University of Georgia Athletics
Thorson Making Most Of UGA Experience
September 30, 2025 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
Staff Writer
Out of the hundreds of Georgia student-athletes, there's one who seems to be out and about more than any other. You'll see him at local coffee shops and restaurants, or walking around Five Points. If you were lucky enough to score a ticket to the final round of the Masters this year, you'd have seen him at Augusta National, too.
Back home in Australia, Georgia punter Brett Thorson grew up on a dairy farm in Dumbalk North, a small community in South Gippsland, about 100 miles from Melbourne. That upbringing on the farm taught him about humility and hard work, and it gave him an appreciation for the outdoors. It also made him eager to explore the world beyond the rural life that he knew.
"I guess it's kind of what led me over here," the senior said. "Growing up on the dairy farm, there's not heaps to do. So for the first 19 years of my life, to go out was actually kind of a big effort."
Going to school or to get groceries took 20-30 minutes, he said. Melbourne was the big, vibrant city about two hours away that first drew his interest. And after he got to Melbourne and started training with Prokick Australia, a program that trains Aussie athletes to be collegiate and pro punters and kickers, "I was like, No, I want to go further," he said.
Thorson came to Georgia having never been to Athens, the UGA campus, or even the United States. "My first time ever coming here was when I brought over a suitcase and moved into the dorm," said Thorson, a second-team All-American in 2024. He quickly went about making himself at home.
"I think coming from that background, it gives me a greater appreciation for being here," he said.
As a freshman in 2022, Thorson averaged 45.0 yards a punt and had 19 downed inside the 20-yard line. He averaged 43.8 with 14 of his 32 punts downed inside the 20 as a sophomore, and last season, before he suffered a knee injury in the SEC Championship Game, Thorson averaged 47.6 yards a punt and had 22 of his 42 attempts downed inside the 20. He was also a finalist for the Ray Guy Award last season.
After sitting out the 2025 season opener against Marshall as a precautionary measure, Thorson has been the No. 12-ranked Bulldogs' punter the past three games. He's punted 11 times so far heading into Saturday's game against Kentucky at Sanford Stadium, for an average of 44.9 yards. And six of those 11 punts have pinned the other team inside its 20.
Thorson said he wasn't nervous about playing again after a major injury.
"It was more excitement; you're out of it for so long that you're just excited to be back out there," he said. "I had a lot of confidence in my rehab and what I did, knowing it put me in a good spot. You've got to go out there with confidence and accept the result."
Because of the timing of the injury, in the 2024 postseason, he only missed the Bulldogs' College Football Playoff game against Notre Dame and the game against Marshall. "It is a weird timeline to feel like I've been out of the game for so long, but really, I didn't miss anything but two games," he said.
Prior to the season, special teams coordinator Kirk Benedict said he was impressed by how Thorson "attacked" his rehab after knee surgery.
"It's been fun to coach Brett over the years as a punter. Seeing him rehab an injury, you get to see him in a different light. I've been proud of him for the way that he has attacked the rehab and how he's really been proactive about getting after it in the training room."
How Thorson attacked his rehab is how he approaches life — he goes for it. He spent two years with Prokick Australia working for the opportunity to come to the U.S. to kick in college, and he's made the most of every aspect of his collegiate experience.
"I had two years to really build up expectation and excitement to come to America," he said. "So by the time I actually got on the plane and it took off, I was just super excited to be able to start the journey that I thought about for two years."
Coming from that dairy farm to UGA, Thorson has embraced his team and the community. And they have embraced him right back. He's a funny, talented Aussie who seems to make friends wherever he goes.
"I have been very lucky that the city of Athens has welcomed me with open arms, and everyone here that I've met has been awesome," he said. "Coming from Australia and not really having the background knowledge of college football and stuff, I'm appreciative of everything I get to experience every day."
Staff Writer
Out of the hundreds of Georgia student-athletes, there's one who seems to be out and about more than any other. You'll see him at local coffee shops and restaurants, or walking around Five Points. If you were lucky enough to score a ticket to the final round of the Masters this year, you'd have seen him at Augusta National, too.
Back home in Australia, Georgia punter Brett Thorson grew up on a dairy farm in Dumbalk North, a small community in South Gippsland, about 100 miles from Melbourne. That upbringing on the farm taught him about humility and hard work, and it gave him an appreciation for the outdoors. It also made him eager to explore the world beyond the rural life that he knew.
"I guess it's kind of what led me over here," the senior said. "Growing up on the dairy farm, there's not heaps to do. So for the first 19 years of my life, to go out was actually kind of a big effort."
Going to school or to get groceries took 20-30 minutes, he said. Melbourne was the big, vibrant city about two hours away that first drew his interest. And after he got to Melbourne and started training with Prokick Australia, a program that trains Aussie athletes to be collegiate and pro punters and kickers, "I was like, No, I want to go further," he said.
Thorson came to Georgia having never been to Athens, the UGA campus, or even the United States. "My first time ever coming here was when I brought over a suitcase and moved into the dorm," said Thorson, a second-team All-American in 2024. He quickly went about making himself at home.
"I think coming from that background, it gives me a greater appreciation for being here," he said.
As a freshman in 2022, Thorson averaged 45.0 yards a punt and had 19 downed inside the 20-yard line. He averaged 43.8 with 14 of his 32 punts downed inside the 20 as a sophomore, and last season, before he suffered a knee injury in the SEC Championship Game, Thorson averaged 47.6 yards a punt and had 22 of his 42 attempts downed inside the 20. He was also a finalist for the Ray Guy Award last season.
After sitting out the 2025 season opener against Marshall as a precautionary measure, Thorson has been the No. 12-ranked Bulldogs' punter the past three games. He's punted 11 times so far heading into Saturday's game against Kentucky at Sanford Stadium, for an average of 44.9 yards. And six of those 11 punts have pinned the other team inside its 20.
Thorson said he wasn't nervous about playing again after a major injury.
"It was more excitement; you're out of it for so long that you're just excited to be back out there," he said. "I had a lot of confidence in my rehab and what I did, knowing it put me in a good spot. You've got to go out there with confidence and accept the result."
Because of the timing of the injury, in the 2024 postseason, he only missed the Bulldogs' College Football Playoff game against Notre Dame and the game against Marshall. "It is a weird timeline to feel like I've been out of the game for so long, but really, I didn't miss anything but two games," he said.
Prior to the season, special teams coordinator Kirk Benedict said he was impressed by how Thorson "attacked" his rehab after knee surgery.
"It's been fun to coach Brett over the years as a punter. Seeing him rehab an injury, you get to see him in a different light. I've been proud of him for the way that he has attacked the rehab and how he's really been proactive about getting after it in the training room."
How Thorson attacked his rehab is how he approaches life — he goes for it. He spent two years with Prokick Australia working for the opportunity to come to the U.S. to kick in college, and he's made the most of every aspect of his collegiate experience.
"I had two years to really build up expectation and excitement to come to America," he said. "So by the time I actually got on the plane and it took off, I was just super excited to be able to start the journey that I thought about for two years."
Coming from that dairy farm to UGA, Thorson has embraced his team and the community. And they have embraced him right back. He's a funny, talented Aussie who seems to make friends wherever he goes.
"I have been very lucky that the city of Athens has welcomed me with open arms, and everyone here that I've met has been awesome," he said. "Coming from Australia and not really having the background knowledge of college football and stuff, I'm appreciative of everything I get to experience every day."
Assistant Sports Communications Director John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files.
Players Mentioned
P
/ FootballGeorgia Football - Daylen Everette Pre-Auburn Press Conference
Monday, October 06
Georgia Football - Chauncey Bowens Pre-Auburn Press Conference
Monday, October 06
Georgia Football - Coach Kirby Smart Pre-Auburn Press Conference
Monday, October 06
Georgia Football Week 6 vs Kentucky - Postgame Player Interviews
Saturday, October 04