Miami Hurricanes punter Lou Hedley preseason All-American from national website
Miami Hurricanes punter Lou Hedley was named the first-team All-American from partner websites CBS Sports and 247 Sports. The All-American team from CBS Sports and 247 was released on Wednesday. Hedley has received a lot of preseason notice, including first-team All-ACC and the Ray Guy Award Watch List.
Hedley was second nationally in 2020 averaging 47.16 yards per punt. Led by Hedley, Miami set an NCAA record averaging 44.96 net yards per punt. The return of Hedley and the addition of freshman Andres Borregales as the kicker to replace his All-American brother Jose should give Miami one of the specialists nationally.
Hedley improved greatly in 2020 after averaging 43.9 yards per punt in 2019. After 21 punts inside the 20 in 13 games in 2019, Hedley had 14 in 11 games last season. Hedley forced 24 fair catches in 2020 that led to the record in net punting. The Australian has allowed Miami to significantly improve its punting since 2018.
Hedley is the only CBS/247 All-American from Miami. Clemson wide receiver Justyn Ross and defensive tackle Bryan Bresee are the only other first-team All-Americans named by CBS/247 from the ACC. Four other ACC players were named second-team All-Americans led by North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell.
Not going to sugarcoat it…
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) July 28, 2021
We’ve got the best punter in the country. pic.twitter.com/uXoraoQGI9
Hedley earned second-team All-American from the Associated Press in 2020. Borregales was the first-team All-American kicker last season. Defensive end Jaelan Phillips was the 18th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Dolphins. Hedley is the most likely player from the Miami Hurricanes to earn All-American in 2021.
Hedley is one of seven ACC punters or half the conference who are on the Guy watch list. Miami will play four of those punters in 2021. Ben Kiernan from North Carolina, Kirk Christodoulou of Pittsburgh, Porter Wilson from Duke and Trenton Gill, NC State will give voters a chance to compare Hedley to his peers.
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If Hedley can duplicate his 2020 season, he should have an excellent chance at being named All-ACC. Hedley missed out on first-team All-American behind Georgia Tech punter Presley Harvin who led the nation in punting last season. Harvin is now in training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hedley should be in the NFL in 2022.