Kick it forward: Why Aussie footballers are ditching the AFL and taking a punt in the US

Many young Australians aspire to play in the AFL. Fair enough, especially in footy-mad states where our players become instant celebrities. 

However, the reality is sobering: the odds of being drafted are slim, and even if you are drafted, the upside is limited.

Each year, only 50 elite talents are invited to the national draft combine, and on draft day, a mere 70 players are chosen, often with just a one-year contract to prove themselves. 

While the AFL encourages pursuing a career in footy without sacrificing life’s other joys, the truth remains – the competitor vying for your position might be putting everything on the line for their dream. Is the pursuit of greatness worth the gamble? 

What if there was another path?

One that offered a full-ride university education with dedicated private tutoring, better training equipment and support than most AFL clubs, and a chance at a professional career where your starting salary puts you among the top ten highest-paid AFL players? 

Oh, and you’ll only spend less than 2 minutes on the ground each game and likely never be tackled. 

Welcome to American college punting, the specialist role in American (Gridiron) Football where Aussie rules players with a decent leg are making their mark. 

I sat down with Harry O’Kelly, an ex-punter from James Madison University who has just returned from Virginia, where he played for 5 years as a punter, averaging 39.8 yards on 48 kicks a season and finished with a bachelor's degree in marketing.

In this article, we’ll explore why Australians excel as college punters, how securing a full-ride scholarship is easier than it seems, what life is like as a college athlete, and the golden opportunity that awaits at the end of the line as a professional punter.

What is Punting?

A punt in gridiron football involves dropping the ball from the hands and then kicking it before it touches the ground. 

In gridiron, the offense has a limited number of downs, or plays, to advance the ball at least ten yards. The team possessing the ball will usually punt it to the opposing team on its final (fourth) down. 

The aim of the punt is to propel the ball as far as possible towards the opponent's end zone. This maximises the distance the receiving team must cover to score a touchdown after gaining possession.

In sports, the term ‘to punt’ originates from old rugby rules established in 1845 that allowed players to push or strike the ball as hard as possible to move it forward, rather than the traditional pass backwards.

The word 'punting' entered the sports vocabulary in 1888, initially linked to gambling terminology. The connection lies in the notion that when you punt the ball, you have an idea of where it might go, but you can’t be 100% certain. It’s a gamble; you’re literally taking a punt. 

Why Australians Excel at Punting

Punting in American football requires skills that Australian Rules players develop naturally. The drop punt is the most common AFL kick and is a key part of college football punting. 

While American punters often struggle with accuracy, Australians who’ve grown up kicking tend to be more consistent. Aussies can confidently and accurately punt a ball on the move and under pressure. 

The reality is that American kids grow up throwing the baseball around while Aussie kids kick the footy.

"Many Americans have stronger legs, but they lack control. The reality is coaches value consistency over raw power," said Harry O'Kelly, a former Australian college punter. "That’s where Australians have the advantage."

This has made Australians the dominant force in college punting, with over 70 playing in Division 1 college football. Most of these Australians are graduates of ProKick Australia, a specialist coaching program based in Australia that has resulted in 270 full scholarships in America, saving a total of $54 million in education fees. 

The Pathway to College Football

ProKick Australia helps players refine their technique and connect with US college scouts. 

Tryouts test distance, hang time, and accuracy. An ideal punt travels 40-50 yards with 4.5 to 5 seconds of hang time. In American Football, hanging the ball in the air is important so your offensive line can reach the ball as it lands. 

 "I first learned about punting when I was at my cousin’s house watching a college football game on TV," O'Kelly recalled. "I saw an Australian punter playing for Ole Miss and thought, ‘That’s pretty cool.’ After that, I looked into it more and found out about ProKick Australia."

O’Kelly was only in year 11 at High School when he first applied for ProKick. At the tryout to enter the program, he was told he wasn’t quite ready yet and needed to work on leg strength before applying again at the end of year 12. 

"I wasn’t initially accepted because my leg wasn’t strong enough, so I trained every day in my final year of high school," O'Kelly explained. 

His persistence paid off when he was accepted into ProKick and took a gap year to follow their coaching and strength program for a year and work casually. It paid off; he earned a full Division 1 scholarship at James Madison University, a college with a 24,877-capacity football stadium. 

Life as a College Athlete

College athletes in the US on scholarships receive fantastic support. At a Football school, however, it goes up to another level. 

"You live on campus, eat at dining halls, have strength coaches, and access to top medical facilities. Tuition, housing, and meals are covered," said O'Kelly. "One of the biggest benefits of being on scholarship is that everything is taken care of. I even had my wisdom teeth removed for free through the university’s medical program."

Many coaches of football programs are also incentivised to ensure their players are performing academically. This means every player must attend study hall daily, with access to dedicated tutors and academic support.

Looking at the raw numbers, the cost of Harry’s education each year was $30,000 USD, plus housing, free meals, private tutors, and some of the best physical conditioning coaching money can buy. Harry probably got a value of more than $100,000 USD each year for 4-5 years. 

And the offer is getting better. 

The rise of student-athlete compensation

In recent years, the NCAA has allowed college athletes to make money from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).

Until now, college athletes were considered amateurs and could not make any money from representing their schools. This means despite playing in games with 10,000s of thousands in the crowd and more watching on television; athletes were not able to accept payment from the school or sponsor.