Max Duffy picks up preseason All-American honor

Max Duffy was the best punter in the country last year, and there is no reason to think he will not be that again in 2020. Duffy was a consensus First-Team All-American in 2019, and he is well on his way to getting the same honors for the 2020 preseason.

Having already landed on Walter Camp’s preseason All-American list, Duffy has now been named a First-Team All-American by Sporting News. If the Football Writers Association of America, the American Football Coaches Association, and the Associate Press agree, that is what they call a consensus.

Kentucky has developed a strategy of controlling the ball and limiting possessions and time of possession for the opposition. Yes, the defense has been very impressive over the last two years. However, Duffy’s ability to pin opposing offenses deep in their own territory has proven to be invaluable.

Duffy is Kentucky’s all-time career punting leader in averaging 46.3 yards per punt. Last season, his average was 48.1 yards per punt. He also had 49% of his kicks end up inside the 20 yard line, which was a huge asset for Kentucky’s outstanding defense.

Duffy is heading into his senior campaign as a graduate student, and is looking toward a career in the NFL. But assuming there is a college football season this fall, Duffy will be expected to perform at an All-American level throughout his final season in Lexington.