Iowa Lands Australian Punter Boston Everitt as Special Teams Overhaul Continues
The Iowa Hawkeyes are reloading on special teams, and their latest addition comes with a bit of international flair. Boston Everitt, a 19-year-old Australian punter, announced his commitment to Iowa on Jan. 21, adding another key piece to a unit undergoing a major transformation.
Everitt checks in at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, and brings four full seasons of eligibility with him to Iowa City. In his announcement, Everitt expressed gratitude for the opportunity, thanking Iowa staffers Tyler Barnes, head coach Kirk Ferentz, and special teams coaches Chris Polizzi and Paul Sherman for their belief in him. He also gave a heartfelt nod to his parents for their support throughout the process.
Everitt’s arrival comes at a pivotal time for the Hawkeyes. The special teams room has been reshaped this offseason following the departure of long-time coordinator LeVar Woods, who took a new role as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator at Michigan State. Along with Woods went punter Rhys Dakin, who had held down the job for the past two seasons and will now follow his coach to East Lansing.
The turnover didn’t stop there. Return specialist Kaden Wetjen and kicker Drew Stevens-both of whom played major roles in Iowa’s special teams success in recent years-have moved on after exhausting their eligibility. That’s a lot of production and leadership walking out the door.
But Iowa hasn’t wasted any time restocking the cupboard.
Chris Polizzi has been promoted to special teams coordinator, and the Hawkeyes have already added some intriguing new faces. One of them is North Dakota State transfer Eli Ozick, who had a standout season in 2025, going 16-for-18 on field goals and hitting 62 of 63 extra points. He’s a strong candidate to take over placekicking duties from Stevens.
Also returning is redshirt freshman Caden Buhr, who will be entering his second year in the program and adds depth to the kicking competition.
As for punting, Everitt isn’t the only new name in the mix. Iowa previously secured a commitment from Tanner Philpott, a transfer from Simpson College who turned heads last season with a 43.9-yard punting average. That performance earned him AFCA Division III Coaches’ second-team All-American honors.
Between Everitt’s arrival and Philpott’s proven leg, Iowa is building out a competitive punting room that should help stabilize a position critical to the Hawkeyes’ field-position-driven philosophy.
Special teams have long been a cornerstone of Iowa football, and while the faces may be changing, the standard remains high. With new leadership and fresh talent, the 2026 season will be a proving ground for a retooled unit looking to carry on the tradition.