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Move over Matt Araiza, there is a new punt god in town.
Rutgers sophomore Flynn Appleby is from Cohuna, Victoria, Australia and is a former professional rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Australian Football League.
He follows in the footsteps of fellow Aussie Adam Korsak, who won the Ray Guy award as the nation’s best punter for the Scarlet Knights in 2022.
But Appleby isn’t just here to be some Adam Korsak regen. No, he’s here to take college football by storm.
7️⃣5️⃣-yard punt 🤯@RFootball's Flynn Appleby got all of this one.#ForTheBrand x @appleby_flynn pic.twitter.com/XK1pmkZFdf
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) September 23, 2023
Appleby dropped jaws across the country on Saturday with an absolutely insane 75-yard punt against the Michigan Wolverines.
And this wasn’t just some fluke deal, either. Appleby rolled out and hit a perfect Australian Rules style punt that soared over the head of the Michigan return man and then rolled about another 20 yards.
“B1G football at its best,” Twitter user Zane Clodfelter said.
“OMG, Rutgers by a million,” @ThePuntRunts said.
Sadly, Rutgers is not likely to win by a million. The Scarlet Knights started strongly, going up 7-0 on a touchdown pass by Gavin Wimsatt just seconds into the game. But it was the Wolverines who took a 14-7 lead into the half.
But either way, college football has a new superstar on its hands. And his name is Flynn Appleby.