2022 Groza Award winner Christopher Dunn talks former teammate A.J. Cole

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Day 2 of the Combine is underway, and kicker Christopher Dunn spoke to the media.

Placekicker Christopher Dunn has enjoyed an eventful college tenure at North Carolina state. In 2022, he broke the ACC record for most all-time field goals, taking home the Lou Groza Award at the season’s end. Before that, he was teammates with first-team All-Pro punter A.J. Cole.

On Thursday, I asked Dunn about Cole, and what the Raiders’ punter brings to a locker room.

“He’s just a great leader; a great guy,” the N.C. State kicker answered.

“He’s just an all-around great guy,” Dunn said. “Super smart; I don’t think people realize how smart A.J. actually is. He had a job lined up at IBM, ended up calling a few days before and said, ‘I’m not going to make it, I’m playing for the Raiders now.’”

Ah, the ol’ “Sorry, I play for the Raiders now” excuse.

“He’s just a well-rounded athlete,” Dunn concluded. A “Multi-sport athlete.”

A.J. Cole – a “multi-sport athlete”

Surprisingly, Dunn hinted that football may not be the sport A.J. Cole is best at. The nation’s best kicker is more impressed with A.J.’s ability to throw a bean bag into a hole on a board.

Yes, I’m talking about cornhole.

“I don’t think people give this man enough credit on his cornhole ability,” Dunn told me. When Cole decides to walk away from football, don’t be surprised if he becomes an All-Pro corn hole player.

On a more serious note, Dunn mentioned he wouldn’t be surprised if Cole focused on golf once he decides to walk away from football. If A.J. is half as good at golf as he is at punting, Tiger Woods is in trouble.

The ’22 Lou Groza Award winner would love to be teammates with Cole once again but was quick to note the unlikelihood of that happening in Las Vegas due to Daniel Carlson‘s presence.