Athlete Stories
Stories Built From the Work Behind the Moment
Stories of kickers, punters, and long snappers building their path through discipline, development, and steady progress.
Specialists are often introduced through one moment; a long field goal, a well-placed punt, a clean snap, an offer, or a commitment.
But that moment is never the whole story.
That is why OTU tells these stories.
Each feature looks past the highlight and into the work behind it: the training, mindset, family support, coaching relationships, setbacks, decisions, and growth that shaped the athlete over time.
The goal is not to add more hype or simply celebrate the result and work. It is to show a more honest picture of what development can actually look like.
Some paths move quickly. Others take patience, reinvention, difficult seasons, or years of quiet improvement. No two journeys are the same, but each one can offer something useful to another athlete or family trying to understand their own.
OTU stories recognize the athlete while protecting the lessons inside the journey, because the result may get the attention, but the process is where the story is built.
Collin O'Brien | Carrying the Standard
Collin O'Brien grew up around the long snapping standard, but he is building his own path through farm work, family legacy, pressure, consistency, and the belief that hard work decides what comes next.
Tate Merbitz | Trusting the Process Before the Offer
Tate Merbitz is learning that the recruiting path requires more than talent. A 2027 kicker/punter from Mount Juliet, Tennessee, he is building through faith, patience, extra work, and the discipline to keep trusting the process before the offer arrives.
Michael Pluta II | Every Rep With Purpose
Michael Pluta II is more than a punter with a strong leg. The Warwick 2027 specialist brings linebacker toughness, academic focus, technical detail, and a deeper purpose into every rep as he chases the next level with gratitude and no regrets.
Izaac Smith | Built Where They Don't Always Look
Izaac Smith is building his specialist path from a place people do not always look first. A 2028 kicker from Sturgis, South Dakota, his journey is rooted in family, pressure moments, daily preparation, and a belief that South Dakota talent deserves to be seen.
Mathan Cook: Earned, Not Handed
Mathan Cook's specialist path started with a soccer leg and a team need, but it has grown through pressure, patience, and a moment where he nearly quit before earning the job. Now the 2027 Columbia High School kicker/punter is chasing a college opportunity with a deeper understanding of what it means to earn trust.
Giancarlo Chahine | Verified by the Work
Giancarlo Chahine is a 2027 kicker from Clarkson Football North in Toronto, Canada, building his path through verified results, daily detail, faith, and the work required to be seen.
Knox Dean | Chasing the Name
Knox Dean is still early in his long snapping journey, but the 2029 specialist from Sandpoint, Idaho is already building with purpose, chasing consistency, and working to become a name others from his state can follow.
Colton Wagner | Built for the Prove-It Year
Colton Wagner is entering a prove-it year with purpose. A 2027 long snapper from Powell, Ohio, he is working to turn development, consistency, and opportunity into the next step of his specialist journey.
Tyce Portera | Made in the Setbacks.
Read the off the Uprights athlete story on Tyce Portera, a Class of 2028 Specialists at Red Bank Catholic High School in Freehold, New Jersey.
Lincoln Neubauer | Built Where Nobody Sees.
Read the Off The Uprights athlete story on Lincoln Neubauer, a Class of 2027 specialist from Appoquinimink High School in Middletown Delaware.
Ryan Comeaux | Built Through the Climb.
Read the Off The Uprights athlete story on Ryan Comeaux, a 2027 specialist from Destrehan High School in Destrehan, Louisiana.
Steven Vaughan: Earned Through the Work
Steven Vaughan stepped into long snapping with an opportunity in front of him and quickly learned there was more to the position than simply getting on the field. His story is about discovering the craft, embracing the details, and earning growth through the work.
Andrew Webb | Three Weeks. Full Command.
Read the off the Uprights athlete story on Andrew Webb, a class of 2026 specialists from North Stafford High School in Stafford Virginia.
Sam Dolphens | Chosen While It Was Still Quiet
Read the Off The Uprights commitment story of Sam Dolphens, a 2026 Long Snapper from Papillion- La Vista South High School in Papillion Nebraska.
Julian Trujillo | Built for the Team First.
Read the Off The Uprights story on Julian Trujillo a Class of 2028 specialist from Eaglecrest High School in Centennial Colorado.
Blake Thompson | Built for the Snap. Born for the Moment.
Read the Off The Uprights commitment story of Blake Thompson, a Class of 2026 FAU Long Snapper from Viera High School in Viera, Floridia and the journey that led to FAU.
Drake Ford | Confidence Clicked. The Climb Changed
Read the Off The Uprights athlete story on Drake Ford, a 2028 specialists from Yorktown High School in Yorktown, Indiana,
Niko Dragin | Earned Through the Return.
Read the athlete story of Niko Dragin, a Class of 2027 specialist out of Palos Verdes High School in Palos Verdes, California.
Lucas Tenbrock: Size Doesn’t Save You. Work Does.
Lucas Tenbrock is an elite punter committed to Penn State. This story explores the patience, field-flipping ability, and long-term development behind one of the nation’s top specialists.