Stonehouse currently holds the NCAA FBS and Mountain West Conference records for highest career average yards per punt,[2] as well as the NFL single-season record for average yards per punt.[3]
Stonehouse was born on May 11, 1999, in San Dimas, California to parents Natalie Banks and Paul Stonehouse. His father, Paul, was a punter for Stanford from 1989 to 1992. Two of his uncles were also Division I punters: John Stonehouse (USC, 1992–95) and Jeff Banks (Washington State, 1996–97).[4]
Stonehouse attended Mater Dei High SchoolinSanta Ana, California. In 2016, he helped his Mater Dei team to a 13–1 record and a deep CIF playoff run, losing in the semi-finals to St. John Bosco.[5] Stonehouse was named a Blue & Grey All-American[6] and was named to the 2016 L.A. Times All-Star football team, among other awards.[7] He also participated in the Kohl's Kicking 2016 Western Winter Showcase and was rated as a five-star punter.[8]
Stonehouse was officially rated as a three-star recruit and the third best punter prospect in the class of 2017 by 247Sports.com.[9]
As a freshman in 2017, Stonehouse was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list, as well as receiving an All-Mountain West honorable mention.[11] Stonehouse was one of five true freshman to play in every game; he punted 46 times in 13 games and ranked fifth in the country with a 45.9-yard punt average.[12]
As a sophomore in 2018, Stonehouse played in all 12 games and finished second in the FBS with a 48.3-yard punt average.[13] He punted 65 times for a total 3,140 yards, placing 18 punts within the 20-yard line. Stonehouse was selected to the 2018 All-Mountain West first team,[14] as well as being named to the 2018 Sporting NewsAll-American second team.[15]
As a junior in 2019, Stonehouse was named to the All-Mountain West first team for the second consecutive year after punting 49 times for 2,274 yards with a 46.4-yard punt average.[16]
As a senior in 2020, Stonehouse played in all four games, as the season was heavily condensed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In just four games, he punted 26 times for 1,178 yards and was named to the All-Mountain West first team for the third consecutive year.[17]
As a graduate student in 2021, his final year at CSU, Stonehouse was ranked the best punter and the 34th best overall player in the Mountain West Conference entering the season.[18] Stonehouse finished the season having punted 58 times for 2,953 yards, recording a career-best single-season punt average of 50.9 yards. Despite this, Stonehouse was named to the 2021 All-Mountain West second team, as San Diego State punter Matt Araiza, who led the FBS and Mountain West with a 51.5-yard punt average, was named to the first team.[19]
Over the span of his collegiate career, Stonehouse punted 244 times for a total of 11,656 yards. He broke the NCAA FBS record for the highest career average yards per punt with his 47.8-yard average, which was previously held by Florida punter Johnny Townsend with a 46.2 average.[2] Stonehouse also holds the Mountain West Conference's highest career average yards per punt record, previously held by BYU punter Matt Payne (45.4; 2001–04).[20]
Stonehouse signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022.[22] He performed well throughout the preseason and won the punting job when the Titans released longtime punter Brett Kern on August 29, 2022.[23][24][25]
During a narrow Week 3 24–22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Stonehouse punted thrice for 181 yards with a long of 70 yards.[26][27] Two weeks later against the Washington Commanders, he punted eight times for 416 yards in the 21–17 road victory.[28] Stonehouse was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October after recording 20 punts for 1,033 yards and a 51.7 average.[29]
During a Week 10 17–10 victory over the Denver Broncos, Stonehouse punted eight times for 432 yards, including three inside the 10-yard line with a long of 74 yards, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[30] Two weeks later against the Cincinnati Bengals, he had five punts for 269 yards with a long of 71 yards as the Titans lost by a score of 20–16.[31] In the next game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Stonehouse punted seven times for 401 yards as the Titans lost on the road by a score of 35–10.[32]
Stonehouse recorded an average of 53.1 yards per punt throughout his rookie season, which set a new single-season NFL record.[33] The record, previously set in 1940 by Sammy Baugh with a 51.4 average, lasted 82 seasons before being broken by Stonehouse.[3] He was also the punting yards leader in 2022, punting 90 times for 4,779 yards.[34][35]
During a Week 3 27–3 road loss to the Cleveland Browns, Stonehouse had seven punts for 374 yards with a long of 74 yards.[36] During a Week 8 28–23 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, he had a season-high eight punts for 420 yards.[37] During a Week 12 17–10 victory over the Carolina Panthers, Stonehouse punted seven times for 376 yards with a long of 71 yards, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[38] However, in the next game the Indianapolis Colts, he suffered a serious leg injury after a second blocked punt and was later announced to be out for the rest of the season.[39] The injury was later revealed to be a torn ACL, MCL, and a broken bone, all in his non–kicking leg.[40]
Stonehouse finished his second professional season with 53 punts for 2,812 yards and a 53.1 average.[41]
Stonehouse enjoys DIY projects. In his spare time, Stonehouse has built various projects, including a covered outdoor kitchen in his backyard.[42] Stonehouse also enjoys fostering and working with shelter dogs.[42]