How’s the NFL Combine experience going for you?
“It’s been good. It feels like it’s flown by but when you think back, we’ve done so much stuff just here in a couple of days. It’s been amazing.”
Did you ever think you’d be sitting here at the NFL Combine and kicking a football here in America?
“I mean it was always the dream, but for it to happen was just amazing. I’m so, so thankful and so grateful for every moment that I’m here.”
When you were in Australia, were there any punters you looked up to or modeled your game after?
“Yeah. I knew about Brad Wing. He’s Australian, he was with the Giants. Sav Rocca, was like I legend to me. I used to watch his videos. And then my plan was always to come to the NFL. That was always my plan in college, (it) was like a stepping stone for me to get there. I just feel like I’m so close right now. I just can’t wait.”
Did you ever think you’d wind up in Texas for college?
“I always liked Texas, yeah. I either wanted to go to the west coast or Texas. My sister went through Texas and loved it, and so I was so happy that Texas offered me.”
How much do you know about Texans P Shane Lechler, who’s been in the NFL for a long time?
“He’s a legend. He’s been in the league for, I think, 20 years, had a great season last year. It amazes me that he can do wat he does for so long even though he is from a rival school (Texas A&M). I still admire him.”
What do you think about the NFL Combine experience and is it mind blowing to be part of it?
“Yeah it is. It is mind blowing just seeing all these guys walking around that you watch on TV when you get the chance. Just incredible athletes. I’m in awe of all these guys here.”
You were named of the MVP of the 2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl. Can you talk about that, since it’s strange for a punter to win that award sometimes?
‘I was named MVP of the Texas Bowl and I knew going into that game it was going to be my last game. I announced that I was leaving early as a junior. I just wanted to do as much as I could to help get us that win to build the momentum for next year even thought I wasn’t going to be there. I ended up getting 11 punts in that game and we still beat Missouri and for me to win the MVP, it was a shock. It’s a funny thing that happened and I’m so amazed by it.”
How do you define yourself as a punter? Your style seems to be a little bit different.
“I played Aussie rules for about 10 years and the bent-leg kick is like a regular thing in that sport. I just think that Aussie rules guys, myself, have this connection between our hand and foot and eyes just because we pass the AFL balls around so much – the Aussie rules ball – we kick it to each other, do all different kicks, ones that curve, ones that are low and long, fast. My technique still follows the same fundamentals of an American punter with (the) hips and follow through on everything, but I feel like I just got that little edge, that kinesthetic sense that I have that is just an advantage to me.”
Have you visited with any NFL teams yet?
“Yeah, I’ve met with (some) over here. I did the rounds of meeting a few teams and (I) met all those guys and I think I did pretty well in the interview process.”
What’s the craziest question you’ve heard so far in the interview process?
“I mean I had to do a staring contest and I had to see how long I could stare without blinking. I had a couple of attempts. I tried a few techniques, looking away from the light, trying to block any sort of wind coming into the eyes. That was a weird process.”
How long did it take before you blinked in the staring contest?
“The first time I did terrible. I only lasted for 14 seconds, but my third time I had figured out a technique to look around the room just to get your eyes a little watery, I guess.”
Have you had a chance to talk to the Kansas City Chiefs at all?
“With the Chiefs? Yeah. That was during the informal interview process.”
What would it be like to replace somebody like Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt, one of the top punters in the league for over a decade?
“I mean to go to any team – just given the opportunity to compete for a spot would be a dream come true. Like you said, to win a spot at a team would just be, honestly, just a once in a lifetime opportunity, a dream come true, and I just continue to work hard every day. I love it.”
What did you think about University of Texas Head Coach Tom Herman always calling you, “The Punter,” instead of addressing you by name?
“I’m fine by it. It started off as a joke. He’s done it with all his punters, but it’s fine. He can call me anything. He can call me some nasty things as well and it’s not going to affect me. I’m just going to do my job. My teammates love me and that’s all I care about.”
Did University of Texas Head Coach Tom Herman ever call you by name?
“It slipped out a couple of times. When he was reading the depth chart it slipped out and all the specialists were looking around at each other and trying to embrace that moment for a little bit.”
University of Texas Head Coach Tom Herman still referred to you as, “The Punter,” even after your MVP performance in the 2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl?
“I got a trophy. I think he just avoids calling me, “The Punter,” now and he avoids calling me by my name. Once I graduate, he says, then he’ll call me by my name.”
How much more schoolwork do you have to complete before you graduate and are you planning on coming back to the University of Texas to complete school?
“I’m in full-time school right now to keep my student visa and then after this semester, I’ll have 18 hours left.”
Do you think University of Texas Head Coach Tom Herman can turn the program around?
“Definitely. You see the talent that’s come in, you see the talent that’s coming back. A lot of guys in my class are going to be seniors this year and they just have so much confidence and know the playbooks now. Going into spring ball knowing everything that’s come over from last year, they’re going to be a great team.”
Give us the quick scouting report on your little cousin, Ryan Bujcevski, who will punt at the Universtiy of Texas.
“Me and him have been talking. We’ve set some goals. He’s going to be, hopefully, even better than me my freshman year and then he’s just going to be consistent. We’re working on some mental techniques and some goals to set and I think he’s going to be a real good punter for the Longhorns.”
Which team asked you to perform the staring contest?
“It was the Seahawks.”
Are you going through all the drills at the NFL Combine and what do you have left?
“I punted yesterday. I was going to do the bench test, but I think I might just save that for the pro day when I’ve got all my boys around me and just do that for a bit of fun. Just punting was the most important thing for me.”
You’re not going to run the 40-yard dash?
“No, that was today. I’m happy I didn’t have to run a 40 (yard dash).”
What’s the worst weather game you’ve played in and are there any conditions you don’t love kicking in?
‘West Virginia last season was pretty bad. It was windy and rainy the whole game. My freshman year, also, was terrible. Just pouring down the whole game. The balls were just rocks. The snapper through one over my head, I had to run around, pick it up and kick it back down the field. That was pretty bad, and wind, always. Wind’s always a factor. You just have to get used to that.”
What’s the longest punt you’ve ever had?
“At practice, 73 (yards) in the air and then in a game, 67 (yards) in the air. And then in a game with the rolling, 76 (yards) and then when it rolls in practice, you can get some that get a good bounce and it will go over 100 yards.”
Do you bring a different style to punting the ball?
“I really just treat it like an Aussie rules kick. I catch the ball, I look up the field like I’m playing my old sport, find a spot that I want to kick it to and just do my thing. It’s just a feeling and connection that I have between my hand and football. It’s a fun kick to do just because it reminds me of the old days.”
What went into giving American football a shot?
“I knew I was talented. I had a bigger kick than everyone in that sport. I wanted to do my schooling and if I tried to continue to try to push through the Aussie rules professional teams that it would have been a long process. I realistically wasn’t going to make it, so I really wanted to kick punting a real shot and trained and got better and better and learned all the rules and just loved the sport. I’m so glad I made that choice of learning this culture and this sport.”
What’s the biggest difference in the NFL football in terms of adjusting to ball?
“So the NFL balls compared to college balls, the NFL ones are more similar to the Aussie rules balls because they’re a little rounder. Aussie rules balls are made of Kangaroo leather and they’re rounder. They come off your foot a lot better, so you can drill them to each other. You can do a lot of things.”
“It’s been good. It feels like it’s flown by but when you think back, we’ve done so much stuff just here in a couple of days. It’s been amazing.”
Did you ever think you’d be sitting here at the NFL Combine and kicking a football here in America?
“I mean it was always the dream, but for it to happen was just amazing. I’m so, so thankful and so grateful for every moment that I’m here.”
When you were in Australia, were there any punters you looked up to or modeled your game after?
“Yeah. I knew about Brad Wing. He’s Australian, he was with the Giants. Sav Rocca, was like I legend to me. I used to watch his videos. And then my plan was always to come to the NFL. That was always my plan in college, (it) was like a stepping stone for me to get there. I just feel like I’m so close right now. I just can’t wait.”
Did you ever think you’d wind up in Texas for college?
“I always liked Texas, yeah. I either wanted to go to the west coast or Texas. My sister went through Texas and loved it, and so I was so happy that Texas offered me.”
How much do you know about Texans P Shane Lechler, who’s been in the NFL for a long time?
“He’s a legend. He’s been in the league for, I think, 20 years, had a great season last year. It amazes me that he can do wat he does for so long even though he is from a rival school (Texas A&M). I still admire him.”
What do you think about the NFL Combine experience and is it mind blowing to be part of it?
“Yeah it is. It is mind blowing just seeing all these guys walking around that you watch on TV when you get the chance. Just incredible athletes. I’m in awe of all these guys here.”
You were named of the MVP of the 2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl. Can you talk about that, since it’s strange for a punter to win that award sometimes?
‘I was named MVP of the Texas Bowl and I knew going into that game it was going to be my last game. I announced that I was leaving early as a junior. I just wanted to do as much as I could to help get us that win to build the momentum for next year even thought I wasn’t going to be there. I ended up getting 11 punts in that game and we still beat Missouri and for me to win the MVP, it was a shock. It’s a funny thing that happened and I’m so amazed by it.”
How do you define yourself as a punter? Your style seems to be a little bit different.
“I played Aussie rules for about 10 years and the bent-leg kick is like a regular thing in that sport. I just think that Aussie rules guys, myself, have this connection between our hand and foot and eyes just because we pass the AFL balls around so much – the Aussie rules ball – we kick it to each other, do all different kicks, ones that curve, ones that are low and long, fast. My technique still follows the same fundamentals of an American punter with (the) hips and follow through on everything, but I feel like I just got that little edge, that kinesthetic sense that I have that is just an advantage to me.”
Have you visited with any NFL teams yet?
“Yeah, I’ve met with (some) over here. I did the rounds of meeting a few teams and (I) met all those guys and I think I did pretty well in the interview process.”
What’s the craziest question you’ve heard so far in the interview process?
“I mean I had to do a staring contest and I had to see how long I could stare without blinking. I had a couple of attempts. I tried a few techniques, looking away from the light, trying to block any sort of wind coming into the eyes. That was a weird process.”
How long did it take before you blinked in the staring contest?
“The first time I did terrible. I only lasted for 14 seconds, but my third time I had figured out a technique to look around the room just to get your eyes a little watery, I guess.”
Have you had a chance to talk to the Kansas City Chiefs at all?
“With the Chiefs? Yeah. That was during the informal interview process.”
What would it be like to replace somebody like Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt, one of the top punters in the league for over a decade?
“I mean to go to any team – just given the opportunity to compete for a spot would be a dream come true. Like you said, to win a spot at a team would just be, honestly, just a once in a lifetime opportunity, a dream come true, and I just continue to work hard every day. I love it.”
What did you think about University of Texas Head Coach Tom Herman always calling you, “The Punter,” instead of addressing you by name?
“I’m fine by it. It started off as a joke. He’s done it with all his punters, but it’s fine. He can call me anything. He can call me some nasty things as well and it’s not going to affect me. I’m just going to do my job. My teammates love me and that’s all I care about.”
Did University of Texas Head Coach Tom Herman ever call you by name?
“It slipped out a couple of times. When he was reading the depth chart it slipped out and all the specialists were looking around at each other and trying to embrace that moment for a little bit.”
University of Texas Head Coach Tom Herman still referred to you as, “The Punter,” even after your MVP performance in the 2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl?
“I got a trophy. I think he just avoids calling me, “The Punter,” now and he avoids calling me by my name. Once I graduate, he says, then he’ll call me by my name.”
How much more schoolwork do you have to complete before you graduate and are you planning on coming back to the University of Texas to complete school?
“I’m in full-time school right now to keep my student visa and then after this semester, I’ll have 18 hours left.”
Do you think University of Texas Head Coach Tom Herman can turn the program around?
“Definitely. You see the talent that’s come in, you see the talent that’s coming back. A lot of guys in my class are going to be seniors this year and they just have so much confidence and know the playbooks now. Going into spring ball knowing everything that’s come over from last year, they’re going to be a great team.”
Give us the quick scouting report on your little cousin, Ryan Bujcevski, who will punt at the Universtiy of Texas.
“Me and him have been talking. We’ve set some goals. He’s going to be, hopefully, even better than me my freshman year and then he’s just going to be consistent. We’re working on some mental techniques and some goals to set and I think he’s going to be a real good punter for the Longhorns.”
Which team asked you to perform the staring contest?
“It was the Seahawks.”
Are you going through all the drills at the NFL Combine and what do you have left?
“I punted yesterday. I was going to do the bench test, but I think I might just save that for the pro day when I’ve got all my boys around me and just do that for a bit of fun. Just punting was the most important thing for me.”
You’re not going to run the 40-yard dash?
“No, that was today. I’m happy I didn’t have to run a 40 (yard dash).”
What’s the worst weather game you’ve played in and are there any conditions you don’t love kicking in?
‘West Virginia last season was pretty bad. It was windy and rainy the whole game. My freshman year, also, was terrible. Just pouring down the whole game. The balls were just rocks. The snapper through one over my head, I had to run around, pick it up and kick it back down the field. That was pretty bad, and wind, always. Wind’s always a factor. You just have to get used to that.”
What’s the longest punt you’ve ever had?
“At practice, 73 (yards) in the air and then in a game, 67 (yards) in the air. And then in a game with the rolling, 76 (yards) and then when it rolls in practice, you can get some that get a good bounce and it will go over 100 yards.”
Do you bring a different style to punting the ball?
“I really just treat it like an Aussie rules kick. I catch the ball, I look up the field like I’m playing my old sport, find a spot that I want to kick it to and just do my thing. It’s just a feeling and connection that I have between my hand and football. It’s a fun kick to do just because it reminds me of the old days.”
What went into giving American football a shot?
“I knew I was talented. I had a bigger kick than everyone in that sport. I wanted to do my schooling and if I tried to continue to try to push through the Aussie rules professional teams that it would have been a long process. I realistically wasn’t going to make it, so I really wanted to kick punting a real shot and trained and got better and better and learned all the rules and just loved the sport. I’m so glad I made that choice of learning this culture and this sport.”
What’s the biggest difference in the NFL football in terms of adjusting to ball?
“So the NFL balls compared to college balls, the NFL ones are more similar to the Aussie rules balls because they’re a little rounder. Aussie rules balls are made of Kangaroo leather and they’re rounder. They come off your foot a lot better, so you can drill them to each other. You can do a lot of things.”
