This year, the Nevada football team has welcomed a number of freshmen, all looking to start off their collegiate football career with newfound confidence.
The 24-year-old Australian native, Ewan Baulch, is just one of the new members of the incoming class, named as the punter for the 2026 season.
Hailing from Victoria, Australia, Baulch has more than enough experience under his belt to assist the Wolf Pack in the games to come.
At home, Baulch played for the Brunswick Football Club, where he made over 100 appearances during his career. The club is Division 2 within the Victorian Amateur Football Association in Australian rules football, which is played quite differently from American football. In “Aussie Rules”, players may use any part of their body to make contact with the ball, and they are unable to throw the ball — to name a few of the many differences between the two. Despite the variation, Baulch says he’s having fun.
“Just keeping it simple is good enough for me because, you know, it’s a bit of a more simple role than back home playing Australian football,” Baulch said. ”I just go to kick it and do my job.”
Making the lengthy 14-hour journey from Australia, Baulch knew the weight of his decision. He says that despite being away from home and starting something completely new, he decided to take the opportunity now, so that he wouldn’t regret it later.
“I’ve been really happy here,” Baulch said. “I can’t really complain too much about that, but I think that Reno is a very easy place to live, especially if it’s your first place in the States.”
Through managing schoolwork as a freshman and acclimating to the team, Baulch says that there are a few things making the transition easier, like getting to know other Nevada players who are also from Australia. Baulch rooms with Jacob Fernandez, a kicker from Sydney, Australia, and says that he also spends time with Jayden O’Rourke, a senior tight end from Tweed Heads, Australia.
“I spend a lot of time with him [Fernandez], and obviously learning the ropes from Jayden, as well,” Baulch said. “It’s nice to have his experience because he’s been here for a little while, too.”
Baulch also spends time at Lake Tahoe, which he says is nice to have just around the corner; he enjoys seeing the different wildlife native to the area and the mountains.
As for football, Baulch says he hopes the team will make it to a bowl game, and move towards a Mountain West Championship. As for his personal goals, he just wants to do his best and “get some good numbers on the board.”
Being rostered for this season, Baulch has made it to EA’s College Football 27 Video Game.
Although Baulch says he hasn’t watched much college football or played the video game prior to his arrival at Nevada, it’s quite the accomplishment.
“It’s pretty cool to be able to tell people back home that I’m in the game,” Baulch said.
Baulch is set to play in Nevada’s next game against the Air Force Falcons on Sept. 26, at Mackay Stadium.
