After Tory Taylor’s success, Dakin believes he is in the “best position” for punter as a Hawkeye. Rhys Dakin was at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport when he witnessed firsthand how passionate Iowa football fans are about the kicking game. As Iowa’s newest Australian player was waiting for his connecting flight to Cedar Rapids, the person sitting next to him saw his Iowa hooded sweatshirt, heard his voice “and I guess he mixed two and two together”.

[Front+Back] Punt And Center Rhys Dakin Shirt

Dakin’s experience before the American Airlines flight was a stepping stone to life as a first-team punter at what he believes is “the best spot for a punter or a professional.” The success of Dakin’s predecessor, Tory Taylor, showed how high the bar is for Iowa bettors. Taylor was a unanimous All-American in 2023 and became the second Big Ten player in the last 20 years to win the Ray Guy Award.