Ruqayyah Snyder
Australians have been making their mark in college football, with many young Australian men relocating to the US to pursue their passion. With the NFL Academy opening on Australia's Gold Coast, the pathway for aspiring Australian athletes to join college football teams in the US is becoming clearer. The academy will focus on athletic, educational, and career pathway opportunities for student-athletes, with the aim of establishing a culture of clarity, consistency, and credibility in the sport. Additionally, Australia's ProKick Academy has been training young punters with optical-illusion placement skills, which have been sought after by US coaches. Australians have also found success in college football through video games such as EA SPORTS™ College Football, which allows players to create and customize their teams and players. With increased exposure and opportunities, we can expect to see even more Australians making their way into college football teams in the coming years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Training | Prokick Australia trains students to prepare for college football in the US. Training includes 3 days a week on kicking/punting and 6 days a week in the gym. |
| Scholarships | Prokick Australia has helped 97% of its athletes secure full-ride scholarships, which cover tuition, books, accommodation, and food, valued at over $250,000. |
| Cost savings | Prokick Australia has saved Australian families tens of millions in academic fees by placing students in US colleges with full scholarships. |
| Placement | Prokick Australia has successfully placed over 250 punters in US colleges, with 95% on full scholarships. |
| College representation | Australians have represented colleges across the US, including Hawaii, Portland State, Eastern Kentucky, Oklahoma State, TCU, Georgia, Appalachian State, Texas State, Boise State, and many more. |
| Competition | Australians compete for punter positions against other nationalities, including Americans, Irish, and Kiwis. |
| Post-college opportunities | Successful punters may have the opportunity to pursue careers in the NFL, with the potential for higher salaries and longer careers compared to Australian football. |
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What You'll Learn
Join a talent recruitment camp
If you're an Australian with dreams of making it in college football, joining a talent recruitment camp could be a great step towards achieving your goal. These camps are designed to help aspiring athletes improve their skills, connect with coaches, and potentially secure scholarships to play in the United States.
One well-known example is Prokick, a program that has helped numerous Australians secure scholarships to play college football in the U.S. Prokick participants train three days a week on punting, and four to five days a week in the gym, with cardio, strength, and conditioning workouts. The program typically lasts 9 to 18 months before athletes head to the U.S. Prokick was started by two coaches who realized that many Australian children grow up playing Australian Rules Football and could easily adapt to punting in American football.
There are also several college football recruiting camps in the United States that you can join. These camps are often led by university coaching staff and can be a great opportunity to showcase your skills and receive guidance from experienced coaches. Here are some examples:
- Belhaven University Blazers Football Camps (Jackson, Mississippi)
- Black Bear Elite Football Camps (Maine)
- Blake Harrell Football Camps (East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina)
- Central College Football Camps (Pella, IA)
- Chad Walker Football Camps (location unspecified)
- Charles Kelly Football Camps (Jacksonville University, Jacksonville)
- Charleston Southern University Buccaneers Football Camps (location unspecified)
- Chesney Football Camps (James Madison University)
- K-State Football Camps (Kansas State University)
- Kent State Football Camps (Kent, Ohio)
- Kentucky Wesleyan Football Camps (Kentucky Wesleyan College, Owensboro, Kentucky)
- MidAmerica Nazarene University Football Camps (Olathe, Kansas)
- Blue Raider Football Camps (Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
- Midland U Football Camps (Fremont, Nebraska)
- Mike Gundy Cowboy Football Camps (Oklahoma State University, Stillwater)
- Mike Jacobs Football Camps (Mercer University, Macon, Georgia)
- Millsaps College Football Camps (Jackson, Mississippi)
Additionally, organizations like AUS Recruit can help talented Australian student-athletes connect with American university coaches and navigate the process of scholarship recruitment.
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Develop your punting skills
Developing punting skills is crucial in football, as a good punter can significantly impact their team's field position and force the opposing offense to work harder to get into scoring range. Here are some tips to help you develop your punting skills:
Footwork and Stance
Start by assuming an athletic stance with your feet about shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent. The foot you'll punt with should be positioned a few inches in front of the other. It's important to maintain proper footwork to avoid being ruled out of bounds. Position your feet well ahead of the line, not right up against it. This minimises the risk of inadvertently stepping out of bounds. When punting from inside the 5-yard line, shorten your steps to cover less distance, which helps maintain a quick, rhythmic get-off time.
Ball Grip and Drop
Hold the ball with a "'handshake' grip", ensuring the laces face straight up. After your stab step, take your second step and remove your support hand, leaving only the "handshake" grip. Drop the ball by opening your hand and loosening your grip—don't throw or push it down. Practice dropping the ball straight down to avoid tumbling, which can cause a missed sweet spot and a tipped kick.
Contact and Kick
Make sure your drop is good and your fundamentals are solid before focusing on contact. Aim for the "belly" of the football with the top of your foot, directly opposite the laces. Drive your leg through the ball to maximise power and distance, and follow through by driving your leg up toward your head. To maintain stability, hold your arms out in front of you, and finish with both feet on the ground, head tilted up to follow the ball's trajectory.
Practice and Technique
Punting requires a combination of proper technique and consistent practice. Focus on developing a smooth and rhythmic approach, maintaining balance throughout your kick. Practice different types of kicks, such as ordinary, towering, and low kicks, adjusting the ball's position and your release point accordingly.
Strategic Punting
Understand the strategic aspects of punting, such as angling your approach towards the sidelines to force the receiving team to play closer to their goal line. Learn to adjust your punting strategy based on factors like distance from the line of scrimmage and the position of the football.
Developing punting skills takes time and dedication. By mastering these techniques and refining your skills through practice, you'll be well on your way to becoming a valuable punter on your football team.
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Understand the pathway to US colleges
The ProKick Academy, also known as Prokick Australia, has been instrumental in sending young Australian men to the United States to play college football. The Academy was founded by two former Australian football players, Coach Chapman and Coach Smith, who realized that thousands of children in Australia played Australian Rules Football and could easily adapt to punting in American football.
Prokick offers a rigorous training program that includes three days of punting practice and four to five days of gym workouts, with sessions often starting as early as 5:30 or 6:30 in the morning. The program covers all the skills needed for college football, including punting, kicking, and holding. Participants can expect to be mentally and physically challenged and pushed to their limits.
The Academy also assists with the transition to the US, providing support to ensure students are mentally prepared for the stresses of the program and the move. Prokick has an impressive track record, with 97% of its athletes receiving full-ride scholarships to US colleges. These scholarships cover tuition, books, accommodation, and food, and are valued at upwards of $250,000.
Since 2009, Prokick has sent dozens of punters to major US colleges. The first three Prokick-trained Australians to receive scholarships were Alex Dunnachie (Hawaii), Thomas Duyndam (Portland State), and Jordan Berry (Eastern Kentucky). As of 2023, 34 out of 69 Power Five schools have Australian punters in their starting line-ups, with 33 of them trained at ProKick.
For those interested in pursuing a similar path, Prokick conducts assessments in several Australian cities, including Adelaide, Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne. They also offer online training for those who cannot make it to their physical locations.
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Customise your team
Customising your team is an essential part of the college football experience. Here are the steps you need to take to create your dream team:
Choose a Team Name and Logo
Decide on a catchy and unique name for your team that reflects your college spirit. Create a logo that complements your team name and chooses eye-catching colours that will become synonymous with your team's identity.
Design Uniforms
Craft distinctive uniforms that showcase your team's style and personality. Select styles, textures, and colours for the helmets, jerseys, and pants, ensuring they stand out on the field. Don't forget to design uniforms for both home and away games, so your team always looks their best.
Player Attributes
Customise each player's appearance, physical attributes, college year, and skill ratings. Fine-tune their abilities, adjust ratings, and set deal breakers. You can also edit individual player bios, including names, appearance, redshirt status, high school star ratings, and dynamic dealbreaker thresholds, which influence transfer behaviour.
Recruiting Pipeline
Take control of your recruiting pipeline by deciding where your team sources its talent. Choose from Tier 1 (weak) to Tier 5 (dominant) pipelines, allowing you to strategically build a strong team.
Rivalries and Dynasties
Create up to five custom rivalries to add depth to your team's story and context to your dynasty experience. You can also choose from program identity templates like Powerhouse, Pro Factory, or Cupcake, each tailored to different play styles and storylines. Your choices will impact your team's grades and overall evolution.
With these steps, you'll be well on your way to customising your college football team and creating a unique and competitive squad.
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Build your physical attributes
To build the physical attributes required for college football, there are several key areas to focus on. Firstly, endurance, strength, speed, and agility are fundamental requirements for success in football. Here are some specific ways to develop these attributes:
Endurance
Endurance is the ability to sustain physical effort over an extended period. To build endurance, incorporate aerobic exercises such as running, swimming, or cycling into your routine. Aim for activities that elevate your heart rate for at least 20 minutes, and gradually increase the duration and intensity over time.
Strength
Strength training is crucial for developing the muscles required for powerful movements and protecting against injuries. Incorporate resistance exercises such as weightlifting, bodyweight exercises (push-ups, pull-ups, squats), or resistance band workouts into your routine. Focus on compound exercises that target multiple muscle groups, and ensure proper form to avoid injuries.
Speed
Speed is essential for quick movements and reactions on the field. To improve speed, include sprint exercises in your training. Focus on short-distance sprints, such as 20-meter sprints, as they are commonly used to assess speed in football. Practice starting with a quick burst of speed and maintaining good form throughout the sprint.
Agility
Agility is the ability to change direction and react quickly. To enhance your agility, perform drills that involve quick direction changes, such as shuttle runs or zigzags. Australian Rules Football, which many Australians play from a young age, is also an excellent way to develop agility and coordination.
Additionally, consider enrolling in a structured program like Prokick, which offers specific training for punters, a position that Australians have found notable success in within college football. This program includes punting practice three days a week and cardio, strength, and conditioning workouts for four to five days a week.
Remember, building physical attributes takes time and dedication. Ensure you incorporate rest and recovery days into your routine to allow your body to rejuvenate and build strength.
By consistently working on these areas, you will develop the physical attributes necessary to excel in college football and give yourself the best chance for success.
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Frequently asked questions
You can make a college football team from Australia in the EA SPORTS™ College Football video game. To do this, you must select "Get Started" and sign in using your EA Account details. After that, you can choose to create a new team from scratch. You can then customize your team's brand, uniforms, stadium, program, and roster.
To make a college football team from Australia in real life, you can recruit Australian players who are skilled in punting. This is because punting is a lifeblood art of the AFL, which is one of Australia's favorite sports. ProKick Academy in Australia is known for training and sending talented punters to major U.S. colleges.
There are a few pathways for Australian athletes to play college football in the U.S. One way is through the NFL Academy, which is opening a location on Australia's Gold Coast. Athletes aged 12-18 years old will be eligible to apply for a place in the football development program. Another pathway is through ProKick Australia, which is a full-time punting academy aimed at training and assessing talented punters from Australia for positions in major U.S. colleges.
