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USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints Countdown to Kickoff: Matthew Hayball is the Saints Player of Day 43
Hayball looks to become the first incumbent in the last three years to hold onto the Saints punting job There are 43 days left before the New Orleans Saints open their 2025 regular season. They'll do so at home against the Arizona Cardinals, also marking the first official game on the sidelines for new head coach Kellen Moore. Punter Matthew Hayball wears No. 43 for New Orleans, looking to enter his second year with the squad. Our Saints Player of the Day, here's a closer look at Hayball's background. Growing up in west Australia, Hayball was a midfielder in Australian rules football and was even selected in the 2015 Australian Football League draft, where he played for three years. He originally attended Florida Atlantic University in America. In three years with the Owls, he averaged 44.4 yards per punt and was honorable mention All-Conference USA twice. Hayball transferred to Vanderbilt in 2022 and would average 46.5 yards per punt in his two years with the Commodores. As a senior in 2023, Hayball was awarded 1st Team All-SEC and 2nd Team All-American accolades. While not selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Hayball was the second overall choice in the Canadian Football League global draft by the Ottawa Redblacks. Instead, he'd elect a training camp tryout with the New Orleans Saints. Hayball would beat out Saints incumbent punter and fellow Australian Lou Hedley for the job in preseason. Hayball had a gross average of 44 yards and net average of 40.4 last season. He pinned 41 of his 75 punts inside the opponents 20-yard line and had just 3 touchbacks. He'd also execute a fake punt, rushing 11 yards for a first down. Hayball led the NFL last season in punts downed inside the opposing 20. Matthew Hayball will face competition again for a roster spot, this time as the incumbent. Undrafted rookie James Burnip from Alabama, also an Australian rules football player, was signed by New Orleans after the draft. The Saints have had a different punter in each of the last three seasons.
USA Today
23-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: James Burnip is the Saints Player of Day 46
Burnip will provide training camp competition for punter Matthew Hayball There are 46 days that remain until the New Orleans Saints open their 2025 regular season. They'll do so at home against the Arizona Cardinals under Kellen Moore as their new head coach. At this time, No. 46 is being worn by punter James Burnip. An undrafted rookie, Burnip is trying to overthrow incumbent Matthew Hayball for the punting job. Here's a look at Burnip's path to the NFL as our Saints Player of the Day. An Australian rules football player at Victoria University, Burnip was recruited by SEC schools Mississippi and Alabama before deciding on the Crimson Tide. He won the punting job at Alabama as a freshman in 2021. Burnip consistently showed great range throughout his career with the Crimson Tide, averaging 43.9 yards per punt over his four years. The 2023 season was Burnip's best. He led the SEC with 2,806 yards, averaging a whopping 47.6 per kick to finish third in the conference and resulting in 2nd Team All-SEC recognition. Leading up to the 2025 NFL draft, Burnip was considered one of the top punting prospects. Florida punter Jeremy Crawshaw was the only punter drafted, going in Round 6 by the Denver Broncos. This led to New Orleans signing James Burnip to an undrafted deal. Burnip was also a second-round selection by the Ottawa Redblacks in the Canadian Football League global draft. New Orleans has had three different punters in the last three seasons. The last two, Hayball and Lou Hedley, were also former Australian rules football players. James Burnip will now have his opportunity to face off against Matthew Hayball to provide competition for the Saints punting job in 2025.
