Aussie Brett Thorson has stunned college football fans in the US with one of the greatest punts ever seen.
The Melbourne local helped Georgia hand Tennessee its first loss of this NCAA season when he set up a brilliant scoring play in the opening term.
In front of a sell-out crowd of almost 93,000 at Sanford Stadium, Thorson set up at his own 10-yard line and unleashed on the number-one ranked Volunteers as his punt sailed out of play at the one-yard line.
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Week 10
“Oh a rocket!” commentators said.
“It got the corner. Oh my goodness! Right in the corner!
“That’s a 75-yard punt at the one.
“Holy cow! You can’t do it any better than that!
“That’s a game ball punt if that turns out the way you expect it for this Georgia defense.”
The moment of brilliance caught the attention of US footy fans, with many believing Thorson has a future in the NFL.
Even footy expert Pat McAfee was excited by Thorson’s roost, labelling it a “75 yard piece of perfection”.
“What a bomb,” he tweeted.
The coffin corner punt led to Georgia’s second points of the day to lead 14-3 as Tennessee couldn’t advance and had to punt from their end zone.
Commentators called it “the punt of the year without question” as social media lit up with stunned footy fans.
Thorson, who is on a full scholarship at the University of Georgia, has received plenty of praise from coach Kirby Smart, who labelled the Aussie “a pleasant surprise”.
“They do an incredible job of preparing those guys for coming to the States, being part of a college atmosphere, being a part of a team. And he’s accepted that really well,” he said.
“I thought his punting Saturday was one of the positives in terms of the – not only the pins, but the hang and distance was really good.”
The 75-yard punt is the longest of Thorson’s college career, and he finished the match against the Volunteers with a 50.25 yard average.
