News Release

New Zealand Student Makes U.S. College Football Debut, Ranks No. 2 in Nation

BYU head coach: Linehan was "very, very, very good."

Aucklander Jonny Linehan played his first game of American football as a punter for Brigham Young University last weekend.

Linehan, a successful BYU rugby player switched to the university's football team over the weekend, contributing to his team's win against Nebraska.

BYU head coach, Bronco Mendenhall, said Linehan was "very, very, very good."

"From not knowing how the rugby transition would work and being his first college game, he...didn’t seem too worried about anything other than he was having fun," Mendenhall said.

Deseret News reported: "Linehan ranks No. 2 in the nation in punting, tied with Florida Atlantic’s Dalton Schomp, with a 51.0-yard (47 metres) average. He’s booted five punts for 255 (233 metres) yards."

The game was played at the 90,000 seat Memorial Stadium in Nebraska. BYU defeated Nebraska 33-28.

Read more at the Deseret News here

Image Credits: Deseret News and Kristin Murphy.

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