Cody Webster ready for opportunity with Boilermaker baseball team

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The Purdue baseball team is welcoming a walk-on this season that Boilermaker fans are very familiar with. Punter Cody Webster announced on Wednesday that he will be trying out for the Boilermaker baseball team.

Webster will be attempting to walk-on as a switch hitting outfielder.

He announced his decision on the social media website Twitter by thanking head coach Doug Schreiber and Purdue University for the opportunity.

“Purdue is giving me an opportunity of a lifetime and I'm going to take advantage of it! I’ll be trying-out for Purdue baseball in the spring.”

Webster is coming off a great season on the football field. As a junior, Webster ranked third among Big Ten punters, averaging 42.5 yards this past season.

During the regular season, Webster placed 29 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, had 20 fair catches and finished with 17 punts of 50 yards or more, including a long of 72. Opponents averaged 7.46 yards per punt return against Purdue.

How his success on the football field translates on the diamond is yet to be seen, but he is ready to give it everything he has.

“It’s been a long time coming! I need a few bats now,” said Webster.

Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 is the universal start date for all of NCAA Division I college baseball. Official preseason practice begins Friday, Jan. 25.

Webster, a lefty, would become the Boilermaker baseball team's first football player on the 35-man roster since Travis Dorsch.