The Punter From Down Under: MSU's Rhys Dakin reflects on his journey from Australian football to the American Gridiron

Michigan State football bolstered its special team units this past winter with a commitment from Iowa Hawkeye transfer junior punter Rhys Dakin. But his transfer runs a little deeper that most — and it all started with a trip from Australia to the United States with his mother.

"No one really figures out that they can actually play American football or be a punter until they're a bit older — I'm so glad to have found (American football)," Dakin said. "I think it's what I was destined to do. This is what I'm meant to do in life." Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Dakin began his Australian rules football career in his youth and continued playing through high school. He attended Mazenod College (an independent Roman Catholic day school for boys in grades seven through 12) in Mulgrave where he starred primarily as a punter on the football team.

But with opportunities to play after high school looking slim during the 2023-2024 academic year, Dakin began pursuing a career in trades such as carpentry, plumbing and electrician work.

While those career opportunities in Australia were promising, Dakin still had a dream to chase — and in 2023, his experiment with American football came to life.

"My mom was born in America, in Arizona," Dakin explained. "We were visiting out there and she told me about going down and getting assessed by a trainer — a punting and kicking trainer. So I did that and figured out I had the leg and the talent to to pursue a (football) career."

In 2023, Dakin and his mother were visiting family in Flagstaff and while vacationing, his mother encouraged him to try out at the AZ Kicking and Training Facility in Phoenix. While showcasing his talents at the AZ Kicking and Training Facility, he was quickly noticed by coaches and trainers who realized his potential and noticed his unique skill set. After his trip to the U.S., Dakin's punting dream was reignited — but not in the way he grew up playing the game.

"I came back to Australia and did a bit more research on American football, and it looked pretty fun," he said. "I mean, I've always knew it existed, I just never thought I could do it."

But one coach who saw him practice did believe he could pursue an American football career and develop into a promising punter. (Then) Iowa special teams coordinator (and current associate head coach and special teams coordinator for MSU) LeVar Woods held onto that belief and began recruiting Dakin right away.