Tory Taylor & Reggie Roby are the AP's All-Time Top 2 Punters (over last 100 years)

Aug 14, 2025
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I think it was 1981 when Reggie averaged 49.8 yards per punt. Think about it, that was an average punt for Reggie Roby. Well short of a good punt by his standards.

His kickoffs routinely went through the uprights. That Hawkeye from Waterloo had a leg and a half.
And would have averaged over 50 with a final punt of 55 yards against MSU being negated by, of all things, a roughing-the-kicker penalty.
 
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TheGuy9

Sophomore
Mar 25, 2016
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I dunno. I would have put Ray Guy up there.
Hmmm. Someone didn't read the article. It states that "PUNTERS" were not including in the All-American category until 1981. Guy played prior to that and was never officially an All American. Thus, he wasn't eligible.
 
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Aug 14, 2025
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Hmmm. Someone didn't read the article. It states that "PUNTERS" were not including in the All-American category until 1981. Guy played prior to that and was never officially an All American. Thus, he wasn't eligible.
Guy was just an amazing athlete, period. Kickoffs, emergency QB, and a very good tackle when faced with a returner getting past original contain.

But as you said...someone didn't read the article, at least not very closely...
 

rchawk

All-American
Oct 27, 2001
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He still at times out kicked his coverage

Great punter.

not saying it was on him
Back in 1982 not all of the games were on television, so we had to listen to Iowa at Purdue on the radio.

Reggie punted and a Purdue return man, noted for being really good at his job, ran it back for a touchdown.

Iowa lost the game. We couldn't see it live but later we found out Hayden told him to hang it up high, sacrificing distance. Reggie gave one of his boomers and the Boiler had a nice view on his return. Hayden yelled at Roby when he jogged back to the sidelines- deservedly so.

Coach Fry yelled at a lot of players, no big deal. I remember him yelling at Chuck Long in 1985. In the long run the Old Man liked Reggie and knew how valuable he was.
 
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Greg12

All-Conference
Iowa Swarm member
Jan 14, 2003
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Nichol didn't play in 1980, and wasn't used as a punterbin 1981.
Look at the links.
Nichol punted 11 times in 1981 for an average of 31.7 yards.
Lon O punted 24 times in 1980 for an average of 35.3 yards.
 

toddhawk

Sophomore
Sep 11, 2002
68
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The punt I think being referred to came against Nebraska late in that 81 Iowa win. A friend of mine was at that game (I was in college in Minnesota at the time). He said he thought it was headed out of the stadium.
 

r_desihawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
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Personally, I would prefer to pick up the first down and maintain possession rather than punt the ball to the other team.
true but sometimes it's more efficient to punt it 50+ yards, ensure negligible return, and then just pick-six the opponent for a TD rather than laboriously march down the field on offense. :)
 

83Hawk

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
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true but sometimes it's more efficient to punt it 50+ yards, ensure negligible return, and then just pick-six the opponent for a TD rather than laboriously march down the field on offense. :)
I disagree. How often does a team score via a pick 6 as opposed to marching down the field? Not much. You can’t really “just pick 6” at will. (although I do understand you really aren’t being serious, hence the smiling emoji)
 

r_desihawk

All-Conference
Jul 3, 2025
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I disagree. How often does a team score via a pick 6 as opposed to marching down the field? Not much. You can’t really “just pick 6” at will. (although I do understand you really aren’t being serious, hence the smiling emoji)
i was joking about the pick 6 (though it has occurred after punting) but just counting games against nebraska i believe we have scored against them three years consecutively 2023, 2024, and 2025 after the iowa offense gummed but the resultant punt was muffed by the nebraskans. that's quite an efficient way for iowa to move the ball 50 yards and score :)
 
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