Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets punter David Shanahan. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Meet the Georgia Tech punter making triumphant return to Ireland

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Aug 24, 2024 3:14 PM ET

The 2024-25 college football season kicked off in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, with No. 10 Florida State and Georgia Tech duking it out at Aviva Stadium.

However, the international road trip for both teams was a homecoming for Georgia Tech punter David Shanahan, who grew up in Castleisland in County Kerry.

Welcome home, @David_Shanahan_

Shanahan will be suiting up on Saturday for @GeorgiaTechFB at the @AerLingus College Football Classic.

The Irish punter from Castleisland, Co. Kerry will launch his senior season from Dublin’s @AVIVAStadium.️

Saturday is going to be special!… pic.twitter.com/c8EdzBA7VO
— Aer Lingus College Football Classic (@cfbireland) August 22, 2024

According to ESPN, Shanahan, a senior, began exploring American football by punting to the cows on his relative's farm. He eventually made his way to Australia's Prokick Academy.

The Irishman is believed to be the first to earn an American football scholarship, and his story was featured further on ESPN's College Gameday on Saturday.

Full circle moment for Georgia Tech punter David Shanahan as the Yellow Jackets kick off the season in Dublin pic.twitter.com/tKEY9Zj7XA
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) August 24, 2024

"He is an unbelievable representative of y'all's country for us," Georgia Tech head coach Brent Key told the media on Thursday. "He does unbelievable things, not just on the football field."

Shanahan was only needed twice in Georgia Tech's 24-21 upset of Florida State.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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