Jack Bouwmeester
PUNTER :: 6-2 :: 190Bendigo, Victoria, Australia :: Bendigo Catholic Central HS
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Plans to enroll for the 2019 spring semester and participate in spring practice . . . ranked the No. 6 punting prospect by 247Sports . . . trains with ProKick Australia, which brands itself as the leading facilitator in transitioning Australian kickers, punters and athletes to American football . . . ProKick Australia is run by Nathan Chapman, who played Australian rules football for Kangaroo Flat, Brisbane Bears/Lions and Hawthorn; he also saw a brief stint in the NFL preseason with the Green Bay Packers in 2004 . . . Bouwmeester is also a standout cricket player . . . according to the Bendigo Advertiser, he represented Victoria in under-age cricket as an opening bowler, played XI cricket for the Bendigo United in the BDCA (Bendigo and District Cricket Association), and played at the second XI level for Carlton in Victorian Premier Cricket competition . . . his experience in Australian rules football includes playing for the Sandhurst Dragons in the Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) . . . was a member of the Bendigo Pioneers at the TAC Cup level, a statewide Victorian under-18s league for Australian rules football . . . fellow Bendigo native Sam Irwin-Hill trained at ProKick Australia and played collegiately at the University of Arkansas in 2013-14 . . . son of Martin and Jodie Bouwmeester . . . born May 7, 1999 . . . plans to major in business.
DANTONIO ON BOUWMEESTER:
“Jack has a unique skill set. He was just too good to pass on. In Australian style football, you've seen that happen over here more and more in terms of our punters in American college football. Jack has a very explosive leg and can basically put it anywhere on the field in any way, spiraling or end over end. I just felt like the unique skill set with his background, he was too good to pass up. He is an early enrollee and it will be exciting to watch him in the spring to see how he adapts to American football. I'm sure he'll have to adapt a little bit, but I'm sure that will take place. He’s an outstanding athlete.”
SECONDARY COACH/SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR PAUL HAYNES:
“Jack is very athletic and has a strong leg. He has diverse placement in his kicking abilities.”
A signee comes to us all the way from down under. Welcome to the Spartan family punter @jackxbouwie!#SpartanRe19n #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/nsFzBrUktp
— Mark Dantonio (@DantonioMark) December 19, 2018
2019 Spartan Signing Day Central