Auburn Signs Australian Punter Max Bourke

Bourke joins a punter room led by Hudson Kaak, a fellow Australia native who transferred from Oklahoma State last offseason.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 5:07pm

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Auburn has signed Australian punter Max Bourke, adding to their special teams unit. Bourke, who is in his mid-20s, will arrive at Auburn this summer with four years of eligibility remaining. He joins a punter room led by Hudson Kaak, another Australian who transferred from Oklahoma State last year.

Why it matters

The addition of Bourke provides depth and competition at the punter position for Auburn, which is looking to improve its special teams performance after a mixed season in 2025. Bourke's experience and size could make him a valuable asset for the Tigers.

The details

Bourke is listed at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, and he attended Brunswick Secondary School in Victoria, Australia. He played Aussie rules football, basketball, and cricket, helping lead his team to the 2023 Division 1 YJFL Championship. Bourke joins a punter room led by Hudson Kaak, who averaged 42 yards per punt last season, good for eighth in the SEC. Auburn also signed Thompson (Ala.) punter John Alan McGuire in the 2025 class, who served as a backup kickoff specialist and punter last season.

  • Bourke will arrive at Auburn this summer.

The players

Max Bourke

A mid-20s Australian punter who has signed with Auburn and will arrive this summer with four years of eligibility remaining.

Hudson Kaak

A fellow Australian who transferred from Oklahoma State to Auburn last offseason and led the SEC in punting average in 2025.

John Alan McGuire

A punter from Thompson, Alabama who signed with Auburn in the 2025 class and served as a backup kickoff specialist and punter last season.

Jacob Bronowski

The new special teams coordinator at Auburn, hired away from Pitt by head coach Alex Golesh.

Alex Golesh

The head football coach at Auburn who has overseen 60 new additions to the roster since taking over the program.

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What they’re saying

“Auburn and Alex Golesh continue to work until the final buzzer.”

— Christian Clemente, Author

What’s next

Bourke will join the Auburn roster this summer and compete for the starting punter job alongside Hudson Kaak and John Alan McGuire.

The takeaway

The addition of Australian punter Max Bourke provides depth and competition at a key special teams position for Auburn, as the program looks to improve its overall special teams performance under new coordinator Jacob Bronowski.