The New Orleans Saints have inked a deal with Matt Hayball, a punter from Vanderbilt Commodores, as an undrafted free agent, as reported by Tom Pelissero. Hayball, hailing from Australia, initially began his collegiate journey with the FAU Owls before transferring to Vanderbilt for his final two seasons.
- Throughout his college career, Hayball boasted an average of 45.2 yards per punt over 289 attempts, demonstrating proficiency in tackling with a tally of 10 tackles. Additionally, he showcased versatility, carrying the ball four times for a total of 42 yards. Notably, his standout season was in 2023, where he punted 57 times for an average of 47.6 yards per punt, earning recognition as a Second Team All-American, Ray Guy Award finalist, and First Team All-SEC punter.
Originally scouted from ProKick Australia as an unranked recruit in the 2019 cycle, Hayball contributed significantly to Vanderbilt despite the team’s overall record of 7-17 during his tenure. The New Orleans Saints, who finished second in the NFC South with a 9-8 record in the preceding season, are looking to address their punting concerns, notably highlighted by Lou Hedley’s performance, who averaged 43 yards per punt but excelled in placing 31 punts inside the 20-yard line.
NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein provided insights into Hayball’s potential in the league, praising his natural power and length but emphasizing the need to enhance coverage success through hang time and minimize return opportunities.
