=16840 Ravens Down to 53] After going back and forth between being on the active roster, on the practice squad, and being a free agent, Lloyd was claimed off waivers by the Carolina Panthers on December 26, 2007. He signed a multi-year contract with the team in 2008. The Panthers use Lloyd primarily as a kickoff specialist, with John Kasay handling the field goal duties.

Awards

*Lou Groza Award candidate,
*Honorable-mention All-American
*Big Ten's best pressure player by Street & Smith
*Rated as the fifth-best placekicker in the nation by "The Sporting News"