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UPDATE: Sam Irwin-Hill's mother Susan said her son has been overwhelmed by the response to his 51-yard touchdown.
The former Bendigo Pioneers midfielder was the talk of college football in the United States this morning when he faked a punt and scored a touchdown for Arkansas against the highly-rated Texas A & M Aggies.
The match was televised nationally in the US and Irwin-Hill's touchdown earned him high praise across the country.
"Sam rang me as soon as he got back from Texas and he couldn't believe the reaction he received for scoring the touchdown,'' Susan Irwin-Hill said.
"He said his phone had been ringing hot and he had to do interviews after the game. He was so excited.
"Everyone in the US doesn't expect punters to run the football like Sam did.
"His Aussie Rules background certainly helped him with the way he took on the tacklers.
"We are so thrilled for him... after all the hard work he's put in, he deserves everything he gets."
UPDATE: A Texas A&M touchdown in overtime has spoiled Sam Irwin-Hill's party.
Texas A&M scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to square the match at 28-all before scoring another in overtime to win the exciting match.
But it's Irwin-Hill's touchdown that has drawn all the attention on social media and the news headlines.
EARLIER: Bendigo's Sam Irwin-Hill is the talk of the US right now after a fake punt 51-yard touchdown for Arkansas Razorbacks in a US College Football match against Texas A&M.
The amazing run has given Arkansas the lead over highly-fancied and sixth-ranked Texas A&M 21-14 deep into the second quarter of the South East Conference clash.
An Arkansas victory would be the biggest result for the team in many years.
The former Catholic College Bendigo student joined the Razorbacks on a scholarship after spending 2011 and 2012 playing with the City College of San Francisco Rams in junior college competition.
His two years with the Rams included helping the team win the national championship in 2011 in an undefeated season.
Irwin-Hill plays the punting role for the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Irwin-Hill was among the nominees for the prestigious Ray Guy Award last season, which honours America's best College punter, while he was also featured in an article in USA Today on Australian-born punters.
"As a punter, the Ray Guy Award is a big deal, so to be nominated is a really good honour and gives you a lot of confidence," Irwin-Hill said.
He has been placed on a 'watch list' for the award again this season.
