Australian punter Jeremy Crawshaw is headed to the NFL after the Denver Broncos selected the Western Sydney product in the sixth round with the 216th pick.

The 23-year-old, who grew up in Emu Plains, is the latest success story in Australia’s remarkable pipeline of punters to go to the United States. After honing his craft at the University of Florida, Crawshaw impressed scouts with his pro-ready leg and elite precision, earning his shot at the professional level.

Crawshaw set the single-season Gators record in 2023 for punt average at 48.9 yards, and then went on to average 45.8 yards in 2024, with 25 punts downed inside the 20-yard line. His impressive collegiate career made him the first punter picked in the draft.

“It’s funny to sit back and look back on such a journey, coming from a small town of Emu Plains on the outskirts of the Sydney basin to finding myself playing in front of 100,000 people in the States,” Crawshaw told Fox Sports.

Crawshaw joins a proud lineage of Australians who have forged NFL careers, following in the footsteps of players like Tory Taylor (Chicago), Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco), Michael Dickson (Seattle) and Cameron Johnston (Pittsburgh).

While Crawshaw waited until late on Day 3 to hear his name, the early rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft were full of headline-grabbing moves.

University of Miami quarterback Cam Ward was the first pick to the Tennessee Titans, ushering in a new era for the rebuilding franchise. Colorado’s Travis Hunter, widely regarded as the most electric athlete in the class, was then snapped up at pick two by Jacksonville following a trade with the Cleveland Browns.

Other notable selections included Penn State’s Abdul Carter at pick three to the New York Giants and LSU’s dominant left tackle Will Campbell at four to the New England Patriots.

One of the draft’s biggest shocks came with the dramatic fall of former Heisman Trophy finalist Shedeur Sanders. Once projected as a top-five pick, Sanders slid as far as the fifth round before being selected by the Cleveland Browns. In a twist, Cleveland doubled down at the quarterback position earlier in the draft, selecting Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel, signalling a major shakeup under centre.

Photo: Jeremy Crawshaw