Noel Prefontaine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Camp Pendleton, California, U.S.
 Prefontaine in 2023 | |
| No. 1 | |
|---|---|
| Positions | Placekicker, punter |
| Personal information | |
| Born | December 23, 1973 Camp Pendleton, California, U.S. |
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | El Camino |
| College | San Diego State |
| CFL draft | 1998: Supplemental 6th round |
| Career history | |
| 1998–2007 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 2001 | Los Angeles Xtreme |
| 2001 | Baltimore Ravens* |
| 2003 | Kansas City Chiefs* |
| 2008–2010 | Edmonton Eskimos |
| 2010–2013 | Toronto Argonauts |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Awards and highlights | |
| Stats at CFL.ca (archive) | |
Noel Michael Prefontaine (born December 23, 1973) is an American former professional football punter and placekicker in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
Prefontaine was born to a French Canadian father and a Vietnamese mother at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in California. His father was born and raised in Verdun, Quebec and Noel lived with his grandmother in Verdun as a child, which enabled him to be considered a non-import for CFL purposes. He returned to the United States and attended El Camino High School in San Diego County, California.[1]
Prefontaine played baseball, soccer, and played offensive tackle in American football as a child and continually trained himself to improve as an athlete and at high school, he played quarterback as well as punting and placekicking.[1] He was named San Diego Tribune Athlete of the Year for North County as a senior and led El Camino High School to a 22–2 record and a CIF Championship as their starting quarterback.[2]
Prefontaine hoped to play quarterback in college football but could only obtain a scholarship as a punter at California State University, Fullerton. His punting average his first year led the state but the football program folded at the end of the season. Prefontaine received offers to play for multiple college football teams including Michigan, Michigan State, Georgia, LSU, and Texas but chose to go to Arizona State University because it was close to his family and friends. He was unhappy there, however, and left to go to San Diego State University. After a required redshirt year because of his transfer, he was named All-Conference as a punter in his junior year and first-team All-American as a punter in his senior year.[1]