Jeremy Crawshaw\u00a0was born in Australia and grew up playing rugby league before later switching to Australian rules football. Then, as a teenager, his attention turned to American football.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt started when I was about 14 or 15,” Crawshaw said at rookie minicamp earlier this year. “I found out about Prokick Australia, which is the program that gets scholarships for guys who come over here and punt. I found out at first it was just to get to college, that was the dream. Coming from across the world and never having played it, I was just trying to go to college first. Once we got to college and got onto the big stage, the sights were set for the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n
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After punting 52 times for 2,293 yards with the Florida Gators<\/a> in 2021, Crawshaw knew he might eventually have a chance to go pro.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably after my freshman year,” Crawshaw said. “I think I [thought], \u2018I\u2019m OK, I\u2019m all right. I did well, and let\u2019s go do better.\u2019 Each year was just progressing and getting to a point where I could be in this league.\u201d<\/p>\n He went on to punt 190 times for 8,820 yards in 53 games with the Gators, averaging 46.4 yards per boot. He was then picked by the Denver Broncos<\/a> in the sixth round of this year’s NFL draft.<\/p>\n \u201cOriginally, when I came to America, my coaches asked me where I wanted to play and I said that I wanted to go to the University of Colorado,” Crawshaw recalled. “Denver looks beautiful, and I\u2019d love to go there. I [ultimately] went to the University of Florida<\/a> and played there and absolutely loved it. It\u2019s a bit of a full circle moment where I am back, and I\u2019m here now where I wanted to be originally. It\u2019s awesome.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n So far, (mostly) so good for the rookie punter.<\/p>\n Broncos<\/a> special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said last month that Crawshaw is “as talented of a prospect as I\u2019ve ever had<\/a>.\u201d There’s still room for improvement, though, particularly with his consistency.<\/p>\n “I would say it’s kind of like right now the fireworks,” coach Sean Payton said Wednesday. “There are some booms, and then every once in a while, there’s one of those we have to work on the ones that just go right. We have to get those handled. He certainly has the leg talent, you can see that. It’s exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall, Denver’s staff is pleased with Crawshaw and his powerful leg, but the rookie needs to improve his consistency during preseason ahead of his first season in the NFL. Fans often overlook the kicking game, but Crawshaw’s development will be one of the key storylines to follow<\/a> at training camp this summer.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Social<\/strong>: Follow Broncos Wire<\/a> on Facebook<\/a> and Twitter\/X<\/a>! Did you know<\/strong>: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans<\/a>.<\/p>\n