Police escorts to US college stadiums and booked-out hotels are the new normal for Jake Stoeckel.
The 22-year-old has moved from Renmark in South Australia’s Riverland to Kent, Ohio for at least three years to play American football as a punter for the Kent State Golden Flashes.
Jake Stoeckel grew up in Renmark, in the South Australian Riverland region. (Supplied: Rachael Stoeckel)
August was a whirlwind of change for Stoeckel, who spent 25 hours travelling before arriving in Kent in the early hours of August 1.
“By 6:30am, I was at the practice facility ready to go, and was there until 9pm … pretty much did that for the first week straight before we had half a day off,” he said.
“It’s been quite an experience so far — I’m enjoying every minute of it.”Taking the punt on American football
Stoeckel was well known in the Riverland sporting scene, notably in Australian Rules football for the Renmark Rovers, and tennis.
Jake Stoeckel was Renmark Rovers’ U15 best and fairest and leading goal kicker with 31 goals in 2017. (Supplied: Rachael Stoeckel)
His interest in American football was piqued during work experience with the Essendon Football Club about two years ago.
“I was talking to [former Australian Rules footballer] Dustin Fletcher — both his boys are over here doing it and one of them is in Ohio as well,” Stoeckel said.
“I spoke to him about it and then kind of came out and gave it a shot myself.”
Stoeckel trained with Prokick Australia in Melbourne and said he had been “working towards coming to college from that moment”.
According to the Melbourne Sports Law Association, Australians make up about 46 per cent of punters in college football teams.
There are five Australian-raised punters in the NFL currently — Mitch Wishnowsky, Michael Dickson, Tory Taylor, Cameron Johnston and Matthew Hayball.
Jake Stoeckel played his first game as a college football punter on August 30. (Supplied: Milan McMichael, Kent State Athletics)
Prokick owner and head coach Nathan Chapman said AFL skills were transferable and it was becoming more common for Australians to travel to the US for college football.
“We get so many more enquiries now because the [sporting] coverage is very good,” he said.
“I think it’s opened their eyes to know that it’s a legitimate pathway, you can get educated from it and get a college degree paid for, and you can experience playing big-time football.”
Mr Chapman said Stoeckel was a consistent player who had worked hard on his craft.
Nathan Chapman spent a pre- and off-season with the Green Bay Packers in 2004 before returning to Australia. (Supplied: Nathan Chapman)
“He has a really natural kick of the football [and] has some great skills,” he said.
“He turned up to training, he did all his work … it was just a matter of time for him to get his opportunity.
“To watch to his first kick was pretty special.”
Growing into a sports star
Stoeckel’s first game for the Golden Flashes on August 30 resulted in a 21-17 win against Merrimack College.
It was the team’s first win since 2023 after a 21-game losing streak.
Jake Stoeckel says the following college football has in the United States is insane. (Supplied: Milan McMichael, Kent State Athletics)
“That was my first time on the field … actually being out there and having some pretty big boys running at you is quite intimidating,” Stoeckel said.
“A lot of them are like 6’5″ [1.95 metres], 110kg and move faster than I ever could.”
The fanfare for college football was palpable during Stoeckel’s trip to Dix Stadium before the game.
“We had a police escort to the stadium,” he said.
“Just the scale of where you end up and how big it is across the country is insane.”
His most recent game included a trip to Texas, where he said a hotel had been “completely booked out” for the team.
Jake and Rachael Stoeckel at the airport before Jake left for Kent, Ohio. (Supplied: Rachael Stoeckel)
Mum Rachael Stoeckel said she raised her two sons, Jake and Nate, to do something they were passionate about.
“Jake’s always had above-average gross motor, even as a little person, and sport just was a really big focus for him,” she said.
“He’d excel in whatever sport he was in, but American football was not something I thought he would end up doing.
“To see him out there, I’m the proudest mum in the Riverland at the minute.”
Jake Stoeckel grew up playing tennis and Australian football in the Riverland. (Supplied: Grant Schwartzkopff)
A piece of home
The family will fly to Ohio in the October school holidays to visit Stoeckel and watch him play.
Until then, Stoeckel has a little piece of home with him after the team added stickers of the Australian flag and the Renmark postcode to his helmet.
An Australian flag sticker has been added to Jake Stoeckel’s Golden Flashes football helmet. (Supplied: Rachael Stoeckel)
“That was awesome, I didn’t actually know they were doing that,” he said.
“I’ve told Cliff our equipment guy I’m going to make sure he gets some Australian treats like some Tim Tams … so he’s looking forward to it.”