Utah punter Tom Hackett has a one-of-a-kind talent


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SALT LAKE CITY — “Punters are people too,” or at least that's what Utah punter Tom Hackett hopes to convey with his success kicking the pigskin.

Two weeks into the season, Hackett earned national recognition by being named the Ray Guy Punter of the Week after averaging 55 yards per punt against Fresno State in a 59-27 blowout. But his success at the beginning of the season hasn’t stopped there; Hackett continues to showcase his talent as the third best punter in the country with his 47.1 yards per punt.

With his Aussie skills being highlighted in his rugby-style punts, Hackett's ability to place the ball nearly anywhere he wants is an extremely valuable skill often overlooked and is a truly one-of-a-kind talent. But when asked about his ability to place the ball, Hackett is coy and says he doesn’t know exactly how he’s able to be so effective.

“I don’t know. You’ve got to ask my old man, he’s the one that taught me how to do it,” Hackett says. “I just put a little backspin on it and pretend I’m out on a par 4 chipping in. I don’t know, it just happens. Sometimes it works, other times it will bounce in. It’s just something that I can do, I guess.”

While his kicking is precise and often a game changer in a sport that relies heavily on field position, Hackett is an easy-going Australian-turned-college-football-punter who didn't even like, let alone understand, the sport before enrolling at the University of Utah in 2012.


I wouldn't watch it, wouldn't care about it. Even when I was coming over (to the U.S.) I'd come and sit down in front of the telly on Sunday, which would be Saturday back here, and try to watch a game or two of college football. But I'd turn it off at halftime and put on a game of Aussie rules footie. At least I knew what I was watching that way.

–Tom Hackett


"I wasn’t a fan at all," Hackett says about American football. "I wouldn’t watch it, wouldn’t care about it. Even when I was coming over (to the U.S.) I’d come and sit down in front of the telly on Sunday, which would be Saturday back here, and try to watch a game or two of college football. But I’d turn it off at halftime and put on a game of Aussie rules footie. At least I knew what I was watching that way."

Hackett’s laid-back demeanor off the field may indicate a sense of apathy toward playing the sport to some observers, but when called upon to kick the “footie,” he’s all business and full of confidence. To Hackett, his job to place the football deep in the opposing team's territory is easily understood. And when his special teams unit isn’t able to get to his perfectly placed ball before it goes into the end zone or out of bounds, he gets a little emotional.

“It angers me for about 30 seconds and then I have to relax, talk to Andy (Phillips) or someone to tell me to calm down or something,” he says. “But I can’t be too angry because all year they’ve been amazing for me downing punts, making tackles. So the one time they slip up I’ll forgive them, but if it happens again, I swear.”

Hackett's emotions got the best of him after a punt went into the end zone in a game against Oregon State this year. With the camera pointed squarely on his face, Hackett dropped an expletive in frustration. He would later apologize for his on-camera expletive, saying he's already had the talk with his parents, who were likely more concerned than the Utah fan base.

Punter Tom Hackett and place kicker Andy Phillips. (Credit: Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News)
Punter Tom Hackett and place kicker Andy Phillips. (Credit: Scott G. Winterton/Deseret News)

"I apologize, I sweared on national television last game," he said. "I’ve already had the talk with my parents, make sure I don’t do that. Normally a punter doesn’t get that kind of face time on national TV."

Although Hackett has had a great season so far and has been an anchor on special teams for Utah, he lacked confidence in his punting abilities at the beginning of fall camp. But after a talk with an equally talented Phillips and a refocused shift in attitude, Hackett regained his confidence and got down to business again punting the ball with precision.

"I pulled my head around and told myself I’ve been kicking the ball for 22 years, how hard can it be?" he said. "I’m going up against American blokes that have been kicking maybe since they were 10. So I just kinda sat myself down and had a deeper look at myself and decided to pull my head out and just kick the ball. It’s not that hard."

Hackett credits his ability to stay focused on his good friend and fellow kicker Andy Phillips, who, he says, keeps him on track mentally.

"We talk about just the mental side of the game frequently, just to make sure that we’re still going strong," Hackett says. "It would be easy for me to walk out this door and start thinking that I’m the man. There’s no good in that. You just have to stay calm and you’ve got to accept that you’ve had a good year. You can build confidence from it, but you can’t get cocky or arrogant out of it."

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Both Hackett and Phillips swap kicking strategies and game plan off each other, similar to that of a caddy in golf, Hackett says.

"For me it’s just a matter of making sure Andy is good," Hackett says. "He makes sure I’m well mentally and we trust each other. Before a kick I tell him where I think he needs to put it. I know his tendencies, I know how his ball flight works, so I’ll whisper in his ear what I’m thinking. He’ll tell me whether I’m crazy or whether he thinks I’m right."

"It’s funny, because when I’m out there, when I’m with Tom, when I’m in my routine, I probably feel more comfortable than I’ve ever felt," Phillips says about his nervousness during a game.

Hackett also credits Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, who oversees the punting game, for his confidence and ability to perform each game.

"Just something that gets overlooked a lot is if your coach doesn’t have confidence in you you’re kinda up the creek without a paddle or a boat," Hackett says. "I know that when I run off the field I’m not going to get grilled by him. He knows that the next time I come on I’m not going to make the same mistake."

Although Hackett seems to have a rare style in his ability to kick the ball, he believes thousands back in Australia could do just as well if they knew about American football.

"I wasn’t anything special," Hackett says, speaking about his ability to kick the ball in Australia. "I’m not special in any sense that I’m the only one out here that can do it because there are probably thousands of people back home that would be able to do it; they just don’t know about it. If they hear about it and they can kick a ball decently, playing Australian rules football — rugby for that matter — I’ve got no doubt in my mind that they’ll be good."

To his fellow Aussies, Hackett says he hopes they'll try American football. "Go for it, you can do it," he says.

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