Rider training camp: Bailey Flint can punt, play the ukulele and he's quite the actor
Saskatchewan Roughriders punter Bailey Flint plays the ukulele just for kicks.
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He has studied theatre and acting.
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And, unlike his Australian predecessors who have joined the Canadian Football League or National Football League, Flint does NOT come from much of an Aussie rules football background.
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Certainly, he wasn't banking on it at age 28.
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'It's actually kind of funny,' he explains. 'I wasn't sure if I was going to get another chance. I called up RBC (Royal Bank of Canada) and closed my bank account up here. And, sure enough, I got a call (to join the Riders). My gosh.'
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The Riders are looking for a new punter following the retirement of Adam Korsak, another Australian.
Korsak, a West Division all-star in 2023, spent two seasons with the Riders after being selected in the 2023 Global Draft. Korsak punted 235 times while averaging 47.6 yards, with a 90-yard boot his longest.
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Flint's door opened even further when the Riders released fellow Aussie punter Joe Couch early during training camp at Griffiths Stadium in Saskatoon.
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'It's one of those things — in pro football, anything can happen on any day, if you don't perform,' offers Flint. 'I reckon if I have a bad day tomorrow, I could be on a plane, too.'
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Flint appeared in eight games with the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2023, punting 52 times for an average of 45.1 yards per boot, the longest 78. Before joining the Ti-Cats as the second overall selection in the 2022 CFL Global Draft, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound punter attended rookie mini-camp with the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Flint attended the University of Toledo, suiting up for 49 games over five seasons from 2017-2021. He averaged 40.3 yards per punt at Toledo, with 33 of his 209 punts travelling 50-plus yards (including a 72-yarder). He also buried 82 punts inside the 20-yard line. He was twice nominated for the Ray Guy Award, given annually to the NCAA's best punter.
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