For Nate Boyer, working his way on to the University of Texas football team was a breeze.
When he showed up to walk-on tryouts as a 30-year-old freshman, the former Green Beret and staff sergeant in the Texas National Guard immediately impressed then-head coach Mac Brown. Boyer’s military temperament and hard-nosed work ethic quickly earned him a spot on the team, but after starting the last three seasons as the Longhorns long snapper, he’s ready to take on a new challenge.
At 5’11,” Boyer is far from the prototypical NFL long snapper, but his pedigree has convinced at least one team to take a chance on him; after he went un-selected during this past weekend’s 2015 draft, the Seahawks offered Boyer a free agent contract.
Though his chances of making the Seahawks final 53-man roster this fall remain low, Boyer is certainly up to the challenge.
Yeah, I’ve done things that are more difficult. You can’t really compare the two in a lot of ways, but this is a huge challenge in itself. This is the best athletes in the world. Just to get an opportunity and be able to compete… And I’m playing for a great team in a great city. I couldn’t be anymore thrilled. Just for the chance that’s all you can ask for.
God bless America.
[h/t NFL]