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The Hawkeyes are having a relatively quiet National Signing Day with the vast majority of the recruiting class signing back in December’s Early Signing Period. The two exceptions to that were defensive back Keylen Gulley and defensive lineman Michael Lois. Gulley is no longer expected to sign today due to unresolved academic needs. Lois has already signed his letter of intent. But beyond that, there is little going on for the Hawkeyes.
However, Iowa is not without any news on what used to be a day jam-packed with it. As has long been rumored, the Hawkeyes did snag a scholarship punter today as they land a commitment from Australian Tory Taylor.
We got our Punter from Down Under! Welcome, Tory Taylor | #Swarm20 pic.twitter.com/T7EH7H4MK6
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) February 5, 2020
Taylor comes to Iowa City on the recommendation of former punter Michael Sleep-Dalton. Sleep-Dalton, the graduate transfer punter Iowa landed from Arizona State a year ago, is a fellow Aussie and Pro-Kick Australia alum.
With Taylor being fresh from down under, information is limited and there are almost no public videos floating on the internet as of yet. However, he is a 22-year old from Melbourne who’s got a very big frame at 6’4” and 225 pounds.
A video clip of Iowa punter recruit Tory Taylor courtesy of @ProkickAus @torytaylor1997 pic.twitter.com/SbJO0WjD6U
— Blair Sanderson (@BlairRIVALS) February 5, 2020
According to HC Kirk Ferentz, Taylor will come to Iowa City this summer with five years of eligibility remaining for four years of participation, like any state-side recent high school graduate. He will also be coming to Iowa City for the first time.
Taylor has yet to actually see the Iowa coaching staff in person and has never been to Iowa. He’s also never played football before. You read that right. The Hawkeyes have signed a scholarship punter who they’ve never had on campus (though LeVar Woods did travel to see him in Australia) and who has never punted in a live football game.
KF on Australian punter Tory Taylor:
— IowaFBLive (@IowaFBLive) February 5, 2020
"He'll be a true freshman. He has good raw skills. He hasn't played football. That's going to be an adjustment. We're going to have to work like crazy. It's going to be interesting." #Hawkeyes
That speaks volumes to the reputation built by the Pro-Kick Australia program, who have sent dozens of punters to FBS programs and several on to the NFL. The Iowa staff have been working with Pro-Kick for some time and gained comfort through that relationship and the recommendation from the aforementioned Sleep-Dalton.
Welcome to the family, officially, Tory Taylor!