9 days to kickoff: An ode to America’s favorite Aussie punter, No. 9, Tory Taylor

An Aussie. A tactician. A true man of character and fun. With nine days to kickoff, an ode to No. 9, America’s favorite punter, Tory Taylor.

He is one of the best in America. He is one of the best in Australia. He is one of the best in the world at what he does. Iowa Hawkeyes punter Tory Taylor is one-of-a-kind, which makes him so adored among Iowa and college football fans.

Taylor hails from Melbourne, Australia, and has made quite the home in Iowa City. Iowa’s record holder in single-season punt yards with 3,725 in 2022, he has turned punting from a play that many use as a bathroom break or as an opportunity to grab a snack into appointment television.

Off of the field, Taylor is even more admirable. He has donated his NIL money to an organization called “Count the Kicks” which raises awareness and prevention of stillbirths.

On the hunt for the Ray Guy Award this year as the nation’s best punter, Taylor is genuinely a tactician of a punter. Not only has he averaged over 45 yards per punt throughout his career, Taylor has stuck 47% of his career punts inside opponents’ 20-yard lines.

Already named a preseason first-team All-American by the Associated Press, The Athletic and Sporting News, Tory Taylor is primed for another year of providing the best theatre that punting has ever seen. Here is a look at America’s favorite Aussie punter, Tory Taylor.