2018 Football
Jersey Number 48
Matt Shiel
- Position:
- Punter
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 209
- Class:
- Graduate Student
- Letters:
- 2
- Hometown:
- Doncaster, Australia
- Prev School:
- Auburn
- High School:
- St. Francis Xavier HS
Awards/Accolades
- 2019 NFFÂ Hampshire Honor Society Inductee
- 2018 FCS Bowl Participant
- 2018 Preseason All-SoCon Second Team
- 2015 All-SoCon Second Team (Media)
- 2015 CFPA FCS Punter of the Year Watch List
- 2015 Preseason All-SoCon Second Team
2018
- Ranked as one of the top FCS punters in his final collegiate season
- Led Mercer to the FCS' best net punting average (40.58 net yards per punt)
- Was eighth nationally & second in the SoCon with an average of 43.6 yards per punt
- Punted 52 times for 2,265 yards
- Pinned 20 punts inside opponents' 20-yard line
- Kicked a career-best 14 punts for 50-plus yards, including a season-long 60-yarder vs. ETSU
- Averaged 53.6 yards per punt on three attempts vs. ETSU
- Averaged 47.2 yards per punt or better in five games
- Leaves Mercer as the program's most prolific punter, totaling 98 punts for 4,268 yards & an average of 43.5 yards per punt, all of which are school records
- Earned All-SoCon Second Team honors in first season with Mercer
- Handled all punting duties for Mercer after transferring from Auburn
- Averaged 44.11 yards per punt on 44 punts
- Pinned 21 punts inside the 20-yard line
- Kicked eight punts 50-plus yards, including a program-record 73-yard punt vs. VMI
- Punted a season-high nine times for 387 yards vs. Samford
2014 (Auburn)
- Saw action in two games as a true freshman for Auburn
- Attempted two punts, pinning both inside the 20-yard line
- Kicked a season-long 35-yard punt to the 12-yard line in a win over No. 20 Kansas State
- Averaged 31 yards per punt
- Graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School in Doncaster, Australia
- Former Australian Rules Football & Rugby player
- Placed first among top punters at the Kohl's National Scholarships Kicking Camp
- Transferred back to Mercer for final year of athletics eligibility in 2018
- Spent 2016 & 2017 academic years at Victoria University (Melbourne, Australia)
- Son of Damien & Jacinta Shiel
- Born Feb. 8, 1990 in Doncaster, Australia
- Has two siblings, Luke & Anna
- Father (Damien) & brother (Luke) were also Aussie Rules Football players
- Mother (Jacinta) competed in track & field
- Originally chose to transfer to Mercer because of modern athletics facilities & opportunity to play football in the south
Mercer Football Press Conference (Week 11 vs Western Carolina)
Monday, November 03
Mercer 52 | Furman 28 Post Game Press Conference 11.01.25
Sunday, November 02
Mercer v Furman VB Highlight Reel: 11/1/2025
Sunday, November 02
Men’s Basketball Preview | Head Coach Ryan Ridder
Monday, October 27
