Australian Punter Keegan Andrews Verbally Commits to Texas A&M

Australian punter Keegan Andrews verbally commits to Texas A&M on Instagram as the special teams competition increases.

The Texas A&M Aggies went international in their quest for the next Aggie punter. In a recent social media announcement on Sunday evening, Keegan Andrews, an Australia native, confirmed his verbal commitment to join Texas A&M. 

Over the last thirty years, Australia has become a prolific breeding ground for football talent, particularly in the specialized position of punters. With the probable departure of Nik Constantinou, Andrews and Tyler White emerge as the two scholarship punters on the roster, poised for a competition to secure the starting spot.

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A post shared by Keegan Andrews (@keeganandrews_13)

Australian punters have proven successful, back in 1995, Colin Ridgway made history as the first Australian to punt in the NFL. Since then, twenty-three more have followed in his footsteps, and who knows, perhaps Andrews will join their ranks one day too.

During Jimbo Fisher's tenure, Texas A&M football's special teams were a clear strength for several years. However, in the final two years of his regime, there was a noticeable decline in that aspect.

In 2022, the Aggies found themselves ranked 55th in special teams rating. Subpar performance in this crucial phase directly contributed to at least one defeat, with Xavier Legette's opening kickoff return in the South Carolina game proving decisive in a six-point loss. The season saw a range of issues, including missed kicks, blocked kicks, and below-average punting.

Unfortunately, the 2023 season witnessed a further decline, as the Aggies' special teams plummeted to a disappointing 72nd ranking. Although there was a slight improvement from their midseason low of 105th in the country, the evident drop in quality sparked discussions among fans. The absence of a dedicated special teams coach became a notable point of concern for the Aggie fanbase.

The addition of a talent like Andrews is set to raise competition, a philosophy consistently applied by Elko across various team positions. Securing Andrews' commitment stands as a strong move for the Aggies.