Punters are people too, and former Georgia punter Brett Thorson happens to be one of the most interesting ones of all of those who play the position.
He's also the best available punter the 2026 NFL Draft.
Hailing from Australia, he's captured a lot intrigue in general, and a lot of respect from his teammates. But there's also some kidding around in there. Well, actually a lot. In an exclusive interview, we got a deeper look into the humor, and the intensity, of Brett Thorson.
"They would say I speak funny and they'll say I quote unquote can kick the s--t out of a ball," Thorson told me in an exclusive interview.
And that's not all he can do. Thorson used to actually play a different position and still can, even if people don't buy it when he first tells them about it.
"I did tell someone I used to play quarterback and sometimes punter in the past, but they didn't believe me. So, I do take offensive snaps and I do take direct snaps."
But Thorson is, first and foremost a punter. And he knows all the ins and outs of what may seem like a simple position, but comes with much more nuance than one may think.
"I feel I improved in 2025 with consistency, understanding the game a bit more and understanding the field. Over my four years, there have definitely taken a lot of technique changes to get where I'm at now."
Going to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama earlier in the pre-draft process was something he found incredibly helpful. And, according to Thorson, there's actually significant shift from college punting to the NFL -- it's more than just simply kicking a football across the field as hard as you can.
"In Mobile, getting around the environment, getting in an NFL system, being around NFL coaches, getting into a new protection," Thorson said. "You have new field zone assignments, you have a bit of a different setup."
Brett Thorson became part of Athens lore in a winning program and loved it
Thorson describes his experience with the Georgia Bulldogs -- where he frequently flipped the field in Athens -- as something surreal that he never expected to be a part of. Thorson says it has played into his development greatly.
"But, specifically as far as a punter goes, I just think I bring a winning history with being at Georgia. It has made me a part of a winning program and I would like to think people would describe me as a good teammate. It is something I hang my hat on."
His role is different than everyone else's, but it's just as important. And Thorsdon expresses he feels he has a unique opportunity from his vantage point that no other players get. It's something highly rewarding to him that he embraces.
"It's interesting, it's obviously a bit different than being some of the other guys on the team. The boys are going out there and getting to hit people and getting to light it up," Thorson said.
But you, you've got to just kind of stay calm and wait until your number is called. But it's exciting. Hopefully a good punt can really give the team momentum. In my position, you get to help the whole the team. There are 11 guys on defense who are pretty happy if I do a good job. So, that's a pretty good feeling."
He's confident he will bring the same energy and ability he carried in college to an NFL team -- which is something he will have the opportunity to do sooner rather than later.
"One of the biggest things I bring is being a purely reliable punter. When things go south for the offense, I can go out there and play my part and hopefully help the boys out. Give us a little bit more of a boost."
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