Being a kicker in major college football can be quite a challenge for a first year starter and especially when you are kicking in one of the premier conferences in the country, the SEC.Bryson Rose is in a heated competition at Ole Miss to try and replace four year starting kicker Joshua Shene. In this story Bryson talks about how he got to this point and what lies ahead in his quest to be the starting kicker.
This is Bryson Rose On ‘A Specialists Path’.
Bryson had a strong soccer background before high school and like so many kids that age he was constantly playing in games and tournaments and eventually he was ready to try something a little different.
“I played soccer growing up and just got burned out,” Bryson said. “I played a little wide receiver my freshman year of high school and started to pick up kicking. My sophomore year they moved me up to varsity so that’s when I started to get more into it.”
Bryson certainly did get more involved with kicking and had an outstanding senior season that culminated in him hitting field goals of 51 and 54 yards and booming 85 percent of his kickoffs in the end zone.
Even with all the success he had in high school he was not able to obtain a scholarship directly out of high school, but he seems to be very pleased with where he landed.
“Out of high school I got attention from a lot of schools,” Bryson said. “Up until my senior year I thought I was going to go to NC State but many things fell through.
"So I went to a few schools one of them being Ole Miss. When I came for a visit I fell in love with the campus and the environment. I really liked the coaching staff and they offered me a chance to come play.”
In 2008 Bryson was redshirted and backed up four year starting kicker Joshua Shene.
“Josh Shene has had a big influence on me,” Bryson said. “I have learned the ropes through him. When I redshirted my freshman year I got to travel with the team that was huge for me as far as watching Josh to see how he prepares before a game.”
Last year he got a brief taste of what it is like to play college football as he kicked two extra points against Southeastern Louisiana. He enjoyed the opportunity but he certainly wants to do more than just a few extra points.
“I have many goals going into the season”, Bryson said. “I would like to be the starter going into the first game.”
To win the starting spot Bryson will have to hold off kickoff specialist Andrew Ritter and David Hankins. During Spring Practice he was running with the first team but he knows that a few stray kicks can change things quickly.
“Spring practice is very competitive, people are fighting for jobs”, Bryson said. “The one thing I have learned is make the best of your opportunity. When you have a chance to step in you better make the most of it.”
Bryson has tried to be prepared for his opportunity by seeking out the proper coaches this off season. He went to see Coach Doug Blevins and worked extensively with Coach Zauner.
I had the chance to work with him for three days in June for Coach Zauner’s Pro Development Camp and I was impressed with his ability.
He is a very consistent and detail oriented person, which typically translates into great kickers.
Bryson has dreams of walking through “The Grove” as the starting kicker at Ole Miss and he is certainly not talking this opportunity lightly.
“Being part of an SEC program is amazing”, Bryson said. “Every week is like playing in the Super Bowl. 80,000 plus fans in one stadium is crazy. It’s been a great experience for me but I have learned one thing and that it is all a business.”
Over the next month he plans to be all “business” and attempt to secure his goal of being the starting kicker for Ole Miss for the opening game on September 4th against Jacksonville State.
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