Sam Paulescu

Infobox NFLactive

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currentteam=Free Agent
currentnumber=--
currentpositionplain=Punter
birthdate=birth date and age|1984|4|18
birthplace=Los Angeles, California
heightft=6
heightin=0
weight=190
college=Oregon State
undraftedyear=2006
debutyear=2007
debutteam=Denver Broncos
pastteams=
* Dallas Cowboys (2007)*
* Denver Broncos (2007-2008):*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Punts
statvalue1=5
statlabel2=Punt Yards
statvalue2=221
statlabel3=Punting Yard Average
statvalue3=44.2
nfl=PAU505633

Sam Paulescu (born April 14, 1984) is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Oregon State.

Early Life, Education and Prep career

Born in Los Angeles, CA to Romanian immigrant parents Nick and Persida Paulescu, he was fluent in Romanian before he could speak English. Sam played soccer, track and football at Whittier Christian High School in La Habra, CA. He earned four letters in football and soccer, and two in track and field. He kicked a prep career-best 43-yard field goal as a junior, also scored 17 goals in soccer as a junior. In addition to kicking, Sam also played wide receiver, running back and defensive back. He was team defensive MVP as a senior and a first-team All-Olympic League in 2001 as a kicker. Sam played in the 605 All-Star game in the summer of 2002. As a junior, he scored three touchdowns, intercepted two passes and kicked a 43-yard field goal in one game.

College career

Paulescu earned first-team All-American honors as a punter and place-kicker at Fullerton College under head coach Gene Murphy in 2003. He was selected first team All-American by J.C. Grid-Wire and by J.C. Athletic Bureau, earned first team All-Mission Conference; first team all-California J.C. Region IV, and first team All-California as selected by the California Community College Football Coaches Association. As a place-kicker, Paulescu was the fifth-leading scorer among California Junior College players. He scored 73 points in 10 games (37-37 PAT, 12-17 FGs) booted a 57-yard field goal against Santa Monica, and was perfect on all three attempts over 41 yards. Paulescu made a 25-yarder in overtime to give Fullerton a 24-21 win over Riverside on Nov. 15. As a punter, he averaged 45.6 yards on 46 attempts during the regular season, with a long of 84 yards, raising his average to 46.5 yards after three playoff games. Paulescu also bettered his all-time long punt with an 86-yarder against Santa Monica in the Nov. 22 U.S. Bank Beach Bowl. As a freshman in 2002, he averaged 36.7 yards on 53 punts. Paulescu’s special teams coach at Fullerton was Jim Wren, who was USC’s punter in 1996 when Mike Riley was the offensive coordinator.

In his two years at Oregon State Paulescu ended his career as arguably the top punter in the program’s history. He was named to the Pac-10 All-Conference First Team as a senior, marking the first punter in OSU history to earn such lofty accolades. Paulescu averaged 43 yards per punt as a senior and ended his OSU career with 48 punts downed inside the 20-yard line – 24 each season. Of note: Pac-10 Special Teams Player of the Week in 2005 after having six punts downed inside the 20, including two at the 1-yard line, in a win at No. 18 California; 21 punts of 50-plus yards during his career, including a career-best of 69 yards vs. Washington State in 2004; began his senior year on the Ray Guy Award watch list; honorable mention All-Pac-10 as a junior and OSU Special Teams Co-MVP.

Professional career

He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after not being drafted in the 2007 NFL Draft. He was released before the 2007 season after not beating out Matt McBriar for the starting punting job. On December 28, 2007 the Denver Broncos signed him after releasing Paul Ernster. Paulescu made his debut in week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings, making 5 punts for a total of 221 yards.

Personal

Sam is engaged to Laura Jean Maddox of Gresham, OR. As a health promotion and education major, Sam would eventually like to teach.

External links