‘Legend on campus’: Aussie punter breaks 85-year-old all-time college football record

Australian punter Tory Taylor has become a “legend on campus” and even acknowledged by Donald Trump during a record-breaking season.

Daniel Nuttall

less than 2 min read

January 2, 2024 - 12:05PM

Tory Taylor has smashed an 85-year-old college football record. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

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Australian punter Tory Taylor has broken an 85-year old major college football record, setting a new mark on Tuesday (AEDT) for most punt yards in a single season.

Taylor broke the record in the first quarter of Iowa’s Citrus Bowl loss against Tennessee after blasting a 62-yard punt. He would finish the game with 360 yards on seven punts.

The previous mark of 4138 yards was set by former Michigan State punter John Fingel back in 1938. After the Tennessee game, Taylor’s new record is officially set at 4479 yards – 341 more than Fingel’s previous mark.

It’s worth noting that Taylor recorded 93 punts on the season, six more than the next best figure (80) from Navy punter Riley Riethman.

History made as Tory Taylor breaks the single-season punting record (set in 1938) with a 63-yarder. Iowa crowd loves it but for some reason they didnâ€™t stop the game to honor the moment pic.twitter.com/PEXdNu0Ief
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) January 1, 2024

Taylor has enjoyed a decorated four-year career for the Hawkeyes, with the 35-0 loss to Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl his last game at the collegiate level.

The Melbourne product posted 13,297 yards (46.2 yards per punt) from 288 punts across his time at Iowa, placing Taylor at fifth all-time in career punting yards.

Taylor will now enter the 2024 NFL Draft, and as one of the best punters in college football this season, there’s every chance a team uses a late round pick on him.

Due to Iowa’s non-existent offence, Taylor’s role was far more important than most, if not all punters in Division 1 college football.

Taylor is often required to save the offence and create good field position with his leg – which he did time and time again.

While punters don’t often receive praise and plaudits from fans, this is certainly not the case for Taylor, who Iowa supporters regard as somewhat as a cult hero.

Donald Trump gave a shout-out to Iowa punter Tory Taylor during his Coralville rally today. Trump called the Hawkeye a "beautiful, big strong physical specimen." pic.twitter.com/QdOLyxrYO5
— Iowa Starting Line (@IAStartingLine) December 14, 2023