Aussie young gun Jeremy Crawshaw selected by Denver Broncos in NFL draft just days after wedding
Jeremy Crawshaw is set to join the ranks of Australian punters in the NFL after being drafted by the Denver Broncos.
The 23-year-old, from Emu Plains in Sydney’s west, was the first punter taken in the draft, going in the sixth round with pick No.216.
His selection capped off a whirlwind week after marrying partner Elle just days earlier, four weeks after he popped the question on the beach.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Best friend, lover, biggest supporter... and now fiancée,” he wrote after the engagement.
Crawshaw, the latest ProKick Australia product to make it to the NFL, was widely considered the best punter on offer following his five seasons with the University of Florida.
He averaged 45.8 yards for the Gators in 2024, with 25 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. In the 2023 season, he set the single-season Gators record for punt average at 48.9 yards.
Crawshaw is set to compete with veteran Matt Haack, who signed a one-year, $US1.255 million contract in March, for the Broncos’ starting job.
He is poised to join fellow Australian punters Tory Taylor (Chicago), Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco), Michael Dickson (Seattle) and Cameron Johnston (Pittsburgh) in the NFL.
“Crawshaw will likely move in and become an immediate NFL starter with the potential to become a genuine field-position weapon,” reads Craswhaw’s pre-draft scouting report.
“The ability to execute multiple punt styles — from traditional bombs to rugby-style rollers — gives coordinators a versatile weapon for any situation.
“With his proven track record in high-pressure SEC environments and continued development throughout his college career, Crawshaw has positioned himself as the top punter in this draft class.
“His ceiling suggests a decade-plus career as a reliable NFL punter with Pro Bowl potential.”
Crawshaw was the sixth player drafted by Denver, joining first-round defensive back Jahdae Barron, second-round running back RJ Harvey, third-round wide receiver Pat Bryant and defensive end Sai’Vion Jones, and fourth-round linebacker Que Robinson.
Other Australian punters in the mix alongside Crawshaw were Alex Mastromanno, James Burnip and Jesse Mirco.
All four were trained at ProKick, the specialist kicking academy in Melbourne that transforms local footballers into elite punters.
Some 25 ProKick graduates are coming out of US colleges this year and many will have fingers crossed during the draft.
“It’s been a big year. Hopefully someone will get drafted,” academy founder and coach Nathan Chapman told Reuters.
ProKick Australia has a high hit-rate of putting mature-age Australians into US colleges on sports scholarships, which critics have branded unfair on younger American athletes.
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
