From Sydney to the SEC: Rebel Punter Oscar Bird Ready for Year Two at Ole Miss

OXFORD, Miss. — The Ole Miss football team is finishing up spring camp and looking forward to summer, and even the season in just a few months. Media visited with Rebels’ returning punter Oscar Bird this week about the team and his thoughts on the future.

Bird is entering his second year in Oxford, arriving in January 2025 and playing out his first year of college football, or any American football, for the Rebels last year.

The Sydney, Australia native opened his press conference talking about the adjustments he’s made needed over the last year or so.

Oscar Bird

But, like many people in the modern era of college football, Bird had options to explore after the season, before ultimately deciding to stay put in Oxford.

“It was a pretty easy decision in the end,” Bird said.

Oscar Bird on returning for 2026

That was quickly followed up by a question whether Lucas Carnerio, the Rebels kicker, and Bird were a package negotiation.

“Obviously, Lucas and I, we live together. We’re very close on field. It’s an important relationship to have. So, I think we had our own decisions to make, but I think the fact that we had such a good year together, there’s chemistry there already. Obviously, Lucas is going into his last season. And I think that was a big factor that if he could maintain that relationship and keep building on what we had last season, it would just help roll into another hopefully successful year.” Bird said.

Bird walked the media through what it is like for a punter/holder to improve over the offseason and how he goes about doing so.

“It’s going through last season’s film and seeing what I did well, where I can improve. I think it’s not trying to overcomplicate it too much,” Bird said, “For a majority of the games, I did what we were trying to execute, and so it’s not trying to reinvent the wheel and just say, ‘Hey, this stuff was really good. Let’s keep working on that.’ And then there are little tweaks in areas that I’ll look to continue to get better every season. There’s always room to improve your distance, improve your hang, improve your get-off time.”

Bird also joked his way through his press conference, specifically when asked about his power ranking of American foods.

“I like barbecue. I like a good pizza here and there. I think steak’s really well done here, not well done, I like it medium rare,” Bird joked.

Bird kept his enthusiastic demeanor later on when asked about getting more carries, and quickly corrected the stat that said he averaged 10 yards per carry — and said it’s really 18 — but then explained the special teams’ importance from his view.

“I think the obvious when I’m out there, I’m out there to do a job for special teams and make an impact. So, if that’s getting great field position, then that’s exciting. If it’s trying to get that first down, whichever way required, then I’m more than happy to do what the coaches want of me.” Bird said.

As Ole Miss shifts its focus from spring work to the long stretch toward kickoff, Bird’s role feels far more defined than it did a year ago. No longer just adjusting to a new game and a new country, he’s now a trusted piece of a special teams unit that values consistency and chemistry. With another offseason to refine his craft and a full year of experience behind him, Bird enters 2026 not just hoping to contribute—but expecting to be a difference-maker when it matters most.

The 2026 season kicks off on September 6, in Nashville when the Rebels play the Louisville Cardinals.