Republic of Ireland prodigy Andy Quinn is set to make waves in American college football after pledging his allegiance to Boston College.
It’s barely been two years since the highly-rated teenager was crowned Ireland’s kicking king in front of a raucous crowd at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
During that time, Quinn went from being a rugby fanatic to being a highly-rated kicker, reflecting the growing influence Irish talents have on American football.
He is now firmly on the path to the big leagues after joining a growing roster of National Football League (NFL) academy alumni pursuing careers in the United States.
Quinn’s move to the US could be a massive game-changer for his career, and it will likely create a massive interest from the Irish betting community.
With American football gaining traction in the Emerald Isle, new Irish betting sites have expanded their offerings to include NCAA games.
With Quinn now firmly under the spotlight, his presence on the big stage could spark plenty of betting activity across his native Ireland.
The prospect of an Irish player excelling in a high-pressure NCAA game could create a ripple effect that generates more wagers on collegiate football.
A Dream Born in Dublin
Quinn’s footballing journey started at half-time of the 2022 Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Northwestern and Nebraska at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
The match-up was aimed at unearthing the next rising star, and Quinn certainly made a name for himself. From an initial pool of 180 hopefuls, Quinn emerged as a standout performer and was crowned Ireland’s Kicking King after nailing two 45-yard goals in front of over 43,000 fans.
The teenager’s performance also earned him a trip to Chicago, marking a huge turning point that kick-started his career.
He caught the attention of NFL academy head coach Steve Hagen and head of football Khris Durham, and they invited him to join the prestigious youth set-up, which is renowned for churning out some of the most popular NFL stars on the roster.
Quinn’s NFL journey has been anything but conventional. He initially focused on rugby and only started considering football as a serious career option when he joined the NFL academy.
Given his natural talent, the talented teenager wasted no time climbing up the ranks. He went on to attend the renowned Kohl’s Kicking Academy in Philadelphia and a summer camp in Tennessee, where he was named the fourth-best punter and the 12th-best kicker in the United States.
Despite his mind-boggling progress, leaving Ireland for the US was not always on the cards.
Quinn already had plans to go back to college in Dublin, but an offer from Boston College in September charted a different course for the teenager who couldn’t turn down a massive opportunity to get one step closer to the big leagues.
After an official visit, during which he and his family were treated to a tour of Boston and its rich collegiate sports culture, Quinn committed to the program, which was a no-brainer.
The College Football Dream
Since pledging his allegiance to Boston College and getting a tour around town, Quinn has waxed lyrical about the electrifying atmosphere of American college football.
“I can’t wait for the game day atmosphere,” he said. “Everybody is so loyal to their college, and the opportunity to play the teams that we’re playing next year, if I get chosen to play, it would be incredible.
“We’re playing Notre Dame Fighting Irish in Boston – that’s just gonna be a crazy game like the whole stadium’s gonna be sold out.
“We’re playing Clemson at home, Georgia Tech and Syracuse, Stanford. When you see the list of places that I’m going to be traveling to and also getting to play against, it’s really exciting.”
Boston has one of the largest Irish populations in the US, which has significantly contributed to the teenager’s smooth transition, adding to his immediate feeling of being at home.
Quinn’s obsessive nature and attention to detail have been crucial in his success story. He draws inspiration from rugby legend Jonny Wilkinson and spent hours honing his craft on local pitches during the COVID-19 lockdown.
The teenager has already spent time working with Irish kicker Charlie Smyth, who is now part of the New Orleans Saints practice after ditching Gaelic football to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) program earlier this year.
Derry man Jude McAtamney – another IPP product plying his trade with the New York Giants – also underscores the increasing emergence of Irish talent pursuing a path to the NFL.
