Boise State has nation’s top returning punter. He’s putting his money where his foot is
Under most conditions, no football fan wants to see their team punting the ball.
But if you’re looking for a silver lining this season, Boise State junior punter James Ferguson-Reynolds has it.
For every punt of his downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, Ferguson-Reynolds will donate $20 to a Treasure Valley-based breast cancer awareness nonprofit.
“My mom actually came down with breast cancer about two years ago,” Ferguson-Reynolds told reporters Wednesday. “It’s something I wanted to do and give back to the community. And you know, what better way to do that?”
The Australian-born punter noted that his mother is now cancer-free. Ferguson-Reynolds’ family will visit from Australia and attend their first game of the season at Hawaii on Oct. 12 before following the Broncos game-to-game for the rest of the season.
So, how much could Ferguson-Reynolds raise?
The junior led Division I in 2023 in punting average, sending the ball an average of 49.7 yards across 55 punts. Next closest was BYU’s Ryan Rehkow, with an average of 48.4 yards on 68 punts.
Twenty-three of those Ferguson-Reynolds punts landed inside the 20-yard line last year — so equaling that total would mean a donation of $460 this season. But multiple people, including Ferguson-Reynolds’ father, committed to matching the junior’s donations dollar for dollar.
That could really add up.
“I can’t say enough good things,” special teams coordinator Stacy Collins said Wednesday. “And I think with what JFR is doing now, it’s a true testament to his character — who he is on the field, who he is off the field. So I’m excited to support everything he’s about, and I’m really excited about this new venture that he has.”
Ferguson-Reynolds got the idea from former TCU kicker and fellow Australian Jordy Sandy, who donated $20 to an autism charity for every punt he had downed inside the 20-yard line.
Every donation from Ferguson-Reynolds will come directly from his pocket, he said. The punter has had to jump through extra hoops regarding Name, Image and Likeness opportunities. Federal laws surrounding student visas make it difficult for international students to earn money on U.S. soil.
“It is,” said Ferguson-Reynolds, when asked about the money being a big commitment for a college student. “But that’s something I’m willing to do and want to do for my mum, and spread awareness, too.”
This story was originally published August 29, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
