Episode No. 23 of the Irish Illustrated Interviews podcast series features James Rendell, Notre Dame’s punter during the College Football Playoff run in 2024 and last fall. Rendell came to Notre Dame by way of Melbourne, Australia. There he grew up playing Australian Rules Football before learning to punt at Prokick Australia, the country’s premier punting and kicking academy.Eventually, his skills impressed Fighting Irish special teams coordinator Marty Biagi, who offered him a scholarship to Notre Dame in spring 2024. Our conversation dives into Rendell’s upbringing, becoming a Double Domer in just two years, playing his first-ever football game in in front of more than 100,000 fans, being named a Ray Guy Semifinalist, and his pursuit of a career in the NFL.