You know you’re doing something right when you are being compared to one of the greats. When asked about the importance punter Tory Taylor has provided to Iowa, head coach Kirk Ferentz quickly alluded to a former All-Pro punter that he worked with in college.
“I really kind of learned the importance of a great punter in 1981, my first year ever at Iowa,” Ferentz reflected at Big Ten media days. “We were fortunate to have Reggie Roby, who I believe was a junior that year, one of the most amazing punters I have ever seen. His leg was a big part of the reason we were Big Ten champions that year and played in the Rose Bowl.”
For Taylor, a comparison to Roby certainly is not a bad one to receive. A sixth-round pick out of Iowa in the 1983 NFL draft, Roby became one of the top punters in the history of the game. He was a three-time All-Pro and made the 1980s All-Decade Team. His career punting average of 45.6 yards per punt still stands as Iowa’s school record. Right on his heels with an average of 45.4 yards per punt is of course, Tory Taylor.
“Certainly coaching in pro football, really developed an appreciation for how punters can affect and impact the game,” Ferentz commented, referring to his years spent in the 1990s with the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.
Three decades later, Taylor’s punting heroics still remind him of that lesson.
“We’re kind of a defensive-oriented outfit, if you will, and the value of having a great kicking game along with a good, solid defense gives you an opportunity to maybe have a little bit more success that way. When we have a player with Tory’s capabilities and talents, we’re certainly going to try to utilize that in a smart way,” Ferentz said.
The Hawkeyes have used Taylor’s spectacular abilities to great effect, especially last year. As the offense struggled, the first-team All-American routinely set the defense up with fantastic field position. There were many a time where he was even more instrumental to putting points on the board than the offense.
An early favorite to win the Ray Guy Award, Tory Taylor will look to show everyone why punting is indeed winning.
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