Colony graduate makes Division I football squad

Oct. 8, 2006

By Jeremiah Bartz/ Frontiersman

As a high school athlete, Tim Egger was probably good enough to earn a shot to play football, soccer or basketball at a college somewhere.

But if anything, Egger wanted to continue playing football.

There were a handful of schools interested in the 2006 graduate of Colony High School. Most of the programs were smaller. These small-school squads would have probably given Egger the chance to see significant action early in his career.

But Egger wanted to shoot for a lofty goal. He wanted to punt at the Division I level.

So Egger bypassed the sure-thing, and decided to take a risk. Now he's a member of the Division I University of Arizona football program.

Earlier this year, Egger enrolled at the university, and started his journey as a true walk-on.

&#8220I really didn't know what to expect,” said Egger, who was reached by cell phone on Friday. &#8220I just wanted to give it my best shot.”

True walk-ons are the final players college coaches will consider placing on the roster. Recruited athletes are given priority, and preferred walk-ons are also invited.

Before the program's try outs were even held, Egger attended team work outs. He was persistent. He continued to work, anxious to find out if he'd become a Wildcat.

About two weeks ago, a coach told Egger to go fill out his paper work, and pick up his gear. Egger had made the team, and now wears the number 37.

&#8220It's just amazing,” Egger said. &#8220After high school, you leave not really knowing if you'll put on shoulder pads again.”

When Egger was searching for a college to attend and possibly a football program to play for, there were several possibilities. After his senior season at CHS, Egger's best chance to become a Wildcat was actually to agree to attend Linfield College in McMinville, Ore., and play for the Division III Linfield Wildcats.

&#8220I had quite an edge,” Egger said. &#8220Some of my coaches at Colony went to Linfield.”

Egger said Linfield was more interested in him as a position player, somewhere like tight end. But he felt he had the most potential as a

punter.

&#8220I just decided I'd take my chances at (Arizona),” Egger said. &#8220The worst thing that's going to happen is I don't make it. If you don't stick to it, you're not going to make it anyway.”

The idea of attending Arizona didn't hit Egger until late in the game. Egger lived in Oregon while he was younger, and applied for admission to several Division I schools in the Pacific Northwest, such as Oregon, Oregon State and Washington. Egger said his dad, Pat, told him not to settle, and submit applications at a variety of schools. So he added Arizona and Arizona State to the list.

Egger researched the academic programs at Arizona, and the programs he was interested in received high marks, and the warm weather was also appealing. Egger made a list of the positive each school had to offer, and Arizona ended up being his choice.

Egger started on his path to punting as a young soccer player. He started on the soccer fields very young, following in the footsteps of his older brother, John.

Egger said he didn't really consider punting at the collegiate level until he started attending camps outside of Alaska, and finding out he could compete against some of the best.

&#8220It opened up my eyes,” Egger said.

Prior to his senior season, Egger attended a Ray Guy Kicking Camp. There were about 30 of the two-day kicking clinics, named after the former NFL standout, hosted throughout the Lower 48 that summer. Egger recorded the third-longest punt among any of the players who attended the camp, a 54-yarder. He posted an average of 38.6 yards over the course of the two days.

When Egger returned to Alaska he learned he was ranked as one of the top-25 senior prep punters in the country. The list was compiled by the organizers of the Ray Guy camp.

Egger said his ability to punt didn't necessarily make it easier for him to become a Division I athlete. He just tried to make the best of a talent he has.

&#8220Everyone has what they're good at,” Egger said. &#8220Down here, as an athlete, any one of the linemen on this team could play quarterback in high school if they wanted to. But everyone has what they're best at.”

Egger said he was pretty good at quarterback, and maybe could be a receiver in college.

&#8220Punting comes more naturally to me,” Egger said. &#8220I can take it further.”

Now the key for Egger is adding to his natural ability.

&#8220For me, it's working on technique and consistency,” Egger said.

Egger compared punting to a golf swing. A handful of small changes can separate an average punter from a top collegiate punter.

There's how to take the snap, how to position the hands, how to spin the ball, how to drop the ball, how the ball comes off the foot. And the list goes on, and on, and

on.

&#8220It's building into your subconscious what your muscles are supposed to do every time,” Egger said.

A strong leg is obviously key. But Egger said the college coaches are looking for consistency.

Egger said most of the punters on the squad are also place kickers. But he wants to concentrate on just punting. The punters and kickers don't participate in most of the team drills. They just work on their individual skills.

Egger said he is fortunate to have a talented group of kickers ahead of him on the depth chart, great examples to learn from.

Arizona senior kicker and punter Nick Folk is a three-year letterman, and currently a nationally-ranked kicker.

&#8220He's doing some amazing stuff right now,” Egger said.

Someday Egger may be where Folk is now on the Wildcat depth chart.

&#8220I just want to work as hard as I can, trying to meet my goals,” Egger said. &#8220Hopefully I'll be the guy in the next couple seasons.”

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.