Playing in the NFL is just about every kid's dream growing up. It was certainly mine.
From sandlot games with a nerf football to playing Saturday afternoons in a college stadium, if you are passionate about the game of football, you have envisioned playing Sundays in the NFL.
I certainly did.
I am left handed, so naturally I had a poster of Jim Zorn (famous Seattle Seahawks left handed QB) hanging in my bedroom as a young kid. As I looked at that poster at night, I imagined myself growing up to play quarterback in the NFL, just like Zorn. And why not, I could throw the ball far.
However, I also grew up playing a lot of soccer, and I could kick the ball very far with good accuracy. I was fast and having playing goalie for a few years, I also had good hands.
So, when I tried out for the football team in 9th grade, I went expecting to play QB, wide receiver or defensive back. On that first day of practice, being on a football team to kick a football never entered my mind.
But on that sunny afternoon, as we all stood in anticipation of what position we might get picked to play, the head coach called out to the team asking, “Can anyone kick?”
Looking around and not seeing anyone put their hand up, I raised mine and said, “I play soccer.” The coach looked at me and said, “Good. You’re our kicker.”
Kicker??? Not exactly what I had in mind, but I thought I'd give it a shot.
However, my first attempt at kicking a football in front of the team was not very successful.
I didn’t have my cleats on and as we started to practice field goals I was told to, “Take three steps back, two over, and kick the ball.” Easiest enough, right? Soccer style.
Well, as I went to plant for my first real field goal attempt ever, I slipped and fell on my butt. Needless to say, the whole team and coaching staff laughed.
I stood up, gained what composure I could, and tried kicking conventional style or “Toe Jam” as I call it. I kicked the ball pretty well. But I wanted to try soccer style again.
This time I hammered the ball.
I looked up at the head coach and said, “Which way do you want me to kick it?” He looked at me and said, “Son. I don’t care if you kick it with your ass. Just get the damn ball through the uprights.”
Thus, my kicking career was born. And little did I know then, that my NFL dreams would come true.
I went on to play high school football for the Hampton Crabbers in Hampton, Virginia. Then I was offered a preferred walk on opportunity at the University of Virginia. After being red shirted and then the kickoff specialist for two years, I ended up kicking field goals and handling kickoffs my last two years in college.
When the NFL draft occurred my senior season, I wasn’t drafted, but I was offered a college free agent contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to compete with legendary Eddie Murray, free agent Tracy Bennett, and rookie draft pick, Darren Alcorn (Mr. Irrelevant.).
Having four kickers in a NFL training camp was unheard of since there are limited camp spots.
After a long and tenuous competition, I outlasted them all to earn a roster spot my first year out of college. I had made the team as a rookie.
I ended up playing for six seasons with the Bucs, then one season each with the Raiders, Redskins and Chiefs. As it turned out, I played in the NFL for nine years.
Not bad for someone whose very first kick landed him on his butt, and who wasn't even considered for the NFL draft.
Since leaving the NFL I have stayed within the profession of football. I created and sold the online recruiting website, iPlayers.com. I launched the National Camp Series (NCS) for kickers, punters and long snappers. And most recently I opened up my own kicking academy, Husted Kicking.
It's been a long -and amazing- road from that sandlot with the nerf football.
However, one thing has become quite clear to me along that road, and that is kicking has been, is and will be a big part of my life.
I have been very fortunate to have played in the NFL, that is an opportunity few people get. However, I also know it's a dream many young people have. Now, my goal is to help individuals with the same dream I had, on their path.
Whether it is a high school kicker hoping to get a scholarship to college, or a college or free agent kicker looking for an opportunity to play in the NFL, I believe my experience playing the game at the highest level under the most stressful conditions combined with my ability to teach proper fundamentals, means I can teach others what I know, so well, and for which I have such a deep passion.
I am Michael Husted, NFL Kicker, and this is my blog.
In this blog, I plan to talk about all the projects I am currently involved in which are helping kickers realize their dream. These would be the National Camp Series (and Super Camp VI), Husted Kicking (private and group lessons), the Aguiar/Husted PRO Camp and other projects that are currently on the drawing board, but have great potential for helping kickers.
This week I plan to start with my personal path, then next week I will move on to some of the other kicking projects I am involved with.
So stick around. I’m looking forward to sharing what I've learned on my journey to help you on yours.
