Josh Heupel's recruiting story about Jackson Ross should make Vols fans feel better about punting situation
Redshirt freshman punter Jackson Ross had an up-and-down debut for the Tennessee Vols last weekend. Ross, a native of Australia who previously played Australian Rules Football, punted five times against Virginia, averaging 35.8 yards per punt. There were a couple of punts against the Cavaliers that Ross would probably like back. A 17-yard punt and […]
Redshirt freshman punter Jackson Ross had an up-and-down debut for the Tennessee Vols last weekend.
Ross, a native of Australia who previously played Australian Rules Football, punted five times against Virginia, averaging 35.8 yards per punt.
There were a couple of punts against the Cavaliers that Ross would probably like back. A 17-yard punt and a 27-yard punt, both of which gave Virginia the ball near midfield, weren't ideal. But fortunately for the Vols, they proved to be inconsequential.
After the game, Vols head coach Josh Heupel suggested that the nerves of coming from a foreign country and punting for the first time likely impacted Ross' results against Virginia.
“Imagine going over to a foreign country and playing a game for the first time that you’ve never played," said Heupel after the Vols' win against the Cavaliers. "Did I anticipate it? No. Do I understand it? Yes. He’s going to be a really good player for us. Some of what you saw late from him is what we’ve seen all training camp. I believe he’ll continue to get better"
On Wednesday night during Vol Calls, Heupel shared a recruiting story about Ross that should give fans confidence that the Aussie punter will be a big weapon for Tennessee this fall.
"We didn’t fly over there (Australia) to watch him actually punt," explained Heupel. "So we basically did a Zoom. We were sitting in the staff meeting, me, Coach (Mike) Ekeler and a couple of our young coaches. He’s starting to roll out right and punt the ball and it was pretty impressive. You’re trying to calculate the distance. Then he told the guy that was catching the punts, ‘Alright, I want you to run a post route and we’re going to hit you at 50.’ Jackson takes the ball, rolls out right [and] hits him in stride. Like things that I would try to do with my arm, he was doing with his feet. I was like, are we really watching this?' Then he did a couple of coffin corner kicks as you’re trying to pin them inside the 10. There are about three straight that the guy maybe had to move 12 inches to the right or left to catch on the 5-yard line. Eventually he said let’s flip it and go the other direction and you’re watching the guy do it left-footed, too."
"It’s pretty special what he’s able to do," added Heupel. "And I know Saturday wasn’t the best performance from him. He’s going to continue to get more comfortable and be able to operate at a really high level.”
Ross had some good moments against the Cavaliers. A touchback was close to being downed at the one yard line. And a 50-yard punt late in the game after the Vols' offense went three-and-out showed how Ross can help flip field position.
Shanked punts happen from time to time. The fact that it happened in Ross' first college football game ever shouldn't be shocking. And it shouldn't alter anyone's opinion of Ross. Like Heupel said, he'll be just fine this season.
Featured image via Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports