Haileybury has developed a proud tradition of producing talented athletes and this is no different with American football, where Old Haileyburians have found success as punters in the United States’ National Football League (NFL) and college competitions.  

In American football, the punter is responsible for kicking the football downfield. The main objective is to give their own team the best possible field position. Punters need a range of skills, such as accuracy, good timing and the ability to read the game. Many of the Old Haileyburian punters in the USA first developed their skills while playing Australian Rules football during their time at the School.  

Head of Sport Matthew Dwyer, reports positive feedback from the US colleges regarding Haileybury students. “When I speak to US Colleges and tell them that Haileybury offers the largest school sports program in the Southern Hemisphere, balancing mandatory participation in sport with high academic expectations, for both boys and girls, they definitely lean in. The feedback we get is that Haileybury students are extremely coachable and the American college coaches love that we have a ‘team-first’ philosophy to sport.” 

Matthew also says that Haileybury’s programs inspire international perspectives, helping students to feel more comfortable in pursuing their goals overseas. “Initiatives such as Haileybury’s overseas Explore and Expeditions foster a global curiosity in our students, and we are extremely proud of how many students are now getting a quality education on the back of their passion for sport.” 

Old Haileyburian punters in the USA include Tory Taylor (OH 2015) who played American college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes. He won the prestigious Ray Guy Award in 2023 which recognises the best punter in college football. In the same year he was named a First-Team All-American, an annual honour which recognises the best college football players in the USA. He signed with the Chicago Bears in the NFL in 2024.  

At college level, several Old Haileyburians have also excelled. Harry Traum (OH 2019) took his talents to the Indiana State Sycamores in 2022, where he played for four seasons.  

Riley Thompson (OH 2017) is another punter who currently plays for Penn State’s Nittany Lions.  

Archie Wilson (OH 2024) made his US college debut with the Nebraska Huskers this year.  

Clayton Taylor (OH 2018) has represented the StonyBrook SeaWolves since the 2022 season and was recently nominated for the National Football Association’s prestigious William V. Campbell trophy. 

Jakob Anderson (OH 2022) has played two seasons for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights (Rutger University in New Jersey), while Jakson Ross (OH 2017) has been signed as a punter with the Tennessee Volunteers at the University of Tennessee since 2023.   

Collectively, these punters’ achievements provide inspiration for future Haileyburians to pursue their dreams.