Hailing from Perth, Australia, Mitch Wishnowsky is one of several Utah punters from down under to find success on The Hill. The 2016 Ray Guy Award winner, Wishnowsky is also the only player to ever be a finalist for the award three times.
A deep look at Wishnowsky’s collegiate career can be found at this link from Utah Athletics.
Wishnowsky spent three seasons at Utah, quickly etching his name in program record books: Three-time All-Pac-12 … 62 career punts of 50+ yards ranks second all-time at Utah … 175 career punts is fourth-most all-time at Utah … 8,004 career punt yards ranks sixth in school history.
Wishnowsky is a phenomenal athlete thanks in part to his Australian Rules Football background. His prototypical size and agility should make him pretty attractive to NFL scouts. He has ample power and plenty of control on his kicks. Ability to manage kickoffs may please some coaches, as well.
STRENGTHS
- Size: Mitch is a prototypical build for an NFL punter.
- Athleticism: Strength, speed and agility can help him avoid blocks, cover kicks and get out of sticky situations.
- Power: Has the ability to get more-than-adequate hang time and/or distance when given time.
- Accuracy: Was used as more of a control punter than a power punter at Utah. His ability to hit the coffin corner will be valued by teams at the next level.
WEAKNESSES
- Blocks: Led the nation in punts-blocked in 2018. More to do with the rugby style and offensive line, it seems.
- Style: The rugby style kick won’t be a weapon in the NFL, he’ll have to adjust to a more formal style.
Wishnowsky should be among the first punters selected in the 2019 Draft. Based on team needs across the league, that should be somewhere in the mid-to-late rounds(4-6).
Wishnowsky, along with each combine invitee, has spent the last week undergoing registration, interview, medical, physiological processes. He’ll have his on-field workouts Friday morning, live on the NFL Network.
