The Legend of Corey Fatony: A Look Inside the Nation's Top Punter
9/20/2017 6:48:00 PM | Football
Mizzou junior P Corey Fatony has turned heads all season.
In the game of football, those on the winning and losing sides are usually determined by 6-8 plays that alter the outcome the game. While many are quick to point out the highlight-reel catches, thunderous sacks or a well-timed turnover, one third of the game is somewhat ignored by the so-called experts of college football. That one third of the game, special teams, is when one of Mizzou Football's best players gets a chance to flip to the field and give momentum back to his team. That player is junior punter Corey Fatony, who has undoubtedly solidified himself as one of the nation's top punters through the first three weeks of play.
'I wouldn't trade him for anyone in the country," Mizzou head coach Barry Odom said.
Fatony's established himself as one of the nation's best while doing so with a certain swagger that has turned him into a social media sensation.
"I kind of just try to stay hype," Fatony said when asked about his style. "I'm not sure where the word lit came from. It's just kind of what the cool kids say I guess. It's lit."
Fatony turned the heads of the college football world last week, booming four of his nine punts 50+ yards while routinely flipping the field in Mizzou's favor. During his second punt, while standing on his own 19 yard-line, Fatony kicked the ball all the way to the Purdue five-yard line. That's 76 yards in the air with more than four seconds of hang-time. The most impressive part, however, is that once it landed, the ball had enough spin to land perfectly at the three-yard line. Fittingly, he followed with a celebration, running down the field with his arms spread like an airplane.
"You're a football player, you're on the field, you've earned the right to be there so you should earn the right to celebrate," Fatony said. "I think I got the airplane from Ronaldo or Ronaldinho back in the Brazil days, but I just have all sorts of inspirations."
With the pinpoint accuracy similar to those who usually don soft spikes and golf pants with the aid of range finders and a 64-degree wedges, Fatony routinely drops precision strikes inside the opponent five-yard line using nothing but a Nike cleat and years of honing his craft. His ability has been on display all year, and last week his 75-yard bomb inside the five inspired a celebration that was introduced by the man widely considered the NFL's most entertaining punter – Pat McAfee.
"I got the golf swing from McAfee," Fatony said of the now infamous punt that landed him on Golf.com's Twitter page.
There's always time to work on your swing...even in the middle of a football game. pic.twitter.com/Ul9OcnVP7j
— GOLF.com (@golf_com) September 18, 2017
His celebration even garnered the approval of McAfee himself.
Cuzzo with the stroke ??? https://t.co/AofT1FMHsi
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 16, 2017
But it's not all fun and games for Fatony. While the flash that he approaches the position with certainly cements his status as an urban legend among Mizzou's fan base, it is his meticulous approach to his craft that allows him to carry himself the way that he does.
"When I'm on the field, everything is set up and once the snap goes, it's all mental at that point," Fatony said. "You've done it so many times in practice and you've went over it so many times with the team that at that point it's not physical - it's mental."
So whether he needs a 70-yard bomb to flip the field, or drop a precision strike inside the opponent five-yard line, Fatony is up to the task.
"I just focus on that punt and in that moment and what I need to do in that moment. I wouldn't really say that I have a set goal for the season. It's more of a punt-by-punt mentality if that makes any sense."
And for the rest of his junior season, punt-by-punt, Fatony will be dropping the jaws of all who witness his ability. From earning 'MVP!' chants from Mizzou's student section to the audible gasps coming from Purdue's media who watched him for the first time last week, Fatony will indeed keep it 'lit' all year for Mizzou.
??? Keep bombing my brother https://t.co/pfIpLNczqv
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 21, 2017
