Iowa football had the least competent offense in college football last season. Despite their inability to move the ball or score points, the Hawkeyes still managed to win 10 games and reach the Big Ten Championship (where they scored zero points and lost).
The shocking success was, in part, because of the defense. Perhaps even more important was Ray Guy Award-winning punter Tory Taylor.
He booted the ball 86 times (for 4,119 yards) in 2023, which was the most in the nation by at least five punts. Most other punters hovered around 35/60 attempts, max.
Of Taylor’s 86 punts, only 26 were returned. Only six were touchbacks.
36 of them went 50 yards or more, with six going 60 yards or more. 30 of them were downed inside the 20-yard-line.
There was a legitimate case to be made for the Heisman!
Iowa is going back Down Under.
Taylor is off to the NFL at 26 years of age. It would be a shock if he is not drafted, which is a rarity for specialists.
Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes were tasked with replacing their most valuable player. They went back to Australia, Taylor’s home country, to do so and landed a commitment from Rhys Dakin.
The Melbourne-native has a big leg.
A graduate of Pro Kick Australia, he gets some serious hangtime on his punts!
Rhys Dakin’s importance to the Iowa football program cannot be understated. The Hawkeyes would not have won the majority of their games without Taylor.
There are some big shoes to fill in Iowa City!