AMES, Iowa –Iowa State’s Kirby Van Der Kamp has earned respect nationally as one of the best punters in college football. He garnered more national respect this afternoon when Si.com placed him on its Second-Team Preseason All-America Team.

A native of West Des Moines, Iowa, Van Der Kamp, who was an All-Big 12 First-Team preseason pick, was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List last month, an award given annually to the nation’s best punter. He was a semifinalist for the award a year ago.

Van Der Kamp, a three-time All-Big 12 pick, enters his senior season with a career 42.8 ypp average, the second-best career total in school history. But what sets Van Der Kamp apart from his peers is his ability to control field position with his leg. A total 72 times in his outstanding career he’s placed a punt inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, including 29 times last season.

“I think that Kirby Van Der Kamp is the best punter that there is in the country,” Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads said. “It’s not just his strong leg, but it’s also his ability to study his craft. He studies the weather and field conditions. He is one of the best I have ever been around.”

Van Der Kamp burst onto the scene in his freshman season (2010) when he averaged 45.2 ypp en route to Freshman All-America honors. He was recently named one of six ISU co-captains for the 2013 season.