Former Gators punter Jeremy Crawshaw quietly excelling as a rookie

Jeremy Crawshaw made a name for himself at Florida with his booming punts and precision on special teams. Now a rookie with the Denver Broncos, the Australian punter is off to a strong start in the NFL, showing the same consistency that made him a standout at the Swamp.

Crawshaw grew up in Emu Plains, New South Wales, where Monday Night Football feels more like Tuesday morning football. He says the big-game hype doesn’t faze him as the Broncos prepare to host the Bengals on Monday.

“Maybe I’m still coming to terms with it,” Crawshaw told the Denver Gazette on Thursday. “I just still think it’s another game. Whether we play Monday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, I don’t care. Monday night seems like a big thing to everyone here, so it’s good for them.”

Jeremy Crawshaw is off to a strong start as a rookie

Crawshaw’s family followed him closely during his time at Florida, often waking up around 3 a.m. to watch SEC kickoffs. Now in Denver, the 24-year-old is looking forward to giving them a chance to see him play on the biggest stage.

Through three games, Crawshaw already has nine punts inside the 20-yard line, the most in the NFL.

“He’s done a really good job of locating the ball down when we’re near midfield,” Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said. “Locating the ball down inside the 20 has been a real strength of his. He’s had some really good hangtime punts.”

Crawshaw’s 46.8-yard average ranks 23rd in the league, while his net average of 41.7 ranks 13th; however, the rookie doesn’t focus on individual numbers.

“I don’t check stats. I’m not here to rank out as the top or the best punter; I’m here to be the efficient punter,” Crawshaw said. “When coach asks me ‘What do I need to do in this situation to help the team win?’ That’s exactly what I do. Sometimes we can get caught up in the stats and go hit touchbacks. That’s not helping the team.”

Adapting on the fly

Training camp brought challenges, from situational punts to unpredictable practice schedules and in-game simulations; however, Rizzi says Crawshaw handled it well and adapted quickly to the NFL pace.

“If you watched him at any point, you knew the talent was there,” said the Broncos assistant. “Consistency is the most important thing at that position. He’s really helped our team through three games with field position. That’s got to continue.”

Keeping it simple

The first three games of Crawshaw’s rookie season have been tight. He keeps his approach simple, focusing on punting well and helping the Broncos win field position.

“It’s just another game,” the former Gator said. “Go out there and win, go punt, do my job, help the team any way I can.”

On Monday night against the Bengals, Crawshaw will look to keep that consistency going while making his family back home proud.

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