Coach on Notre Dame Punter James Rendell: 'It couldn’t happen to a better kid'
Mackenzie Morgan stepped out of his comfort zone in 2018 and moved to the United States from Australia to pursue a punting career.
Morgan, who started his career at NC State before playing for Weber State and Temple, is now mentoring and training new Notre Dame punter James Rendell as he’ll make the same move to the US in a month.
The 23-year-old Rendell isn’t a stranger to playing under pressure. His late father, Matt, was an Australian football legend and the 6-foot-5, 220-pounder has grown up in the semi-pro ranks. Morgan expects Rendell to be prepared to handle the rigors of college football as he can draw on his experiences from Australian football.
“Guys like James, who go over and transition to college, generally always succeed better because of the fact they’ve had experience in the pro environment,” Morgan told ISD. “They’ve experienced what it’s like to win and lose, play in big games and have certain expectations set on them from a coach. They just transition really well and James will be good.”
Now, that’s not saying Rendell won’t find himself taking in the environment at Texas A&M or the first Notre Dame home game during pregame, but when it’s time to punt, Morgan is confident his trainee and friend will be ready to go.
“It’ll be nothing like running out at home in South Bend,” said Morgan. “He’s played in front of thousands of people - not in the tens of thousands. James has a good temperament, water off a duck's back, everything. He has the ability to perform.
“I told him we needed to get some film for Notre Dame, and he said, ‘Alright, no worries. Where do you want me to kick it?’ I told him, ‘Just kick it as hard as you can.’ He stepped up and did it. He’s that type of character. Nothing is going to faze him.”
Rendell has already experienced some of the ups and downs of high-level athletics, so he’s aware college football will be a roller coaster, especially for someone who has never played American football.
There will be an adjustment period, but Rendell also understands the opportunity.
“James is a big, strong kid with good levers, but more than anything, he has a good temperament,” explained Morgan. “He’s coachable and a really good kid. He comes from a high-level football background in Australia, which means he’s experienced trials and tribulations in regards to not getting drafted into the AFL and still playing high-level semi-professional football. What happens with guys like James is that they realize this punting thing is a second chance to have a go at something and put their best foot forward.
“James is as good as anyone in terms of being prepared to go to a place like Notre Dame. He has great character and wants to make the most of the chance he’s got.”
Morgan, who works for ProKick Australia, also has great confidence in Notre Dame special teams coach Marty Biagi. Rendell won’t be the first Aussie Biagi has worked with and the ProKick program is also well aware Biagi punted in college at Marshall.
“He’ll get better and better with Coach Biagi,” stated Morgan. “Coach Biagi has had a lot of good punters during his journey, including Tyler Newsome. Right now, he hits balls in training in the mid-5-second balls, which are huge kicks. They’ll have a scheme at Notre Dame that will allow him to do certain things.”
What could Rendell’s first season look like? Well, it’s hard to say as Morgan points out if Notre Dame’s offense does well, then Rendell’s job changes quite a bit.
“Notre Dame’s offense could be really good, so he could be good like Tory Taylor and become good at pinning them deep, which will obviously stop the average from being as high,” Morgan explained. “It’s just situational. I have no doubt that wherever he is on the field, he’ll send it down there.”
Away from the field, Morgan has also tried to prepare Rendell for what life is like in America. Morgan knows it will take time for Rendell to find comfort, but that’s where his semi-pro background will help.
“The biggest thing I found is the handshakes,” laughed Morgan. “The handshakes got me. I felt like every time I was giving a handshake, it was just my fingers. I’m trying to coach him through the different stuff. There’s a lot of things that will make your head spin when you get there, including different food and different words for things.
“Once he gets there, he’ll work it out himself. He’s a fast learner and he’ll pick up on it. The best thing he can do is go over there and get to know the guys, not just the kickers, long snappers and punters, but get to know the receivers and tight ends. He’s a good man and a funny guy. He’ll get over there and they’ll love him. It’s about trying to extend yourself out to different position groups.”
Over the last decade, ProKick Australia has become a popular spot for colleges to sign punters, but Rendell will be the first to play for Notre Dame. ProKick isn’t taking this moment for granted, as they have wanted a punter in South Bend for a long time.
“It’s huge,” said Morgan. “Nathan Chapman and John Smith at Pro Kick Australia have done a great job with him. The program has been going on for about 15 years now and Notre Dame is one we’ve wanted to get for a long time.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Coach Biagi through Tyler Newsome, and that’s bridged the gap a little bit. ProKick has done a great job with him and we’re really happy for someone like James, who is fully deserving. He’s gone through a bit of hardship in the last 12 months with his dad passing, so it couldn’t happen to a better kid.”
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