Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1508272
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 30, 2023 51 IRISH IN THE PROS BY TODD D. BURLAGE I f you've never heard of Dallas Cow- boys rookie kicker Brandon Aubrey, you're not alone. On kind of a whim, the former Notre Dame soccer star from 2013-16 thought he'd give placekicking a try after his professional soccer career ended in 2018. And the move to football has paid off beyond anyone's wildest expecta- tions. In a 30-10 win by the Cow- boys over the New York Jets Sept. 17, the 28-year-old Au- brey became the toast of Dal- las when he made 5 of 5 field goal attempts, including a 55-yarder. Through the first two games of the season, Aubrey was 7 of 7 on his field goals, mak- ing him the first placekicker in Cowboys franchise history to convert his first 7 field goal attempts. As if that wasn't enough, the St. Louis native, who grew up in Plano, Texas (a large suburb of Dallas), also led all NFL kickers through Week 2 with 16 touchbacks on 16 kickoff attempts. So how did this all come about? After a four-year, 15-goal soccer ca- reer as a defender at Notre Dame, Au- brey made a brief attempt to play in the MLS. Those professional soccer aspirations never took hold, so Aubrey became ready to trade his soccer cleats for a necktie and pursue a career as a software engineer. That's when, according to a story on MLSSoccer.com, his life's course took another twist. W h i l e wa tc h i n g a n N F L game together on television, Aubrey's wife suggested her h u s ba n d g ive p ro fe ss i o n a l placekicking a try. Curious, Aubrey hired a kicking coach whom he spent four years working under until he landed with the Birming- ham Stallions of the USFL. While there, Aubrey won two league titles, and made 32 of 37 field goal attempts and 57 of 59 point-after tries. Aubrey's work caught the attention of Cowboys special teams coordinator John Fassel, who went to Birmingham to watch Aubrey kick and subsequently invited him to training camp where he won the start- ing job. Fassel was quick to point out that Aubrey's soccer background, which included 76 games at Notre Dame and 49 playing club soccer, helped flatten the placekicking learn- ing curve. "There's something about those guys that have power- ful soccer legs that translate to the NFL," Fassel said, "as long as you don't overcoach them." Finding a reliable place- kicker has been a challenge in Dallas since Dan Bailey left the Cowboys in 2017 as the team's all-time leader for most con- secutive extra points made (275), most consecutive field goals made (30) and career field goals made (186). Through the early going this season, it appears the Cowboys may have finally found their placekicking solution. ✦ A Quick Study, Placekicker Brandon Aubrey Shining In Dallas Aubrey, a former Notre Dame soccer player from 2013-16, became the first placekicker in Cowboys franchise history to convert his first 7 field goal attempts. PHOTO BY JAMES D. SMITH/DALLAS COWBOYS FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Aaron Banks (Played at Notre Dame from 2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers (NFL) In a 30-23 win over the Rams, the former Irish star lineman earned a sterling 86.7 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. Through two games this season, the Alameda, Calif., native and 2021 second-round draft pick had allowed no pressures in 62 pass blocking op- portunities. Julian Love (2015-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks, (NFL) In a 37-31 overtime win over the Lions Sept. 17, the for- mer Irish star and 2019 fourth-round draft pick recorded 13 tackles and recovered a fumble. Through two games, the Westchester, Ill., native made two starts and led the Seahawks with 22 tackles, including 14 solo stops. Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams (NFL) In a 30-23 loss to the 49ers Sept. 17, Williams carried 14 times for 52 yards with a touchdown and added 6 re- ceptions on 10 targets for 48 yards and a score. Through two games, the St. Louis native and budding Rams star had 29 carries for 104 yards and 4 total touchdowns.