Hedley gets ready to depart Miami with a legacy of consistency behind him

You could make the argument that Lou Hedley and Kam Kinchens have been the Miami Hurricanes’ two most consistent impact players this season.

This season was Hedley’s fourth year starting for the Hurricanes. In 2019, he averaged 43.9 yards per punt, was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2020 with a 47.3-yard average, was All-ACC second team last year with a 44.9 average, and is averaging 45.2 yards per punt this season as a sixth-year redshirt senior.

“I’ve had a very enjoyable time here; I loved every moment of it,” Hedley said. “It’s been surreal the whole time. I never get used to playing here in Miami from where I came from. It’s definitely going to be surreal coming out this week for my last game.”

Hedley is a key special teams contributor for the Hurricanes, and he has that distinct style of rolling out Rugby style before booting the ball high and deep, similar to many of his fellow Australian punters in the college ranks.

“It seems like I’m playing another Australian punter every second week or something, but it’s always good,” he said. ” I think when I started, there wasn’t as many, but there’s still a lot. If someone sees me in Australia doing what I’m doing, it makes them kind of give this a chance and come over and do what I’m doing, I mean it’s great. The more Aussies that come over here and change their lives, the better.”

His performances for the Hurricanes this season have not gone unnoticed, as he was named a two-time ACC Specialist of the Week in 2022 and was recently named a Ray Guy semifinalist, the award honoring the nation’s best collegiate punter.

“It’s always good to get recognition, but that’s a testament to the whole punt team and the coverage team,” Hedley said. “That’s a team award; I feel like everyone goes out there and busts their butt.”

The 6-foot-4, 220-pounder has been a fan favorite in part because of his numerous tattoos but also because of his back story as a construction worker from Australia who got his chance at a California junior college before arriving in Miami in 2019.

“The journey from Australia coming over here has been a super long one,” Hedley said. “Coming into Hard Rock to play the last game for Miami is definitely going to be probably a little emotional but at the same time, I’m excited for the next chapter in my life as well. But the main thing is just to finish strong and beat Pittsburgh and get bowl eligible.”

Hedley isn’t sure what the next chapter will entail for him, but he hopes the connections he made in Coral Gables will help him in his future endeavors.

“Throughout the last four years, I’ve met some really amazing people,” he said. ” Hopefully, that’ll give me opportunities after my football playing days. I love Miami as a city. The weather is amazing. It’s been a dream coming here and it never gets old.”