From Australia to Lafayette; Rhys Byrns is punting his way to the top

Junior Punter Rhys Byrns of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns is one to watch. Byrns hails from Rye, Victoria, Australia, and went to Pauda College in Mornigton, Victoria, Australia.

He was ranked as the sixth-best punter and a five-star recruit in the 2018 class on Prokicker.com. He was a proud member of the Pro kicker Australia class of 2018. During his first year at Louisiana, he was the primary punter, averaging 40.1 yards per punt in 53 attempts. He had 21 punts within the 20-yard line.

He also tied for the second-longest punt in the Sun Belt Conference at 68 yards and booted six balls of 50-plus yards. All this as a freshman. During his Sophomore year in 2019, he was handed all of Louisiana’s punting duties. Byrns earned Sun Belt Conference Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference and First Team All-Louisiana honors.

He had 45 punts for 1,991 yards and placed 16 of those punts inside the 20-yard line. A coffin corner punter who averaged 44.2 yards per punt, the school record for the best punter average in a single season. Byrns continues to contribute. As of this article, he has 15 punts for an average of 43.6 yards per punt with a long of 53.

Since his arrival in Lafayette, he has been a contributor and helped the Ragin’ Cajuns go 11-3 overall and 7-2 in the Sun Belt Conference in 2019. He was named to the 2020 Sun Belt’s Preseason All-Conference First Team which was voted on by the 10 Sun Belt Conference football head coaches. 

• Height: 6 feet
• Weight: 186 pounds 
• Year: Junior 
• Birthdate: Aug. 31, 1998
• Hometown: Rye, Victoria, Australia
• High school:  St. Anthony of Padua College, Brisbane, Australia 

Byrns received the following honors entering the 2020 season:

• Lindy’s Sports Preseason All-Sun Belt first teams
• Phil Steele’s Preseason All-Sun Belt Conference first team
• Street & Smith’s Preseason All-Sun Belt First Team
• Ray Guy Award Watch ListFrom Australia to Lafayette