Former Richmond defender Ryan Garthwaite is set to try his hand at punting in US college football, according to SEN SA’s Bryce Gibbs.
Gibbs, who was teammates with Garthwaite at SANFL club South Adelaide this year, says the 24-year-old has been keen on pursuing a move to the states since finishing at Richmond at the end of the 2021 season.
“Fun fact, Ryan Garthwaite, who played at the Panthers this year, is going to have a crack at punting,” Gibbs said on SEN SA Breakfast.
“He’s trying to get into college over there.
“He said he’s been doing it since he finished at Richmond a couple of years ago.
“That’s something he’s pursuing as we speak.”
When asked how Garthwaite was hoping to pursue his next move, Gibbs said he believed his teammate would go through existing Australian pathways in hopes of landing a college scholarship.
“I believe so (that Garthwaite will utilise existing pathways for ex-AFL players),” Gibbs said.
“The next step for him is to land at a college, he’s in his mid-20s.”
Garthwaite has earned a reputation for his booming kick in the SANFL, highlighted by his 65-metre after-the-siren torpedo goal for South Adelaide against Port Adelaide earlier this season.
The 24-year-old played 14 games for Richmond at AFL level after being taken at pick No. 72 in the 2016 National Draft.