From Emu Plains to NFL: Australia's Jeremy Crawshaw drafted by Denver Broncos
Jeremy Crawshaw is set to join the ranks of Australian punters in the NFL after being drafted by the Denver Broncos.
The 23-year-old from Emu Plains in Sydney's west was the first punter taken in the draft - going in the sixth round with pick No 216 - after being widely considered the best on offer following his five seasons with the University of Florida.
He averaged 45.8 yards for the Gators in 2024, with 25 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. In the 2023 season, he set the single-season Gators record for punt average at 48.9 yards.
Crawshaw is set to compete with veteran P Matt Haack for the Broncos' starting job. Haack signed a one-year, $US1.255 million contract with the club in March.
'Played a lot of sports as a kid,'' Crawshaw said in a media conference call following his selection. 'Rugby was the main one. ... (I) pretty much started looking for something to do after school, play some sports.
'They gave me a scholarship to come over to Florida and spent five years here and then (I was) lucky enough to move on and be with the Denver Broncos.'
🚨 punter highlights 🚨@jeremy_crawshaw x #BroncosDraft pic.twitter.com/CeyImxznpe
Although Crawshaw will officially compete with Haack for the Broncos' punter job the NFL tends to favour a specialist like a punter or kicker when he is drafted.
'Matt Haack has already been in the league for a long time, and I've watched a lot of film on him,'' Crawshaw said. 'I'm kind of just looking forward to competing.'
He is poised to join fellow Australian punters Tory Taylor (Chicago), Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco), Michael Dickson (Seattle) and Cameron Johnston (Pittsburgh) in the NFL.
'Crawshaw will likely move in and become an immediate NFL starter with the potential to become a genuine field-position weapon,' reads Crawshaw's pre-draft scouting report.
'His combination of power, touch, and directional control makes him an ideal fit for teams emphasising special teams play. The Australian's background actually works in his favor, bringing a different perspective to directional punting and spin control.
'His skill set particularly suits teams playing in outdoor stadiums where wind and weather management become crucial factors. The ability to execute multiple punt styles - from traditional bombs to rugby-style rollers - gives coordinators a versatile weapon for any situation.
'With his proven track record in high-pressure SEC environments and continued development throughout his college career, Crawshaw has positioned himself as the top punter in this draft class.
The scouting report ends with a glowing endorsement for the former Sydneysider. '(Crawshaw's) ceiling suggests a decade-plus career as a reliable NFL punter with Pro Bowl potential. (His) experience holding on placekicks adds valuable roster flexibility.'
Crawshaw was the sixth player drafted by Denver, joining first-round defensive back Jahdae Barron, second-round running back RJ Harvey, third-round wide receiver Pat Bryant and defensive end Sai'Vion Jones, and fourth-round linebacker Que Robinson.
New Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi has a proven appreciation for Australian-born punters believing their rugby background suits the NFL's directional punting strategies.
Rizzi comes from the New Orleans Saints where his recent punter was Australian-born Lou Hedley. He reputedly sought out Crawshaw during Florida's Pro Day last month for lunch where the deal to join the Broncos was hatched.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Cardi B and Stefon Diggs pack on the PDA as rapper plays doting girlfriend in surprise appearance at football camp
Cardi B and Stefon Diggs showed they are more in love than ever with a PDA-packed display at the NFL star's kids football camp in Maryland over the weekend. Diggs has made headlines in recent weeks for multiple wild partying videos, which revealed had left his rapper girlfriend Cardi B furious. But it appears the high-profile pair are happily moving on from the controversy, after she made a surprise appearance to support him at his summer football camp. Cardi, real name Belcalis Almanzar, turned out at the University of Maryland on Saturday to support her man, as he put on his annual 'Diggs Day' youth football camp. The rapper was happy to pose for photos with various attendees, while she and Diggs were also pictured kissing and hugging on the field. Despite the various controversies, the pair seemed more happy than ever, with Cardi laughing alongside her man between sessions inside the football stadium. The pair put recent controversies behind them to show that they're more in love than ever It is the fourth year that Diggs has put on his annual football camp at SECU Stadium, with hundreds of boys and girls between 6 and 16 turning up to meet the wide receiver and learn from him. The football camp is a far cry from the boozy boat parties Diggs has recently been spotted on, with the 31-year-old hitting headlines after he was spotted handing a mystery pink packet to three bikini-clad women. Reports claimed the New England Patriots - Diggs' new team - were also unhappy with his behavior and were even considering cutting him, though no official statement has been made by the team. This weekend a second video emerged of Diggs' antics, with a new video showing him wildly throwing his arms around, jumping from side to side and spinning in an erratic series of moves on the dancefloor. The clip is said to have been taken during Diggs' sister's wedding earlier this week. Last Monday, Diggs returned to practice with New England and NFL Network reported that the Patriots are determined to keep the receiver. Diggs signed with the Patriots after a year with the Texans. He suffered a season-ending ACL injury back in October but was back on the field this week. Though OTAs are optional, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network claimed: 'Stefon Diggs showing up today felt about as mandatory as it could be.' 'He's a very good player, they intend to pay him a lot of money - they haven't yet - especially after he passed the physical from his ACL recovery,' Rapoport continued. 'This is a player they want to keep, want to be making plays for them - that's why they signed him in free agency to such fanfare.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Miami Dolphins star Terron Armstead reveals terrifying reason he was forced to retire at just 33
Terron Armstead's recent retirement was a sadly straightforward decision for the former All-Pro. 'I literally couldn't walk,' Armstead told Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson on the Nightcap podcast. Still just 33, Armstead played 72 percent of the snaps at left tackle for the Miami Dolphins last season before announcing his sudden retirement in April. He had been among the best left tackles in football with the Dolphins and, prior to that, the New Orleans Saints. But a 12-year career, while short for nearly any other line of work, is relatively long when it comes to the NFL. As a result, Armstead barely practiced in 2024 and was instead prescribed pain killers with the aim of getting him ready to play each and every week. Now entering his mid-30s, Armstead explained he was no longer willing to put his body through that routine. 'I've been dealing with a knee [issue] since my third year in the league,' Armstead said. 'I didn't see a practice field at all, and not because I didn't want to or the Dolphins just wanted me to rest. I literally couldn't walk. 'After a game on Sunday, I wouldn't be able to walk on my own, under my own power, until Wednesday, Thursday. So I was only able to play under the pain meds. I couldn't put any pressure on my knee, so it was like, I can't keep doing that to myself.' Dolphins are in the midst of a difficult offseason as 23-year-old Patrick Paul is being counted upon to replace the veteran Armstead at left tackle. Furthermore, wide receiver Tyreek Hill ended the regular season by removing himself from the season finale against the New York Jets, but now claims he wants to stay in Miami. 'I've got to prove myself,' Hill told reporters last month at organized team activities. 'This OTAs, training camp, I got to prove myself. I've got to show up different. The mindset´s got to be different.' Then there is cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is sitting out of this week's mandatory minicamp in order to force a trade out of Miami. The 30-year-old Ramsey signed a three-year extension in September. He is guaranteed $25.1 million in 2025, $4 million of which the Dolphins have already paid him as part of a signing bonus. He earned his seventh Pro Bowl nod last season.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Superstar NFL free agent Nick Chubb set to sign with Houston Texans after Cleveland Browns exit
Free agent running back Nick Chubb is set to sign with the Houston Texans pending the results of a physical on Monday, according to reports. Chubb has spent the last seven seasons - the entirety of his NFL career - with the Cleveland Browns, but his 2024 campaign ended prematurely through injury. He is out of contract this summer but has now found his next landing spot, per NFL insider Adam Schefter. The 29-year-old, a four-time Pro Bowler, is heading to Houston to undergo medical tests before signing a new deal in the AFC South. More to follow.
