Eddie’s son Joe McGuire snags back-to-back wins in ‘unbelievable’ college football success story

Ohio Buckeyes punter Joe McGuire has opened up on his incredible college football debut and his team’s back-to-back wins in front of 102,000 spectators.

Joe McGuire punting for Ohio State Buckeyes.

Ohio Buckeyes punter Joe McGuire has opened up on his “unbelievable” debut and his journey to the college football big-time.

McGuire, the son of Eddie and Carla McGuire, played for the first time last Sunday before a crowd of more than 102,000 at Ohio Stadium and also on Sunday morning (today) in another massive win for the team.

“The pitch is a lot smaller, the ground’s a lot smaller (in American football), so the crowd’s a lot more on top of you,” McGuire told a group of reporters.

“So that’s a big difference, but yeah, it’s unbelievable. And especially here, every single person is supporting the Buckeyes, whereas back home it’s sort of a 50/50 split, so it’s pretty nice.

Joe McGuire, centre, with Ohio State teammates. Picture: Instagram

“I was pretty excited. I mean, I’ve been training pretty hard so that no matter when my number’s called, I’m ready. You never know what could happen in a game. So I work to always be ready for the occasion. So yeah, I was excited initially, and then I just sort of thought, ‘All right, I got to get myself ready and perform.’”

McGuire has done the job well, averaging 44.7 yards per punt on three punts, none of which were returned.

Competition is hot with fellow Aussie Nick McLarty along with Anthony Venneri, also vying for the position but McGuire was considered to be more consistent.

A footy player and cricketer during the summer, McGuire trained with Nathan Chapman’s ProKick Australia and thought he’d give it a try a few years ago. He has since put on 20 kgs.

“I worked pretty hard and put on about 20 kgs,” he said.

“I was a pretty skinny back then and then ended up coming to the best school in the country which is very nice, incredibly grateful for and it’s an honour.

Joe McGuire was coincidentally given the number 42, famously worn by Collingwood premiership player Darren Millane. Picture: Instagram

“One of my friends actually just came to me and said, ‘Mate, you’ve got a solid leg, why don’t you try this out?’ And I did, not expecting anything, and then Chappie (ProKick Australia coach Nathan Chapman) basically just said to me like, ‘Yeah, you should come and join us.”

McGuire was coincidentally given number 42, a number close to all Collingwood supporters’ hearts being the number worn by late premiership player Darren Millane.

He is listed at 6-foot-2 and 212 pounds.

Joe McGuire is the six-foot-two son of Eddie McGuire. Picture: Supplied

“I’ve visited America a few times, and I’ve got some friends and family that have been here a lot, and just seeing how big it is, and I love the sport as well,” McGuire said.

“So yeah, I thought I might as well give it a try. I worked pretty hard with ProKick and (coaches) Nathan Chapman, John Smith and Tim Gleeson back home for a few years, and then luckily I got good enough. “Obviously I knew a lot about the Buckeyes, and then they sort of said, ‘Yeah, we think you could go here.’ And I was over the moon. It was fantastic.”

McGuire said he still talks to Aussie Jesse Mirco almost every day even though Mirco is now at Vanderbilt.

“It was invaluable having him around and following him for a year, I think, was the best thing that I could have done,” McGuire said.