Ohio State gains another punter from Down Under

COLUMBUS, Ohio ( WCMH ) — Although there is no game for Ohio State this week, the team is still practicing, including starting punter Joe McGuire, who had an interesting path to get here.

At the start of the offseason, McGuire was the only punter on the roster, but a week before the season started it seemed as if a new Buckeye might win the starting spot. However, McGuire finished camp strong, cementing himself as a new starter.

His success is all the more impressive because McGuire is Australian, and grew up playing cricket and Australian football. He only started punting a few years ago in a program called Pro Kick back home in Australia.

McGuire said his family prefers night games because of the time difference — the Buckeye’s upcoming game against Marshall will air at noon in Columbus, but 2 a.m. for McGuire’s family.

Playing on a team that has scored more than 100 points in its first two games may not generate too much work for McGuire, but he has still looked good in his first two starts.

Not only is McGuire no longer the only punter on the roster, he is now not even the only Australian punter on the team. Nick McLartey, number 19, is a new punter who is also from Australia. McGuire said its nice to have someone else from home.

“It’s great. Yeah. I love having him around its good. At least one person in the room knows what I’m saying so it’s nice,” McGuire said of McLartey. “We can talk about Australian footy as well and cricket.”

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