Austin Price: Hello everybody and welcome in for another episode of of Confidential. I'm your host Austin Price of vol west.com Tennessee just wrapped up the regular season eight and four with a win over Vanderbilt and now it's off to the bowl season and we'll find out where they are going coming up. But first let's bring in volunteer clubs, hunter Badu Hunter, you look at the growth of the volunteer club up over 4,000 members now we're hitting portal season. I know fans, they still may be stinging from the Georgia, Missouri games, but it sounded put on more steam added members means added revenue for NIL dollars for potential student athletes. Hunter Baddour: That's right Now we continue to grow at the Georgia game. At one point we hit 4,045 members and our goal remains the same to hit 5,000 by the end of this year. Certainly we need to have a big December to do that, but we think that goal is still absolutely attainable and looking forward to getting after it. Austin Price: How do you feel like NIL has changed over the last two years? Where do you think it's morphed? Hunter Baddour: I think it's become more sophisticated in the sense that for instance, more businesses feel comfortable now working with student athletes. They know what is inbounds with the rules and so forth and the ROI that they can get, but also that they are helping Tennessee student athletes and ultimately helping us win. Austin Price: You see Joe with the Coleman Realty commercial, you see Big O with the Better Mattress commercial. I mean you see some different student athletes becoming the face of local businesses and I think that is neat, right? I mean it's a way for local businesses to give back to the student athlete and it's a way for local businesses also to kind reach out and touch the T and kind of fill the power of Tennessee Hunter Baddour: And that's where I think this community, the local businesses have really stepped up and not just for football or basketball but really for all sports men's and women's free places to eat free yoga classes, free cycling classes, and in exchange for maybe some social media posts on behalf of the businesses. And so it's been great to see that all student athletes at Tennessee, both men and women are able to get in on the NIL action. Austin Price: Well I've been looking forward to tonight's guest for quite a while because I just think he's going to be one of the more fascinating interviews that we get to do here on Vol Club Confidential. Let's bring in Australian native and punter Jackson Ross. Jackson, you start the season off in Nashville. It was not your finest moment and after the game, coach Heel was really, I was borderline defiant about You don't know, it is the first time in doing this in the country and all this stuff and had your back next game, first kick and then after that you've been unbelievable. Was there a moment when you just kind of was settle down and just do what you know how to do? Jackson Ross: I mean yeah, that first game was pretty rough. I kind of wanted to leave the country after that first kick in particular, I think it's 17 yarder, seen all my friends go and dominate in previous years and I kicked a 17 yarder start. I thought, geez, this might be harder than it looks. But yeah, it just took me time I guess hyped definitely had my back and I knew everyone did within an our four walls looking at a bit external on Twitter and stuff like that. It was probably not the best thing for me, but I guess it is hard when there's no family and stuff around me for that first game to sort of lean on and that get out to Nalan for the first time and shanked the first one get booed and I thought, geez, here we go again. But I think I've definitely picked up since then and it's been a pretty enjoyable season so far. Austin Price: You think, I mean he goes to Alabama and sets a Tennessee single game record for punt yardage. I mean when you found out that what was going through your mind, I mean you had a heck of a day. Jackson Ross: Yeah, I mean it was a big change from what happened in the first game, but I was actually looking something today on my phone in the record book from the weekend and saw that Jimmy Culbert had that record before me. He was 53 and I think I had 53.4 or something. So had a chat to Dustin about that today and I said, I've got one up on him now, obviously got a few more million to to catch up to him in that sense. But I mean it was awesome to get the phone call from Eric and learn that I knew I had a good day but didn't really recognize it was that good. Austin Price: Obviously everybody knows now you can kick with both feet. They kind of tried to keep that under the radar. I remember when we did your commitment interview and you sent me all this video and you're like, don't show the left footed kicks because they wanted to try to keep that under wraps. When did you know you were going to be just as good with either foot? I know you say you're right leg dominant and you probably are a little stronger that way, but you sure kick it. Pretty good left to me. Jackson Ross: Yeah, I mean I've always kicked both feet growing up. I mean it's something dad always wanted me to do when I was playing footy back home. Being able to kick both feet definitely helps. If you're sort of in trouble, you can go the other way, but I mean I'd say if my right's 10, my left's about a seven, so at practice and stuff, I mean I kick probably 50 50 just mucking around and stuff like that and think my touch is really good on both. So it's definitely good to have in the arsenal whether we use it a whole lot just depends on certain circumstances, but it's been, I think fans have enjoyed sort of guessing which way I'm going to go. I think that sort of adds a bit of fun to punting, which probably isn't usually the funnest thing always Austin Price: And you kind of get to make that call on foot you kick with. Jackson Ross: Yeah, it's a bit of a both call between me and Coach E, he's always asking what I feel comfortable with in certain circumstances where we are in the field and how confident I guess I am, how well I kick you in the warmup. So it is good having sort of myself to be able to I guess call that sometimes and yeah, whatever feels comfortable, hopefully it turns out the right way for Austin Price: Us. Is there just a different feel when it comes off? Perfect. I mean is there just a sound when you catch one and you're like, okay, that right there was nice. Jackson Ross: I mean definitely kicking a really nice spiral ball, you definitely feel it as soon as you hit the boot. I always to kick a bit of end over and a few spirals on my right and stuff like that, so it's, I'm always doing different stuff so it's hard to get in a complete, complete routine of doing the same thing over and over again, which a lot of Americans do. It's just spiral after spiral and spiral, so you sort of get that continuity in recognizing exactly how to hit that ball. But I mean going left, going right, kicking end over spiral, it's always changing for me, but I definitely know when I kicked a good one Austin Price: At Alabama, when you had that phenomenal day, I feel like Kool-Aid McKinstry was having a tough time picking up your ball and it kind of rattled him a little bit. Can you tell when you've kind got somebody, because I mean you're ultimately 40 or 50 yards away when you're kicking it to 'em, so I know you're not really looking 'em dead in the eye, but can you tell when somebody's like, man, I can't see this, how this thing's coming in? Jackson Ross: Yeah, I mean I definitely had a Kool-Aid of beer. I think he helped me sort of set that record himself. He let a few go, which he probably could have caught, but I mean, yeah, I guess kicking different spins and stuff is definitely harder for them. One of, well Dee Williams spoke to the returner George on the weekender. He said that I was annoying to play against just with a different variety. That return is obviously really, really good and he got a few yards in us, which was disappointing. But yeah, it's always fun. I think as the year's gone, we'll sort be able to hopefully kick away from returners more and sort of get more roles and stuff, but at the moment I'm just settling in and I think there's a lot more to come. Austin Price: You played Australian rules professional football before you made the way over to here to Rocky Top. What was that like? Jackson Ross: Yeah, so I got drafted out of high school, which is pretty much every kid in Australia's dream. I went pick 71 and it was about a hundred picks, so I kind of slid, I thought I was going to go a little higher and to put in I guess American terms, I got drafted into the NBA or so, but I only really ever played G League, so I was always that practice, definitely involved with the team and everything like that, but I just really didn't make it to the very top. So I lasted three years there and then got let go of and sort of found myself a pro Kick Australia, which is a training camp for Australians and it produces, sort of takes us from kicking the big Australian ball to the more smaller Nike footballs that American football play with. So it definitely put me in good stead playing that level. I guess not as big crowds, but I mean some crowds and stuff like that to put myself in pressure situations. Austin Price: What did you learn most about kicking American football? Jackson Ross: The sweet spot's definitely a lot smaller than the Australian ball in Australia. Get away with a lot more of miss kicking balls. I feel it still travels you decent distance, but I mean, yeah, it's such a small ball. Sort of varies depending on what the quarterback usually likes is whether you get a pointy one, whether you get a more round one US punters always sending in photos of other people's balls saying you guys are lucky you get to use this big juicy one. But I mean it's so different but I get used to it and stuff like that and I guess as the weather changes as well, the ball gets harder and it hurts my foot low key, so it's just all little things, but yeah, I'm used to it now. The Austin Price: Quarterback part of this is interesting to me. So are you, where you working Nico like Hey man, we need to do this kind of ball next Jackson Ross: Year? Yeah, I actually watched a lot of his high school stuff last year and they were using those big Wilson balls and I thought we could try and bring in a few of them. That'd be nice for me, but I think the equipment managers at the facility don't really like us kickers a lot. We're always just sort of stealing other people's balls, trying to find the ones that aren't going to hurt our feet as much. Austin Price: The kicking snobs? Yeah. You and Campbell? Jackson Ross: Yeah, pretty much turbo. Max Gilbert's pretty bad as well. Lowkey, he's the freshman so we make him steal the balls so we don't get in trouble, if that makes sense. So Austin Price: It's legal hazing, you go get the balls Max? Jackson Ross: Yeah, coach Hippel says no hazing, but I think that's as far as we'll get with Max. But Austin Price: You go get those balls so we don't get yelled Jackson Ross: At Exactly. You often find him scavenging through running back bags and quarterback bags and then all of a sudden we'll have balls. They say K on it for kicking K on it for kicking. Then it says RB for running backs and we always try to hide that one from when the equipment manages are walking Austin Price: Around. So you like the running back balls? Jackson Ross: I mean Austin Price: You want me to talk to Jerry Mack for you? Jackson Ross: No, Jerry Mack doesn't need to know anything I don't think. They don't need to kick him or throw 'em or anything, so they just need to tuck it under the arm and so I think we should definitely get the balls we Austin Price: Want. Going back to the Virginia game, was there someone after that game that kind of brought your spirits up, having Dustin Collet around? Did that help? Jackson Ross: Yeah, for sure. I mean he's obviously had a huge NFL career and obviously had some ups and downs as well, but I guess just people around me, we got on the bus back home and I was talking to our Gaston and these my friends and some people don't really recognize punting, so some people didn't really think, I didn't even remember how bad I punted that day and obviously deep down for me it was my first game got millions of people watching me on TV and obviously so many Tennessee fans who would die for this team and to let them down first day wasn't the best thing. But I mean, yeah, leaning on my coaches back out in the track the next few days and kicking good balls and stuff like that. I mean it didn't take me long to feel like everyone locked me again. Austin Price: I thought your left foot the one right there near the end of the game. It was like five minutes to go or so I thought you kind of uncorked a left footed one and I thought, I was like, okay, it's kind of like you're struggling with your golf game and then you get to the 18th tee and you finally hit two good shots and you're like, okay, wait a minute now why is it coming to an end? Let's keep this going, but the game ends or the round ends. Does that kind how you felt right there at the end? Jackson Ross: It definitely was. I think I'm pretty good with my numbers, so I think in 17 yards, 27 yards, then I kicked my first left foot, which I think was 41 fair court and I kind of ran off and thought, that's all right and then I think I kicked another shank, right, 30 or so which went out of bounds and then I kicked a right foot SPI, which went I think 50. So to finish the game with the 50 was definitely helpful to get that average up to I think 35 or something like that. But I mean, yeah, I learned from it and it shouldn't happen again hopefully Austin Price: When you're out there, is there much trash talk from you when you kick a good one and the other team's still out there on the field with you? Are you a trash talker at all? I want to call you a low key, someone who talks. Jackson Ross: Yeah, I'm a bit of a smart ass to be honest, but Austin Price: Well me and you'd get along great then it's Jackson Ross: Not really on punt. I don't say too much, but it's more field goal holding and stuff. When the guys coming in the corner and dive and they're on the ground, me and Charles like to say a few little words, but they always look at me, who is this talking? I probably sound so different and say some things that I shouldn't, but that's all part of the fun and I'll continue to do so Austin Price: Do you have a one line zinger that you like to go to or is it always different? Do you always have different repertoire? Jackson Ross: Yeah, it's whatever comes out fast. It's sort of I think pretty quick on my feet, but yeah, I probably shouldn't say anything I would say on the camera right Austin Price: Now. I understand. Let's go back to Australia. What do you miss most about home? Jackson Ross: I miss a lot. Family's obviously super important to me, so I always miss them and my friends back home obviously had high school friends and footy friends and stuff like that, so it's always that I miss food, I miss coffee, I Ms. Little things, just sort of hanging around mates. I miss watching Australian football because obviously the timing's not great throughout the night here, but I keep in touch with everyone back home, whether it's FaceTime, they're always watching my games and stuff, so I do miss things, but I think I've found myself a home here in Knoxville and found a lot of good friends and people to lean on and stuff like that. So it's took me a little while to transition, but I think I've found my spot now and I'm really comfortable here. Austin Price: You're 24, not the oldest guy on the team that still resides with Keenan Peele. We'll see if he comes back. If he does then you'll still remain the second oldest, but if he leaves, that means you get the moniker as the old man in the room. You're a bit of a burrough drinker, you love the wine. Kind of take me through that mean most college kids are like beer, let's get beer. Jackson Ross: Yeah, I know college kids I think just trying to get as drunk as they can quick, but I don't mind a drop of red. Got a few favorites back in Australia, haven't really unco too many here. Definitely looking to find a few spots around and stuff like that. But yeah, I do enjoy a drop and it's something a few of my friends back home really enjoy and collect and stuff like that, so it's that and coffee are two things I do. Austin Price: Are you a cork collector? You get the cork on the no Jackson Ross: Open and drink and throw it out. That's the way I roll. Austin Price: You played 13 years of tennis before you went to Australian rules football. What do you like most about tennis? Jackson Ross: I dunno, I just grew up playing tennis. I think mom would play a bit socially and I sort of just started lessons and stuff when I was about four and I was kind of in a non arrogant way, naturally gifted I think with tennis I guess I didn't love the game, I didn't like that singular aspect. Just playing by yourself, Austin Price: You didn't like to run back and forth? Jackson Ross: Yeah, I wasn't a bit lazy, just Crio style was my sort of vibe if you know who he is. But yeah, I guess I got to age of about 16 and thought that I need to play in a team sport, love going out to battle with the boys and stuff like that. So that's I think the turning point When I switched to footy, I always played footy, but then it's sort of that when you get to 16, if you do two sports you have to make that choice on which way you're going to go. So gave up tennis then I still played a little bit for school and stuff like that, but I played a bit of pickleball here and stuff to keep that hand eye coordination going, but I would love to have a whack. Austin Price: Did you go to the Australian Open a whole lot? Jackson Ross: Yeah, I did. I pretty much went every year during January in the nice summer. So actually when I went back home last year I went for a night session and it will go back this year as well, but it's good watching the best in the world and stuff like that always. Austin Price: Who's your favorite to watch? Kovich? Federer, no doll. Jackson Ross: I mean Fed was definitely my favorite growing up. I do enjoy watching Crio just because he's a bit of entertainer and stuff like that. But yeah, I do appreciate the good players and Fed Raffa and those guys have been awesome to watch for plenty of years. Austin Price: Take the Australian open off the question out of the other three. French open us open Wimbledon if you could go to one. Which one? Jackson Ross: I've been to Wimbledon and I've been to the French, Austin Price: So you just need to go to the US Open. I've Jackson Ross: Been through Flushing Meadows in New York. I don't think I've actually been there for the Slam though at the time, but I mean Wimbledon's probably the most prestigious It Austin Price: Is like the masters in golf. Jackson Ross: Yeah, definitely. Yeah, I need to tick the US off and then I would've done all four, but they're all very unique and stuff like that. I mean the culture, Austin Price: The French opens the one, I mean Wimbledon, I've not been to any of them, but the ones that catch my eye would be Wimbledon and the French open. I'd love the clay, definitely. Roland? Jackson Ross: No, the French is, French is cool. I mean Paris is an awesome city actually, when I did play tennis, I did a camp there for two weeks at MAGA Academy, which is who was Serena's coach for a while. So I did two weeks there and then I played tournaments in Malta, Czech Republic and Belgium throughout a month when I was in year nine, which is when I was 15. So that was awesome. Went over there with a few friends and my mum came with us and it's a different breed over there in Europe, especially on the clay there, some really good players and stuff like that. So you get over there and you think you're pretty good in Australia and then you get there and you think, geez, it's a long way to go. And I mean tennis, I think the range you have to get to about a hundred 50th in the world to make the money back that you've put into the sport. So it's very unique in that sense. You have to be really, really good to make a living. Austin Price: You're a golfer at all? Jackson Ross: I do enjoy golf, but I don't really get out enough as I should probably. Austin Price: That's big in Australia. Jackson Ross: Yeah, it is big. We played our specialist masters here last year and Austin Price: Oh that's right, we Jackson Ross: Set up the So Austin Price: The who won that? Jacob Warren. Jackson Ross: No, so we have the top rank, which was Charles and then we sort of went down the order and I kind of put myself kind of low so I got paired up with Coach Eck and we were partners and the boys were pretty angry. I Austin Price: Was You sandbagged? Yeah, you sandbag me and coach. That's like not telling everybody you can kick with both feet. Jackson Ross: No, me and Coach Eck, I think one by about 10 strokes in the end, so we were laughing. Austin Price: That's fantastic. Can you get me on Royal Melbourne? Jackson Ross: I actually live one mile from Royal Melbourne. Austin Price: Are you kidding me? No. Can you get me on there? Jackson Ross: I mean I've got a few contacts I can think I'd probably hook it up if you need. Austin Price: Let's do this. I'm thinking last year my wife and I went to Hawaii to do stuff with Nico at the Polynesian Bowl. I'm thinking maybe not this January, but next January after the bowl game we go down under and we just follow you around for a few days. Jackson Ross: Yeah, I think there might be about 15 of us. There's a fair few lads trying to come. I think once a week I'll get there. When are you going to take me to Australia and the spider's big and all that sort Austin Price: Of thing. I'm not asking you to take me, I'm just saying let's go. Yeah, Jackson Ross: Let's do it. But yeah, it's good that when the bowl finishes that it's freezing cold here and I go back home and it's Austin Price: 80 Jackson Ross: 90, probably Austin Price: 90. Okay. I don't Jackson Ross: Really, I'm not great with the Fahrenheit translations, but yeah, it's pretty hot. Austin Price: Oh, koala bears or kangaroos? Jackson Ross: Koala bears. Because everyone talks about kangaroos here and it annoys me so I'll stick with the Austin Price: Koala sea turtles or saltwater Crocs. Jackson Ross: Sea turtles. They're cute. Don't really like Crocs. They're not my Austin Price: Favorite. You ever went swimming with the sharks out there in Australia? Jackson Ross: Not that I know of. They could have been something swimming under me, which I'm sure there was. I'm lucky in Melbourne where I live, it's not too bad, but I've got a few friends over the west coast in Perth, which is pretty brutal and when I went there I honestly just didn't want to go in. I'm a bit scared of sharks to be honest. Well I Austin Price: Mean I think everybody, I was kind, Jackson Ross: I kind of dipping my toes in the water and then sort of just land the tan on the beach while everyone else swam. Yeah, Austin Price: That's fantastic. You ever been to the orchestra in Sydney Jackson Ross: At the opera house? Austin Price: Yeah, the Jackson Ross: Opera house. I've been to the opera house. I've never actually been inside though Sydney's only about an hour flight, so I've been there plenty of times. Austin Price: How far of a car ride is that? Jackson Ross: It's about eight I think. Yeah, so it's a bit different here. I think not many people drive. I think in America everyone just drives some of the boys. Boys' parents do some crazy drives to games and stuff each weekend. I mean Memphis only six hours but still it's a 12 hour trip on your weekend. It's a lot of driving and stuff like that. I went to Tallahassee last bi weekend with Ben at Brady. His brother works down there with the tight end. So we went down there for three days and that was I think eight hour drive. That was Rock me around a little bit. Austin Price: What's the one place that you've enjoyed the most, not counting Knoxville that you've been since you've been here? Jackson Ross: I've been to Nashville a few times, just so convenient and stuff like that. We playing Vanderbilt this weekend obviously and I know the punter up there so he gives us a spot to live when we want to hit the town a little bit. It's kind of the middle point for a few of us in the SEC but got plenty of friends around here that I want to sort of go and see it there spots and just sort of compare college towns and that sort of thing. So we obviously talk about where we're at all day every day on FaceTime, but I wouldn't actually know what it's like at the town. So I do love Knoxville though. It's very a lot to do once you actually get out and about and once I got a car and stuff like that, it was cool to experience. I'd Austin Price: Love to see you out on Broadway. Some jeans, Jackson Ross: Not boots. I don't like Austin Price: The Boots, no boots, cowboy hat and that accent. I mean that's ringing in the women man. Jackson Ross: I mean take away the boots and the hat maybe they're not my favorite. I mean I see 'em everywhere around here and I kind of laugh. The boys loved it, which I think Charles has got about 15 pairs, which baffles me. He always likes wearing them on Volvo walk and stuff like that. So I'll stick to my semi designer stuff. That's what I like wearing. Austin Price: What's one place you've never been that you'd like to go Jackson Ross: In America Austin Price: Anywhere? Jackson Ross: I'd love to the Greek islands. I see a lot of people doing that. I've done a lot of Europe and stuff like that with friends and family in that, but I think yeah, Greece, Santorini, that very white sort of Oceanside would be cool to be at. And I also wouldn't mind doing Japan and stuff like that. Just different cultures and stuff and potentially South America or something if I get that chance. Austin Price: How far is Japan from Australia? Jackson Ross: Good question. Austin Price: Flight wise, Jackson Ross: I don't think it's actually too bad. Austin Price: Six. Jackson Ross: I think it's a bit more than that. I think it'd closer to 10 maybe. I think it's a direct flight though, from Melbourne to Tokyo. Yeah, Austin Price: I'm sure Jackson Ross: It is. Wouldn't be the worst. Europe's pretty bad. That's a long haul through Dubai and stuff like that. Austin Price: What was your route to get here? Jackson Ross: To get here? I did I think Melbourne to Sydney actually, it's a funny story. Sydney to Dallas, but we couldn't land in Dallas. Something happened to, so we ended up landing in Austin and then that's one of the biggest planes that I've ever landed at Austin. It's a Austin Price: Small airport as far as Sydney to Dallas. Jackson Ross: 15 I think. So ended up we were hovering over the Dallas airport and then sitting on the Tar ael too. So I think I was on that plane for close to 18 hours in the end. Extra leg room. Definitely helped a little bit but got in at 1:00 AM to Austin in the end or something and then had to have people here change my bookings and everything to get me out the next day. So I think I got in at 1:00 AM I was up at 4:00 AM flew to, I don't even know where I flew next. And then we ended up getting to Knoxville at whatever it was. I was on a different clock anyway. Austin Price: This was sight unseen for you and there's been a few of those over the years. Cedric Tillman was one, there was another one this past year. But I mean when you got here, kind of take me through those first week or so. What's going through your mind? I mean I'm sure it's not back home as far as a backdrop. Jackson Ross: Yeah, got here in the middle of fall camp and I actually wasn't in the whatever number goes, so it was a rough, definitely rough week. Not much sleep, pretty homesick straight away. That jet lag and homesickness mixed together is not a great combination. So it did take time. It was kind of good that the season was so quick though once I got there. So within a month we were playing games and within 10 weeks we beat Bama and stuff like that. So little things like games were keeping me occupied and stuff like that. But I was definitely homesick. I mean I think I cried probably 10, 15 times in the first month I was here at night. I was just like, what am I doing here? Stuff like that. But I mean since then I haven't looked back and have loved being here and definitely would've been crying anytime soon. Austin Price: So what's the specialist room? Obviously you've got Charles, he's doing the field goals and you've got Turbo Field doing the kickoffs and you're the punter, but then there's some other pieces, JT Carver and Max. Just kind of take me through what that room's led by a guy who probably is a little bit different than the rest of you all. Jackson Ross: I mean it's definitely changed a lot since last year. We had a few seniors last year and stuff, so it's a pretty fresh bunch. We do have a lot of fun. It's a very lighthearted group I'd say we work hard but we do having a laugh and stuff like that. So Coach X like that too with us, coach block crab, all these guys that make the place tick. But yeah, it's good. We have a variety of ages and stuff like that now. A few guys that'll I guess finish up soon and whatnot. But our sort of main core I guess is going to be here for a few more years and it's something we can really build towards having success in the future. But yeah, we do have a lot of fun. There's a lot of banter and stuff and we probably led by me to be honest. I probably should be quiet some of the time, but when we need to watch punt, we're probably, Austin Price: Every room needs a personality. Jackson Ross: Yeah, that's true. Austin Price: Every room needs a personality. When you call back home and talk to your pro kid guys, do they ever have you talk to kids that are trying to be like you back home and you be their mentor about the possibilities not coming just here, but to other spots in America to kick and give them your advice on how to hey, you're going to be homesick at first, you just got to Jackson Ross: Yeah, I have people reach out to me a little bit, but the thing is at Pro Kick they have coaches that have sort of been through it as well. So it's good that they can sort of help you with that. I guess you think you're going to be perfect. Everyone thinks it can beat the homesickness and stuff like that, but I assure you when you get there you're going to be like, damn it's real and stuff like that. It's just the reality of it. But when I go back and go to pro kick training and stuff, that's where we sort of sit out the front, stand out the front and tell our stories and stuff like that. Back when I was back in July, I was there with Tory Taylor, who's probably the best punter in college football right now at Iowa. We kicked a few balls Austin Price: In front of, it's because they're is not very good. Jackson Ross: Yeah, I think he's had 72 puns this year, which is pretty Austin Price: Crazy how many pun you had? Jackson Ross: I think about 45, which is Austin Price: High, Jackson Ross: A decent amount. So 72 is crazy. I mean he has to sit in that ice bath all day, recovered those legs. But we sat there and talked to what we've done. He's obviously his fourth year, this is my first, so we had pretty different stories. He didn't play the highest level Australian football back there, but just had such great leg power and he's very, very good chance to get drafted I'd say. So we kicked a few balls in front of them and people just ask questions and stuff, but it's definitely cool seeing such a variety of people come through the program. You've got 15-year-old kids that are not part-time just to tick away during school and then once school's done take the option and then you've got 25-year-old policemen doing it as well. It's just so different. Such a variety but such a good bond of blokes and once you get over here you've got network to talk to sort of thing. So I think 10 of 12 in the SEC are Australians and we're always talk and after games you chat to 'em and stuff like that. So it's always cool to take you back to your roots and hear an Australian voice again. Austin Price: How much better do you think you can be? Jackson Ross: I think I've got a lot of upside. Austin Price: Let's put on a scale of one to 10, 10 being the best you can be, one being the worst, where are you currently in your mind? Jackson Ross: 6.5. I think I've got a lot of growth. Austin Price: In what way? Jackson Ross: I think we've only shown a little bit this year on film and stuff like that. I mean teams probably have an idea of what we're going to do, probably dunno which foot we're going to kick with, but there's so many more things to add to my, I guess collection of punts. I can pocket punt and stuff like that. So if we're doing different things it's going to be so hard for teams to recognize and stuff like that and just going to I think improve this as a team in general and improve my game. Definitely. Austin Price: What will you do this all season to kind of differentiate from the prep you had this past off season, you know what I mean? What are some things that you feel like, okay, that worked really well, I need to improve in this area, so let's try something different here? Jackson Ross: Yeah, I think for me it's just putting on just size in general. I'm pretty skinny bloke and I think a lot of my power just comes from my leg speed and just my touch with the ball in general. So I think if I can put on more strength in general, that'll definitely help me kick bigger balls. I mean hang times and stuff for the scheme we're running right now is not super, super important. I can get away with holding the ball and kicking three, six to four oh hangs where if you're kicking from the pocket, you need to be up around that four, five just to make up for that time. You lose with the running of the ball. So I think putting on strength in general will help me continue to improve my arm and stuff like that, which is something we've been definitely working on and stuff to. There Austin Price: Was at one point about three or four games ago and you were so delayed in kicking it, I thought you were going to fake it. Yeah. How many times have you thought, man, are they going to call the fake here finally? Jackson Ross: I mean it definitely does cross my mind. I don't think coach hype's run many fakes in his Austin Price: Time. I don't think so either. I Jackson Ross: Don't think he's run any. Austin Price: I think you're right. Jackson Ross: Unless Eck takes over as head coach, we might be a chance. But I mean I guess if I see an opening and it's really short then it's on me, stuff like that. So I think South Carolina game, we did one where I sort of completely ran around the shield and I probably had a chance but it was pretty long so that probably would've been my time to do it. And then we ended up getting called on a legal formation. I had to red kick, so that was the first ball we'd kick with a really, really long op time, which is what we are trying to achieve. Got to the sideline and they were really happy and then had to go out and kick it. So it was a bit of a stab in the chest, but Austin Price: Asked Dustin about his younger brother Britain's fake pun at the 2005 Florida game. It didn't go so well. Jackson Ross: Didn't get it. Austin Price: No it didn't. Jackson Ross: I don't really want to watch it. That might make me nervous. Austin Price: It'll make you nervous to go rogue. Yeah, Jackson Ross: No, I'll have to ask him tomorrow morning then get it up on film. Might a few fakes tomorrow. Practice as well, just to see how I'm looking. Austin Price: His best kick, that may not be his longest kick, but his best kick was 2003 Miami, which coincidentally was the last game I was not at on the road Jeep Jackson Ross: Is. Austin Price: That's Jackson Ross: Crazy. Austin Price: Tennessee beat Miami nine to six or 10 to six and he kicked it away with about two minutes to go. And the great Sean Taylor, who's now deceased, muffed the punt, and Tennessee recovered. He just uncorked one. Of course he's got that big left foot. It's fantastic punt. Jackson Ross: That's crazy. Yeah, well we got one muff against Austin P. That was actually going back to your question before, that was a turning point where I sort of got some confidence I guess. I mean it's not really based on how good the pun is in my opinion. It can just be a mental breakdown for the returner and sort of trying to catch in move quick or something like that. But once Warren got that, picked that up off the ground, that's where I could celebrate and I really felt a part of it and stuff like that and really took my stride from there. Austin Price: What's that mean to you? I think you guys are pretty close. He was fired. The fact that Hype will sent him to Australia to do the visit. I mean Jackson Ross: He's awesome. I mean I can't talk highly enough for the bloke, I guess sort of a father figure to me here and whenever I just need a chat I can just walk straight up into his office and knock on the door and just talk some smack really, it's not always football, it's rarely football to be honest. It's just sort of that connection, which is what I need here. But same goes up to the top. I mean Coach Hype's awesome as well. Always has laugh with me and he would always just tell me to smoke the cigar every time I kick a good punt and stuff like that. He told me to watch the movie The Replacements. That was my homework from Hype. It's the only homework he's ever given me. He thinks I'm like the kicker, just the way I operate around the facility and stuff like that. He thinks I'm pretty laid back and stuff, so he's always telling me to smoke my cigarette and just relax and do my job. Austin Price: We're going to call you Paul Mall. Jackson Ross: Yeah, that sounds good to me. Austin Price: The Marlboro man. Jackson Ross: I don't actually smoke everyone, so Austin Price: Chill. We know. Lastly, we're going to end back in Australia. What about the culture down there do you miss most? Jackson Ross: I guess I miss where I live. I live on the water, the beach, not really surfers, but just being in that coffee environment, just grabbing a coffee with my mates and very relaxed. Walking my dog, taking him to the beach and stuff like that. Just little things is probably what I miss. So I guess it's that. But as I said before, it's family, it's friends, it's sport, it's just little things. But here I've just got different things as well. I'd admire and sort of take, I've got a golden retriever dog here as well, so I've got five-year-old back home with my family and I've got a 10 month old here, so. Austin Price: So when you go after the bowl game, are you taking that? Jackson Ross: Nah, he's staying here. Austin Price: When will, were they ever going to meet? Jackson Ross: Depends what happens. Post football, I guess post college where I end up maybe a little golden reunion, which would be pretty cool. They've never met now on FaceTime. They've had a little bark to each other. But I mean, yeah, it would be pretty cool in four years time, whatever, when I go back and I can take him. What's Austin Price: The names Jackson Ross: Wesley back home and Maverick here. Austin Price: Where's the Maverick come from? Jackson Ross: Not Top Gun. Everyone at the park always goes, is that why? But I was just on Google having a look and it sort of popped out to me. I think M's. A pretty cool name for a dog and sort of suits him well. He is a pretty dark looking retriever, Austin Price: So when he talked to the media, probably six or seven months ago, Charles Campbell was sitting over to the side and I'd come back in the room and I was sitting there with Charles and he was wrapping up and I said, Charles, just chime in and ask him what he likes about Act Back Steakhouse and no hate on Outback, I don't want to go there. But of course I said Charles up because I knew he was going to be like, that's nothing, luck back home. And Charles' face. I was like, I kind of got you there. What about food is different here? What American food have you learned to the most and what do you miss most about back home? Jackson Ross: I think it's the quality and the health of the food in Australia, which I miss a lot of burgers and stuff here, which is obviously enjoyable, but I don't think it's the best for you. So I just miss the sort of healthy aspect back home. I miss coffee back home. I think that's a huge difference in the beans they're making 'em with. I think there's a lot to learn in the American coffee industry, but I do have a few places here which I really enjoy. Five and Ho in Old City and Honeybee, which is right by my house, a pretty good brewer, so I'm happy with them. Austin Price: Awesome. Well man, the most interesting man in Tennessee football. This guy right here at Jackson Ross, we appreciate you joining us on Vaco Confidential. And if you get a chance to see this guy out downtown or over at Newland Stadium, don't hesitate to. Hey bloke. Good day mate.