AMERICAN FOOTBALL

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

A ONCE Moe Lion has recently arrived at a famed NCAA Division 1 school, continuing to make a bid for a potential NFL career.

Former Western Bulldogs forward Billy Gowers, who played 14 games for Moe Football-Netball Club in 2023 for a return of 41 goals, made the switch to the Indiana Hoosiers after his first college football season at the University of Hawaii.

The 29-year-old punter was offered the chance to play the American game after training with Prokick Australia while finishing up his duties with Port Melbourne in the VFL, where he was that season’s league leading goal kicker.

Gowers’ first year in the sport was something magical, immediately positioning himself as one of the best punters in college football, finishing 14th for average yards punted across all conferences at 46.2 yards.

Team success also came, as the Rainbow Warriors finished with a win-loss record of 9-4, and even better, won the Hawaii Bowl 35-31 over the California Golden Bears.

Despite this tremendous start to his career, Gowers revealed his intention to enter the transfer portal on Christmas Day.

On Wednesday, January 7, it was announced that the Hoosiers were acquiring the special teams ace for the 2026 season.

In time for his sophomore year, Gowers will be joining a powerhouse school, potentially as defending national champions.

Indiana rolled Oregon in the College Football Playoff semi-finals on January 9, reaching their first National Championship game in its history.

The undefeated Hoosiers entered the big dance against the University of Miami yesterday (January 20) after the Express went to print.

If Gowers is to leave his mark in such a great situation, he could be on track for the NFL Draft in two years’ time.

Eight former AFL players have previously made the leap and placed on an NFL roster.

Arryn Siposs was one of the more prominent of the bunch, playing in a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, and who before making the decision to chase the American dream had signed with Wonthaggi in the Gippsland League.