{{Short description|American football player (born 2004)}} {{use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox college football player |name=Rhys Dakin |school= |currentnumber=9 |currentposition=Punter |class= Sophomore |birth_date={{birth date and age|2004|12|7|df=yes}} |birth_place= |heightft=6 |heightin=4 |weight_lb=225 |highschool=Mazenod (Mulgrave, Victoria) |pastschools= *Iowa (2024–2025) |highlights= * Second-team All-Big Ten (2024) |espn=5192953 }}
'''Rhys Dakin''' (born 7 December 2004) is an Australian gridiron football punter. He previously played for the Iowa Hawkeyes (2024-2025).
==Early life== Dakin attended Mazenod College in Mulgrave, Victoria, after which he attended ProKick Australia and later committed to play college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steppe |first1=John |title=Rhys Dakin brings his own personality, punting prowess to Iowa |url=https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-football/rhys-dakin-brings-his-own-personality-punting-prowess-to-iowa/ |website=The Gazette |date=17 August 2024 |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>
==College career== Dakin entered the 2024 season as Iowa's starting punter as a true freshman.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bohenkamp |first1=John |title=Rhys Dakin welcomes 'crazy' levels of punter love from Hawkeyes fans |url=https://www.ourquadcities.com/sports/hawkeye-headquarters/rhys-dakin-welcomes-crazy-levels-of-punter-love-from-hawkeyes-fans/ |website=OurQuadCities.com |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Steppe |first1=John |title=Rhys Dakin with 'big shoes to fill' as Iowa's next punter, works to chart his own path |url=https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-football/rhys-dakin-with-big-shoes-to-fill-as-iowas-next-punter-works-to-chart-his-own-path/ |website=The Gazette |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> In week 4 of the 2024 season, he landed three punts inside the 20 yard-line in a victory over Minnesota, and was named the Ray Guy Award Punter of the Week.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steppe |first1=John |title=Iowa football's field-flipping ability extends beyond Rhys Dakin's booming punts |url=https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-football/iowa-footballs-field-flipping-ability-extends-beyond-rhys-dakins-booming-punts/ |website=The Gazette |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> Dakin finished the 2024 season with 64 punts for an average of 44.1 yards per punt, with 29 being inside the opponents 20-yard line, 16 traveling over 50 yards, with just five being touchbacks, and only 12.5% of his punts being returned. He was named a freshman all-American by FWAA and being named second-team all-Big Ten.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Steppe |first1=John |title=Iowa punter Rhys Dakin already showing improvement after impressive freshman season |url=https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-football/iowa-punter-rhys-dakin-already-showing-improvement-after-impressive-freshman-season/ |website=The Gazette |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kakert |first1=Tom |title=Rhys Dakin named Freshman All American |url=https://www.on3.com/teams/iowa-hawkeyes/news/rhys-dakin-iowa-football-all-american/ |work=HawkeyeReport |publisher=On3.com |access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref> Heading into the 2025 season, he is projected to be one of the nation's top punters, being projected as the Ray Guy Award winner by CBS Sports.<ref>{{cite web | last=Cooper | first=Ben | title=Iowa Hawkeyes Punter Projected to Win Major Award | website=Yardbarker | date=May 18, 2025 | url=https://www.yardbarker.com/college_football/articles/iowa_hawkeyes_punter_projected_to_win_major_award/s1_16868_42212936 | access-date=May 23, 2026}}</ref>
On January 1st, 2026, Dakin announced that he would be entering the transfer portal via X. On January 4th, 2026 Dakin announced he was [https://247sports.com/college/michigan-state/article/michigan-state-football-transfer-portal-commit-iowa-punter-rhys-dakin-commitment-new-news--269360020/ transferring] to Michigan State University following his special teams coordinator Levar Woods.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[https://hawkeyesports.com/sports/football/roster/player/rhys-dakin Iowa Hawkeyes bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dakin, Rhys}} Category:2004 births Category:Living people Category:Australian players of American football Category:Players of American football from Melbourne Category:American football punters Category:Iowa Hawkeyes football players