Trace Rudd | Is Built, Not Given
ATHLETE | Trace Rudd
CLASS / POSITION 2025 | Kicker
SCHOOL | Blue Valley Northwest High School
HOMETOWN | Overland Park, Kansas
COLLEGE | University of Oklahoma
Some specialist stories arrive early. Others are built through time, patience, and the kind of work that is not always seen right away. Trace Rudd's path was the second kind - steady, deliberate, and shaped through a process that asked him to wait longer than most before the right opportunity appeared.
From Soccer to Specialist
Trace's story does not begin with early recruiting momentum or immediate attention at the position. Before football, he was an elite soccer player, nearly joining the Sporting KC Academy. The coordination and composure were already in place, but his leg strength separated him early.
Somewhere between 8th grade and his freshman year, the direction changed. "I started taking being a specialist seriously." He made varsity as a freshman in the EKL Conference and earned recognition early. By sophomore year, the path sharpened with national attention and the realization that college football was real.
The Momentum Shift
“I belong here.”
Every specialist reaches a point where belief has to match performance. For Trace, that moment came at the Arizona Showcase, where he charted perfectly and won the field goal competition. It was confirmation.
From that point forward, everything became intentional. Training, recovery, and competition all elevated. Camps became about building relationships that last beyond a single performance.
The Wait That Shaped Him
Recruiting did not come quickly. It did not build early momentum. His junior year required patience.
“Seven colleges were checking in seriously. Only three offered.”
The challenge was earning a full ride scholarship.
“The first offer from OU was a full ride. It felt like I had to wait forever, but it was my dream offer.”
For specialists, recruiting is built through trust and time, not noise.
Why Oklahoma
“Oklahoma is a blueblood powerhouse.”
Trace's connection to Oklahoma was built through experience. At his first game - OU vs UCF - he felt the environment differently.
What mattered most was the history, development, and relationships.
“The bond at OU is real.”
When the full picture came together, the decision became clear.
Built Through Work
Trace brings measurable tools - elite kickoff distance, strong field goal range, and national recognition.
But the difference shows up in the work.
“I take weightlifting seriously.”
That commitment separates specialists who last.
What the Process Taught Him
“This new chapter is going to be hard.”
College football demands consistency and discipline.
“You just have to be patient. Keep working because you only control the work.”
The lesson is simple. Patience matters. Work matters more.
Eyes Forward
As he moves into Oklahoma, the focus is clear. Earn trust. Build routine. Compete daily.
Nothing is assumed. Everything is earned.
Advice to the Next Specialist
Do not rush the process. Do not compare timelines.
Stay consistent. Stay disciplined. Be ready when the opportunity comes.
Sometimes one opportunity is enough.
Final Word
“Ready when it mattered.”
Trace Rudd's story is not about how fast the process moved. It is about being ready when it finally did.
Nothing was given. Everything was earned through patience, consistency, and work that held up over time.
When the moment came, he was ready.
Follow The Journey
Trace Rudd
📍 Oklahoma
🎯 Position: K / P
📲 X:@TraceRudd3
📸 IG: trace.rudd
🎵 TikTok: trace.rudd
