Young Adelaide footballers chase American dream after securing coveted punting scholarship
Two Adelaide teenagers are headed to chase their American dreams on football scholarships, with one very Australian skill coming in handy.
Two NFL hopefuls from South Australia are about to live the US dream as they head off to college to start their American football careers because of one specialised skill – punting.
Jack Gray, 19, is heading to the US on a scholarship to the University of Illinois in January.
He said the opportunity still didn’t feel real.
“I couldn’t really believe it, obviously there was this goal, but even then, it was pretty crazy, like I was pinching myself,” Gray, who grew up in Henley Beach, said.
Growing up playing for the Henley Sharks and his school, Immanuel College, Gray made the switch after deciding he wanted to try something different.
“I heard about this like a year or two ago and thought I have a big kick and this suits me well, so I tried out,” he said.
Gray got the opportunity through a program called ProKick Australia, which trains Australian athletes into punters for US colleges.
It’s here where he made the move to Melbourne from Adelaide to begin training, with fellow South Australian Ethan Gurney.
Gurney, got recruited for ProKick at the same time as Gray where they trained alongside each other for the past year.
The Mercedes College alum, received a scholarship to punt for Washington State University and will start training in January.
“I’m leaving behind all my friends and family, but they all know it’s right for me and they’re just as excited as I am,” Gray said.
ProKick Australia founder and head coach Nathan Chapman said the boys’ talents would take them far.
“They’re just young men and they've got a massive journey. They’re going to play some amazing football,” Chapman said.
