Sam Irwin-Hill
{{Short description|Australian gridiron football player (born 1990)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Sam Irwin-Hill
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| alt =
| current_team =
| number = 2
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1990|10|10}}
| birth_place = Bendigo, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lbs = 203
| high_school =
| college = Arkansas
| undraftedyear = 2015
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2017}})*
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|2018}})*
- San Diego Fleet ({{AAF Year|2019}})
- Atlanta Falcons ({{NFL Year|2019}}–{{NFL Year|2020}})*
| status =
| pfr = IrwiSa01
}}
Sam Irwin-Hill (born 10 October 1990) is an Australian former American football punter. He played college football at the University of Arkansas.
Early life
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
Irwin-Hill, attended high school at Bendigo, Australia, where he practiced Australian rules football. He played junior football at Eaglehawk Football Club and also played for the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup under 18s competition. He started learning American football in an Academy called PROKICK Australia and one of his teammates was Tom Hornsey.
College career
Irwin-Hill accepted a football scholarship from the City College of San Francisco. As a freshman, he was the team's punter, averaging 40.6 yards per punt, while helping the Rams win the CCCAA state title with a perfect 12-0 record.
Being an ambidextrous punter, he could kick with either leg. As a sophomore, he punted 44 attempts for an average of 41.7 yards per punt, including a long of 77 yards and downed 15 punts inside the 20-yard line. He helped the team advance to the CCCAA championship game, finishing the year with a 10-2 mark. He received first-team Junior college All-American honors.
He transferred to the University of Arkansas after his sophomore season in 2013. As a junior, he appeared in 12 games, averaging 44.3 yards (third in the conference) in 46 punt attempts. He led the SEC with 20 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-sign-former-arkansas-punter-sam-irwin-hill-430926|title=Cowboys Sign Former Arkansas Punter Sam Irwin-Hill|website=DallasCowboys.com|language=en|access-date=5 January 2019}}
As a senior, he appeared in 13 games, averaging 40.1 yards in 58 punt attempts and dropped 27 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line.{{Cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/04/27/cowboys-add-punter-sam-irwin-hill/|title=Cowboys Add Punter Sam Irwin-Hill|website=NBCSports.com|date=27 April 2017 |language=en|access-date=5 January 2019}} He rushed twice for 74 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown run against Texas A&M. He finished his collegiate career with a total of 4,365 yards on 104 punt attempts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fanragsports.com/news/cowboys-sign-p-sam-irwin-hill/|title=Cowboys Sign P Sam Irwin-Hill|website=FanragSports.com|language=en|access-date=7 May 2017}}
Professional career
=Dallas Cowboys=
On 17 April, 2017, Irwin-Hill was signed as a free agent by the Dallas Cowboys, where he was tried at both placekicker and punter.{{Cite web|url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/nfl/dallas-cowboys-sign-aussie-punter-sam-irwinhill-a-day-before-nfl-draft/news-story/530e1eed6d07924fc5e23337cb9794fc|title=Dallas Cowboys Sign Aussie Punter Sam Irwin-Hill A Day Before NFL Draft|website=FoxSports.com|date=27 April 2017 |language=en|access-date=7 May 2017}}{{cite web|title=Cowboys add punter Sam Irwin-Hill|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/04/27/cowboys-add-punter-sam-irwin-hill/|author=Crabtree, Curtis|website=ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com|date=27 April 2017|access-date=12 May 2017}} He had previously attended minicamp on a tryout basis with the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 and 2016.{{cite web | url=https://www.stampedeblue.com/2015/5/8/8573281/colts-begin-rookie-mini-camp-today | title=Colts Begin Rookie Mini-Camp Today | publisher=stampedeblue.com | date=8 May 2015 | access-date=17 October 2017 | author=Wilson, Josh | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018024926/https://www.stampedeblue.com/2015/5/8/8573281/colts-begin-rookie-mini-camp-today | archive-date=18 October 2017 | df=dmy-all }}{{cite web | url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Wrap-Up-Minicamp-Next-Up-Training-Camp-In-Anderson/28a6f5b7-d3dc-46e9-bd56-e62b4a341549 | title=Colts Wrap Up Minicamp; Next Up Training Camp In Anderson | publisher=colts.com | date=9 June 2016 | access-date=17 October 2017 | author=Bowen, Kevin | url-status=bot: unknown | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018024927/http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/Colts-Wrap-Up-Minicamp-Next-Up-Training-Camp-In-Anderson/28a6f5b7-d3dc-46e9-bd56-e62b4a341549 | archive-date=18 October 2017 | df=dmy-all }}
In the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game against the Arizona Cardinals, he handled both punting and kicking duties.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore?gameId=400944346|title=Cardinals vs. Cowboys - Box Score - August 3, 2017 - ESPN|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2017-08-04}} He was waived on 1 September 2017.{{cite web|title=Cowboys Make 38 Moves, One Trade To Reach 53; Kellen Moore Released|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-make-38-moves-one-trade-to-reach-53-kellen-moore-released-439246|author=Phillips, Rob|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=2 September 2017}}
=Washington Commanders=
On 16 March, 2018, Irwin-Hill signed with the Washington Commanders, but he was waived on 11 July.{{cite web|title=Redskins Sign Punter Sam Irwin-Hill|url=http://www.redskins.com/news/article-1/Redskins-Sign-Punter-Sam-Irwin-Hill/172b4392-f8dc-443c-a81a-784412b6d186|author=Czarda, Stephen|website=Redskins.com|date=16 March 2018}}{{cite web|title=Redskins Select Adonis Alexander In Sixth Round Of Supplemental Draft, Waive Sam Irwin-Hill|url=https://www.redskins.com/news/redskins-select-adonis-alexander-in-sixth-round-of-supplemental-draft-waive-sam-|website=Redskins.com|date=11 July 2018}}
=San Diego Fleet=
On 26 October 2018, Irwin-Hill signed with the San Diego Fleet.{{cite news|last=Nguyen|first=Alexander|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2018/10/26/san-diego-fleet-signs-two-more-former-aztecs/|title=San Diego Fleet Signs Two More Former Aztecs|newspaper=Times of San Diego|date=26 October 2018|access-date=30 January 2019}} He suffered an injury before the start of the 2019 season and was placed on the roster exempt list on 30 January.{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Jeff|title='It's Go time': Roster in place, Fleet excited for season debut|publisher=Alliance of American Football|date=30 January 2019}} After missing the season opener due to travel visa issues, he was activated on 12 February.{{cite news|last=Nguyen|first=Alexander|url=https://timesofsandiego.com/sports/2019/02/12/san-diego-fleet-activate-australian-punter-ahead-of-saturdays-home-opener/|title=San Diego Fleet Activate Australian Punter Ahead of Saturday's Home Opener|newspaper=Times of San Diego|date=12 February 2019|access-date=18 February 2019}} The league ceased operations in April 2019.{{Cite web |last1=Rothstein |first1=Michael |last2=Wickersham |first2=Seth |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26957796/inside-short-unhappy-life-alliance-american-football |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}
=Atlanta Falcons=
On October 8, 2019, Irwin-Hill was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad, but was released three days later following an issue with his travel visa.{{cite web|title=Falcons place Johnathan Cyprien on IR, sign Eagles cornerback|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-place-johnathan-cyprien-on-ir-sign-eagles-cornerback|author=McFadden, Will|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=October 8, 2019}}{{cite web|title=Falcons add P Kasey Redfern, who will assume punting duties against Cardinals|url=https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2019/10/11/20909868/falcons-add-p-kasey-redfern-who-will-assume-punting-duties-against-cardinals-matt-bosher-matt-wile|work=The Falcoholic|publisher=SB Nation|date=October 11, 2019}}
On February 7, 2020, Irwin-Hill was signed by the Atlanta Falcons.{{cite web|title=Falcons agree to terms with punter Sam Irwin-Hill|author=McFadden, Will|website=AtlantaFalcons.com|date=February 7, 2020|url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/falcons-agree-to-terms-with-punter-sam-irwin-hill|access-date=April 27, 2020}} On April 25, 2020, Irwin-Hill was released by the Falcons.{{cite news |author=McFadden, Will |title=2020 NFL Draft: Atlanta Falcons select Sterling Hofrichter in seventh round |url=https://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/2020-nfl-draft-atlanta-falcons-select-sterling-hofrichter-in-seventh-round |website=AtlantaFalcons.com |date=April 25, 2020 |access-date=April 27, 2020}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/sam-irwin-hill/#sm.0000a9bo6m85wd52wlq24b1g8hx5k Arkansas Razorbacks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Irwin-Hill, Sam}}
Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Sportspeople from Bendigo
Category:Australian players of American football
Category:American football punters
Category:City College of San Francisco Rams football players
Category:Arkansas Razorbacks football players
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Washington Redskins players