Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM AUGUST 2024 31 country, it's common practice to reach out to Prokick for specialist recruits. According to the New York Times, 61 of 133 FBS teams had a Prokick alum on their roster last season. Eight of the past 11 Ray Guy Awards have gone to Austra- lian punters, most recently Iowa's Tory Taylor in 2023. The Prokick process starts with an initial consultation, in which Chapman explains what a prospective punter is getting himself into. "This is not just kids kicking a foot- ball and having a bit of fun. This is big- time, sports-crazy, lots of history, mas- sive crowds," Chapman said. "We got to make sure they realize that this is not just an easy walk in the park." Colleges want to win, Chapman stresses to his recruits. Scholarships are coveted. One bad punt can sink a team's season if it happens in the wrong situa- tion, and Chapman wants to make sure his guys know that. "You have to break it down, Do not think this is easy because someone in Australia has told you that you've got a nice kick," Chapman said. "This is a to- tally different game, different pressure, different scenarios and situations. Uni- versities want the result come game day." Once on-field work starts, Prokick's first goal is to help a trainee un-learn their mechanics as an Aussie rules player. When that happens, they can start to build up the habits and technique of American punters. "The biomechanics and the muscle memory are the biggest challenges, to try and get that technique more appropriate for American football," Rendell said. "It's something that I worked on, tirelessly." It's similar, Chapman said, to a profes- sional baseball pitcher learning to throw underhanded. In footy, you're punting on the move, running at full speed. In Amer- ican football, you're much more station- ary. The way you generate power, among other things, is completely different. The break-down, build-up process is something Prokick has developed into a science. While the first three months were difficult for Rendell, according to Chapman, he slowly but surely started picking up the technique. Once he had the technique, then came the confidence. Rendell conducted himself like a profes- sional athlete during his year at Prokick, retaining information well and putting in the work that the transition required. "He's a tall bloke, so every time we'd speak at training, I always saw his head pop over the back of everyone," Chap- man said. "The thirst for knowledge, wanting to know how we do this and how do we can do this better. … He just really impressed with his attitude to get down and work hard." Rendell knows he's not a finished product, with a little less than two months until his first competitive American football game Aug. 31 at Texas A&M. He'll put in as many reps as he can, for consistency's sake. "I always knew I had a pretty big kick. It was just about maintaining consis- tency, which I've been able to do," Ren- dell said. "I'm still working on my craft every day." Working with Notre Dame special teams coordinator Marty Biagi, Rendell explained, will help as well. Biagi, an ex- punter himself, worked with Australian exports at Purdue and Ole Miss. Perhaps the most impressive part of Rendell's journey, as far as Chapman was concerned, was that he started it shortly after losing his father. In doing so, Rendell navigated one of the most difficult times in his life while pursuing a goal that would change it. He was, as Chapman remembers, un- deterred. "He had that balance of, 'I'm going to make things count, and I'm going to enjoy what I'm doing,'" Chapman said. "It was really enjoyable to watch." DREAM SCHOOL When Marcus Freeman took over at Notre Dame, it wasn't a matter of if the Irish would acquire an Australian punter. It was when. During Freeman's time at Cincinnati, the Bearcats had Wangaratta, Australia, native James Smith. He was a Ray Guy Award finalist in 2018, and his success stuck with the eventual Irish head coach. Junior punter Bryce McFerson entered the transfer portal during spring prac- tice, eventually committing to Mary- land. Freeman had his opportunity. "That's something that's always in- trigued me," Freeman said. "We had Bryce here when I became the head coach, but having an Aussie-type punter is something that I always wanted to do." Notre Dame called Prokick and asked them if there was anyone they would suggest. Rendell, they said, was the best available. Biagi traveled to Melbourne to evaluate him, and both he and Freeman liked what they saw. Rendell told the Honolulu Star-Ad- vertiser that his range reaches 80 yards, and his average hang time is 5.1 seconds. "James was ready," Chapman said. "We just knew that going to work with Coach [Freeman], he'd be a great fit. He was high on his academics, on his study. All of those things fit, and the character, we knew Coach would really like work- ing with James. With his mindset and maturity, it seemed like a perfect fit." Rendell is a recruit, not a transfer, but he will be a graduate student and pursue a master's of nonprofit administration. He has one guaranteed year of eligibil- ity, but he will apply for waivers to re- ceive one or two more. "I've been trying to pursue a college football career for quite some time, but was ultimately prevented from coming over to the U.S. due to circumstances that were out of my control," Rendell said. "We're just going to see how that plays out, but for now, I'm solely focused on the present and this upcoming season." When the Irish showed interest, the feeling was mutual. Rendell knew what the Notre Dame name means in the world of college football, and his re- cruitment came together quickly. Chapman did, too. He personally loves Notre Dame and considers it a "dream school," he told BGI. While Chapman takes pride in the work he and his company have done to place punters all over the country, he's always wanted to expand Prokick's footprint to South Bend. And he's proud that Rendell is the one to do it. "We're absolutely thrilled," Chapman said. "Love that we've been able to place a really good human at a top college. Unbelievable." ✦ "That's something that's always intrigued me. … Having an Aussie-type punter is something that I always wanted to do." NOTRE DAME HEAD COACH MARCUS FREEMAN