Newest Steelers punter was working overnight at McDonald's last year

Jordan Berry is much happier where he is now than where he was last year.

The punter from down under is seeking to unseat fellow Aussie Brad Wing for the Steelers punting job, a remarkable feat for someone who was working the graveyard shift at McDonald's in April 2014.

Out of money and out of any luck getting an NFL tryout, Berry, who played four seasons at Eastern Kentucky, returned home to Austrailia last April. He flipped burgers for a couple weeks before finding an office job. 

"That wasn't very fun," Berry told the Tribune-Review. "I wasn't a big fan of working that time of night."

He continued to refine his technique, looking to alter his style to fit the NFL game. The work paid off, as the Steelers signed Berry after a spring workout despite the recent signing of another punter, Richie Leone. 

"Over the last eight months, I have been working more on hang time and directional stuff because that's what coaches are after at this level," Berry said. "There is an opportunity here, but at the same time, there is a guy who already has the job. I have to go out and do what I can do and win the job."

The man with the job is Wing, who battled inconsistency his rookie year as Pittsburgh finished 25th in net punting yards and 28th in punting average. Wing feels more comfortable with one season now under his belt. 

"There was a lot of nerves and a lot of this and that," Wing said. "A lot of that is eliminated now, especially going into training camp. Last year, I was blind. I had no idea what I was walking into."

For his part, Wing isn't worried about competing with his fellow countryman. He's been in this situation before, when LSU recruited Jamie Keehn to compete for punting duties.

"You can't spend time looking at the other guy," Wing said. "You have to focus on what you can control, and that's where I am at. I don't spend too much time watching him because that's not going to benefit me."

h/t: Tribune-Review