NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Notre Dame punter James Rendell on his mother’s grasp of American football
Notre Dame football’s James Rendell, the school’s first Australian punter, is grateful his mother Leonie will be in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl vs. Georgia
Notre Dame punter James Rendell, a former Australian Rules Football player, is looking to expand his role beyond decoy on fake punts.Rendell has gained weight and speed and is open to running the ball on fake punts if called upon.He has been practicing passing with quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli, but his technique needs work.
SOUTH BEND —Notre Dame football punter James Rendell had a key role as a decoy last season on a handful of widely celebrated fakes out of punt formation.
Could 2025 be the year the former Australian Rules Footballer gets to expand on the fun?
“We’ll see,” Rendell said with a smile. “I think I’ve got to put a GPS tracker on me at practice, just to see my top speed.”
Now listed at 227 pounds on his 6-foot-6 frame, Rendell has gained three pounds since the end of last season. He remembers hearing about former Ohio State punter Jesse Mirco, his fellow Prokick Australia alum who caused a stir with a 22-yard run on a fake punt against Rutgers in 2022.
Mirco, who later transferred to Vanderbilt, had a 9-yard run last season as well.
Noting that Irish coach Marcus Freeman and special teams coordinator Marty Biagi are “really diligent with the plays that they come up with and the schemes,” Rendell suggested he wouldn’t mind tucking the football under his arm sometime and racing downfield.
“If there’s one that they call where I take off for a first down,” he said, “then I’d be all for it.”
Source link : https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/sports/college/football/2025/04/09/notre-dame-football-punter-james-rendell-is-willing-to-try-some-fakes-marcus-freeman-marty-biagi/82964645007/
Author :
Publish date : 2025-04-09 13:37:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
