Latest news with #ProKickAustralia
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jeremy Crawshaw, 'best punter in draft,' eager to play at mile-high elevation with Broncos
Jeremy Crawshaw, 'best punter in draft,' eager to play at mile-high elevation with Broncos Jeremy Crawshaw has had quite the football journey. He was born in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia, and grew up playing rugby league before later switching to Australian rules football. After high school, Crawshaw attended Nathan Chapman's ProKick Australia academy to train for American football. He committed to the University of Florida in 2019 and joined the Gators in 2020. After five years at Florida, the 23-year-old punter was picked by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of this year's NFL draft. 'I played a lot of sports as a kid [and] rugby was the main one," Crawshaw said in a conference call after being picked by Denver. "I switched over to the AFL, and that's kind of more kicking. Pretty much I was looking for something to do after school, played some sports and found ProKick Australia that gave me a scholarship to come over to Florida. I spent five years here and then am lucky enough to move on and be with the Denver Broncos now.' Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi clearly had his eye on Crawshaw leading up to the draft. Rizzi, who is also listed as assistant head coach on Denver's staff, worked "pretty intently" with the punter at the Gators' pro day, Crawshaw said. Rizzi had several lunches and multiple phone calls with the punter prospect leading up to the draft. "In regards to the punter, we felt like he's the best punter in the draft," Broncos general manager George Paton said in his post-draft press conference. "I think he was the only one drafted, but [a] big kid, athletic, grew up playing rugby and cricket. This guy's got a really big leg, and look at his growth that he's had over the last couple of years." After averaging 47.9 yards per punt in 2022 and 48.9 yards per boot in 2023, Crawshaw's average dipped to 45.7 last fall, but Denver's staff doesn't seem concerned about it. "The net wasn't as high as this year but in the past, we feel like he can do everything: punt for distance, directionally, controlled hang, really good holder, good teammate," Paton said. "We feel really strong about him.' In addition to punting duties, Crawshaw is poised to take over as the team's now holder for field goals and extra points after the team lost Riley Dixon during NFL free agency. 'I love holding," Crawshaw said. "It's a nice chemistry between me, and the kicker and snapper. You work together a lot every day. I love holding. It's one of those things that I never shied away from. I got into it straight away. [Cincinnati Bengals kicker] Evan McPherson taught me a lot of things in regards to holding that I learned from him and implemented over the years. Holding is no issues, and I love doing it.' Now in Denver, Crawshaw will get to live out a punter's dream of kicking at a mile-high elevation. "Punters and kickers, specialists, we love altitude," he said. "So always good to get up a little higher." He will also team up with fellow Australian Thomas Yassmin, a developmental tight end who is with the Broncos as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway program. 'I didn't know that until just a minute ago, but I love the idea of being on a team with another Aussie as well, a familiar accent," Crawshaw said. "I'm sure we'll get along.' Crawshaw (6-4, 198 pounds) seems poised to take over the team's punting duties, but the job won't be handed to him. The Broncos signed Matt Haack after losing Dixon, and the veteran is set to compete with the incoming rookie this summer. 'Coming in, I'm excited to just compete [and] go against some other people with great talent," Crawshaw said. "Matt Haack has already been in the league for a long time, and I've watched a lot of film on him. I'm kind of just looking forward to competing. It will just be a bit of fun.' A bit of fun, indeed. May the best leg win. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
7NEWS
27-04-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Aussie young gun Jeremy Crawshaw selected by Denver Broncos in NFL draft just days after wedding
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. His selection capped off a whirlwind week after marrying partner Elle just days earlier, four weeks after he popped the question on the beach. 'Best friend, lover, biggest supporter... and now fiancée,' he wrote after the engagement. Crawshaw, the latest ProKick Australia product to make it to the NFL, was widely considered the best punter 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 Matt Haack, who signed a one-year, $US1.255 million contract in March, for the Broncos' starting job. 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 Craswhaw's pre-draft scouting report. '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. 'His ceiling suggests a decade-plus career as a reliable NFL punter with Pro Bowl potential.' 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. Other Australian punters in the mix alongside Crawshaw were Alex Mastromanno, James Burnip and Jesse Mirco. All four were trained at ProKick, the specialist kicking academy in Melbourne that transforms local footballers into elite punters. Some 25 ProKick graduates are coming out of US colleges this year and many will have fingers crossed during the draft. 'It's been a big year. Hopefully someone will get drafted,' academy founder and coach Nathan Chapman told Reuters. ProKick Australia has a high hit-rate of putting mature-age Australians into US colleges on sports scholarships, which critics have branded unfair on younger American athletes.
Japan Times
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
Australians eye NFL draft in hopes of finding next Jordan Mailata
Less than three months after former rugby league player Jordan Mailata barged his way to Super Bowl glory with the Philadelphia Eagles, Australians will watch the NFL draft with interest to see where the next homegrown talent might emerge. Australia has a long history of producing NFL punters, with their dominance in college football becoming contentious. But offensive tackle Mailata has shown Aussies can thrive in other positions, having become the nation's first player to compete in a Super Bowl win during the Eagles' victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Mailata's ascent to the pinnacle of the game was big news in Australia where contact sports, Australian Rules football and rugby league, reign supreme in a crowded market. Fans will also be following Jordan Petaia's progress as the rugby union international strives to make the grade after signing with the Los Angeles Chargers. Like Mailata, Petaia, a former Wallabies center who is seen as a potential tight end by the Chargers, earned his chance after going through the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) training program. A number of Australians will hope to join Mailata and Petaia by signing NFL contracts after the draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but the biggest chances may have to wait until late in the three-day event when teams top up their punters. Melbourne native Alex Mastromanno has been linked with the Denver Broncos after being named an All-American in 2024 after a strong season in his senior year at Florida State. James Burnip, another Melbourne man who punted for Alabama, has also generated draft buzz, along with Florida Gators punter Jeremy Crawshaw and Vanderbilt's Jesse Mirco. All four were trained at ProKick Australia, a specialist kicking academy in Melbourne that transforms local players into elite punters. Around 25 ProKick graduates are coming out of U.S. colleges this year and many will have their fingers crossed during the draft, said the academy's founder and coach Nathan Chapman. "It's been a big year," Chapman said. "Hopefully someone will get drafted. ProKick Australia has a high hit-rate of getting Australians into U.S. colleges on sports scholarships, which critics have branded unfair to younger American athletes. One disgruntled American parent has led a class action against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, alleging the body disproportionately favors international athletes over domestic ones. There is unlikely to be much complaint, however, if hulking Australian Laki Tasi gets drafted or picked up as an undrafted free agent. Seen as a potential defensive linesman and lacking a professional sports background, Tasi trained with Petaia at the NFL's Asia Pacific Academy in Australia before heading to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida in January for the IPP's 10-week training program. Though much heavier than Petaia, he has plenty in common with the Queenslander, sharing Samoan heritage and a childhood in rugby-mad Brisbane. "He's probably the most intriguing that's draft-eligible to me," NFL Academy head Will Bryce said.. "He's 6 (feet) 6 (inches), he's 300-plus pounds, he's powerful, big lower body, thick hips. There's some potential there. "Just hearing how he hit the bag on that IPP pro day was violent, and it was different to everyone else." While Mailata's success helped inspire Petaia and Tasi's NFL bids, football will be in the spotlight again in Australia next year when the NFL plays its first game in the country at the 100,000-seat Melbourne Cricket Ground. The regular-season game will feature the Los Angeles Rams as the designated home team, against a team to be named later, in a matchup that will most likely be the season-opener for both teams. Chapman, a former professional Australian Rules footballer who punted for the Green Bay Packers in a few preseason games, said the Melbourne clash would be another shop window for the sport and the Australian talent dreaming of NFL careers. "I think there's talent here in Australia in a number of positions," Chapman said. "There's an excitement that more players want to get involved which opens up the talent pool. "Getting a game here will create more buzz and also allow coaches to expand their networks and knowledge about what is actually here."
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aussies eye NFL draft after Mailata's Super Bowl glory
Less than three months after former rugby league player Jordan Mailata barged his way to Super Bowl glory with the Philadelphia Eagles, Australians will watch the NFL draft with interest to see where the next homegrown talent might emerge. Australia has a long history of producing NFL punters, but offensive tackle Mailata has shown Aussies can thrive in other positions, having become the nation's first to play in a Super Bowl win during the Eagles' triumph over Kansas City. Mailata's ascent to the pinnacle of the game was big news in Australia where contact sports, Australian Rules football and rugby league, reign supreme in a crowded market. Fans will also follow Jordan Petaia's progress as the rugby union international strives to make the grade at the Los Angeles Chargers after signing a contract with them. Like Mailata, former Wallabies centre Petaia, seen as a potential tight end by the Chargers, earned his chance after going through the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) training program. A number of Australians will hope to join Mailata and Petaia with NFL contracts after the 90th draft in Green Bay, but the biggest chances may have to wait until late in the three-day event when teams top up their punters. Alex Mastromanno has been linked with the Denver Broncos after his strong season in his senior year at Florida State. James Burnip, another Melbourne man who punted for Alabama University, has also generated draft buzz along with Florida Gators punter Jeremy Crawshaw and Vanderbilt's Jesse Mirco. All four were trained at ProKick Australia, a specialist kicking academy in Melbourne that transforms local footballers into elite punters. Some 25 ProKick graduates are coming out of US colleges this year and many will have fingers crossed during the draft. "It's been a big year. Hopefully someone will get drafted," academy founder and coach Nathan Chapman told Reuters. ProKick Australia has a high hit-rate of putting mature-age Australians into US colleges on sports scholarships, which critics have branded unfair on younger American athletes. There is unlikely to be much complaint, however, if hulking Laki Tasi gets drafted or picked up as an undrafted free agent. Laki Tasi and his brothers with Jordan Mailata at IMG academy! Getting ready for the big Pro Day! 🏈 @NFLAUNZ @NFL — Ginnen Group Sports Management (@GinnenSports) February 23, 2025 Seen as a potential defensive linesman, Tasi trained with Petaia at the NFL's Asia Pacific Academy in Australia before heading to the IMG Academy in Florida in January for the IPP's 10-week training program. Though much heavier than Petaia, he has plenty in common with the Queenslander, sharing Samoan heritage and a childhood in rugby-mad Brisbane. "He's probably the most intriguing that's draft-eligible to me," NFL Academy head Will Bryce told Reuters. "He's 6'6", he's 300-plus pounds, he's powerful, big lower body, thick hips. There's some potential there. "Just hearing how he hit the bag on that IPP pro day was violent and it was different to everyone else."
West Australian
24-04-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Aussies eye NFL draft after Mailata's Super Bowl glory
Less than three months after former rugby league player Jordan Mailata barged his way to Super Bowl glory with the Philadelphia Eagles, Australians will watch the NFL draft with interest to see where the next homegrown talent might emerge. Australia has a long history of producing NFL punters, but offensive tackle Mailata has shown Aussies can thrive in other positions, having become the nation's first to play in a Super Bowl win during the Eagles' triumph over Kansas City. Mailata's ascent to the pinnacle of the game was big news in Australia where contact sports, Australian Rules football and rugby league, reign supreme in a crowded market. Fans will also follow Jordan Petaia's progress as the rugby union international strives to make the grade at the Los Angeles Chargers after signing a contract with them. Like Mailata, former Wallabies centre Petaia, seen as a potential tight end by the Chargers, earned his chance after going through the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) training program. A number of Australians will hope to join Mailata and Petaia with NFL contracts after the 90th draft in Green Bay, but the biggest chances may have to wait until late in the three-day event when teams top up their punters. Alex Mastromanno has been linked with the Denver Broncos after his strong season in his senior year at Florida State. James Burnip, another Melbourne man who punted for Alabama University, has also generated draft buzz along with Florida Gators punter Jeremy Crawshaw and Vanderbilt's Jesse Mirco. All four were trained at ProKick Australia, a specialist kicking academy in Melbourne that transforms local footballers into elite punters. Some 25 ProKick graduates are coming out of US colleges this year and many will have fingers crossed during the draft. "It's been a big year. Hopefully someone will get drafted," academy founder and coach Nathan Chapman told Reuters. ProKick Australia has a high hit-rate of putting mature-age Australians into US colleges on sports scholarships, which critics have branded unfair on younger American athletes. There is unlikely to be much complaint, however, if hulking Laki Tasi gets drafted or picked up as an undrafted free agent. Seen as a potential defensive linesman, Tasi trained with Petaia at the NFL's Asia Pacific Academy in Australia before heading to the IMG Academy in Florida in January for the IPP's 10-week training program. Though much heavier than Petaia, he has plenty in common with the Queenslander, sharing Samoan heritage and a childhood in rugby-mad Brisbane. "He's probably the most intriguing that's draft-eligible to me," NFL Academy head Will Bryce told Reuters. "He's 6'6", he's 300-plus pounds, he's powerful, big lower body, thick hips. There's some potential there. "Just hearing how he hit the bag on that IPP pro day was violent and it was different to everyone else."
