By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
ACCOLADES are continuing to flow for Geelong footballer Tom Hornsey after he last week won a prestigious award as American college football’s best punter.
Hornsey, the Ray Guy Award winner, has now been in Associated Press’s first-team All-America, adding to a pair of other first-team All-America selections and two second-team All-America places.
The former St Joseph’s Football Club player is now preparing for a tilt at the US’s national league after setting records in his four year tenure at University of Memphis.
Mum Michele Hornsey said her son had also received invitations to all-star games as scouts and coaches looked for new talent to join the professional ranks.
“It’s been a lifelong journey of Tom’s to head in this direction, to play at the highest level possible,” Mrs Hornsey said.
“We never thought it would be in this direction, though. But the opportunity presented itself and Tom thought he would give it a go.”
Hornsey trained for a year with ProKick’s Nathan Chapman and his staff before a YouTube video link sent to Memphis put him on the college football coach’s radar.
“They’d seen Tom and thought there was an opportunity for him. They saw great promise and after we talked about it he decided he wanted to go,” Mrs Hornsey said.
“It’s been a steep learning curve for him, American sports takes a different approach – it’s professional from the word go seven days a week.
“The workload and body of work expected is very intense. You can’t take your foot off the pedal at all, it’s gruelling, but Tom thrives on that.”
Mrs Hornsey said he had to keep his academic levels high during football season, earning a degree in sports science.
Hornsey maintained a modest approach to his success, she said.
“He always thinks he could do better. He’s a gracious young man and doesn’t take it for granted.”
Mrs Hornsey said the family watched the nationally televised award presentation live from Australia.
“We saw it all unfold as it was happening. It was a proud moment for the family.
“We’re proud of him for his dedication and hard work.”
Mrs Hornsey said the family recently returned from the US where they watched five of his games and attended his college senior day.
