2007 NFL Draft: Mason Crosby Gets His Kicks

By Jeremy White, NFLHS.com

In high school football, it's rare to see a place kicker who does nothing but kick. Usually, the kicker happens to be one of the team's best athletes, often the quarterback.

Such was the case with Mason Crosby, considered the best kicker in college football last season when he split the uprights for the University of Colorado. Crosby, though he didn't play quarterback, was a solid varsity athlete who earned two letters in football as well as two letters in soccer at Georgetown High School in Georgetown, Texas.

"I played free safety and receiver all the way through high school," Crosby says. "But my freshman or sophomore year in high school I decided to really focus on becoming a kicker and trying to kick in college."

That's the first lesson Crosby can offer high school football players. If you aren't blessed with an all-world body type and speed (Crosby is 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds ... pretty good for a kicker), there may still be room for you to play at the next level if you work hard on less glamorous high school positions.

Crosby's second piece of advice? Develop a sound work ethic.

"It started with a lot of natural ability," he says of his kicking acumen. "But once you see you have that, you really need to start working on technique so you can get better and be the best kicker you can be."

At Georgetown High School, Crosby was first-team all-district as a kicker, punter and receiver. He nailed a 59-yard field goal in a game and had a punting average of 39.8. At free safety, he recorded 78 tackles and three interceptions as a senior. He had 58 tackles and another three picks as a junior. In soccer, he starred as a defender and midfielder. He scored 14 goals as a sophomore and 17 as a junior.

"Growing up, I acquired that mentality of being competitive and always wanting to win," says Crosby. "Soccer really helped my leg strength and my control."

Crosby says he approaches all kicks - from an extra point to a game-winning field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter - the same.

"I want to make every kick," he says. "Sure, I love winning games in the fourth quarter, but I also love winning by 50 (points) and not having to kick game-winners."

Since football is a game of field position, Crosby cautions young kickers not to neglect kickoff work and over-emphasize field goal practice. Both facets of the game are important, he insists.

"I feel good kicking off. It's just a rhythm thing, really," he says. "It's of huge importance because it dictates the other team's field position. Your ability to kick off is just as important as your field goals and can really set you apart."

Crosby's last bit of advice for high school kickers (and football players in general) is simple.

"Be confident," he says. "Do what you can control. You can only control yourself and your workouts. Control what you can."

Story courtesy Red Line Editorial, Inc.