Meet the heavily-tattooed Aussie punter who went from scaffolding in the desert to signing with one of America's most famous college football teams – and he learned the rules playing a video game
- Australian football star has signed to one of America's most celebrated teams
- Louis Hedley announced his signing to the University of Miami on Wednesday
- US media have dubbed him as 'the most intimidating punter you've ever seen'
- The 24-year-old previously worked as a scaffolder in the Australian desert
A heavily tattooed Australian has been dubbed 'the most intimidating punter you've ever seen' after signing to play football at one of America's most celebrated colleges.
Louis Hedley, who for years worked as a tradesman in Mandurah, Western Australia, was announced as the University of Miami's newest signing on Wednesday.
The news is even more impressive given the 24-year-old only swapped codes two years ago, giving up his dream of becoming an AFL star to try his hand at the sport.
Hedley, who weighs 100 kilograms and stands at a daunting 193cm, will join the Miami Hurricanes in a bid to improve their punting averages this year.
The hulking football player admitted that when starting out, his only knowledge of the sport came from a Madden NFL video game, which he studied before taking the field after moving to California in 2017.
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Louis Hedley (pictured) stands at a daunting 193cm and weighs 100 kilograms
But while the sportsman's ability on the field is what led to the dream signing, American media appear to be more interested in his beefy appearance.
The former scaffolder has been described as 'most intimidating punter you've ever seen' and the 'coolest-looking punter ever' by Sports Illustrated and The New York Post, respectively.
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And Hedely himself isn't shy in showing off his brawny physique, often taking to Instagram to showcase his gym-honed muscles.
Hedley's new boss and Miami coach Manny Diaz took to social media to announce the new signing and decided to have some fun with the recruit's Australian heritage.
Hedley (pictured) was announced as The University of Miami's newest signing on Wednesday
Hedley (pictured) who previously played Australian rules football, will join the notorious American Football team as a punter
Alongside a post that welcomed Hedley to the team, Diaz share a meme of a kangaroo playing a guitar.
Shortly after he added another meme of the cartoon character Bart Simpson searching to find Australia on a spinning globe.
Hedley also took to his own social media page to share the news.
He wrote: 'It's official!! I'm a cane Thank you to everyone that has helped me get to this point. LETS GOO!!'
Hedley (pictured) has been described as 'most intimidating punter you've ever seen' by the American media
Hedley (pictured) had a stint at the City College of San Francisco in 2017, before sitting out last season
Hedley started his football career in Australian Rules football while holding down his day job as a building scaffolder in the Australian desert.
But while he struggled to make it past a semi-professional football league, he was soon snapped up by American football scouts who noticed the potential in his booming kick.
He was accepted into a program called Prokick Australia, which aims to convert Aussie-style players into American football punters.
After a few years in training he secured a stint at the City College of San Francisco in 2017, before sitting out last season.
It's thought that Hedely's ambition is to one day join the many other Australian punters in the NFL.
In American football a punter is a team player who receives the ball directly from the line of scrimmage, and then kicks the ball to the opposing team in order to limit any field position advantage.
Hedley (pictured) averaged 38.6 yards per punt in the previous season, which topped the average punt of 38.3 yards his new team averaged
(File picture) Hedley's new boss and Miami coach Manny Diaz took to social media to announce the new signing
