After a long drought, Nathanial Vakos silenced the critics with a spectacular field goal of his own for the Badgers during last week’s Wisconsin vs South Dakota game. Now, we are only away from a few hours to watch the Wisconsin boys lace up their shoes for the week 3 clash against Alabama. The question that swirls: will Nathanial Vakos be able to keep up his terrific momentum, leading his team to another breathtaking victory? While the answer might be subjective and tricky, let’s know the man behind the legend a little more deeply.

‘I always feel ready; I like to keep my head clear and have fun out there’: This is the 6-1 195-pound prized kicker from Avon for you all. This is what made him stand out among the horde. The phenom entered his second season as the team’s primary placekicker after he mounted a heck of 15-for-19 on field-goal attempts last season, going 14-15 from inside 50 yards. A smooth 34-for-34 record on extra-point tries was the cherry on the cake. Last week, he went 2 for 2 on FGs including a 50-yarder vs the Coyotes.

But the real flex is still his laid-back, super-confident demeanor that made the minute yet significant difference in the performances. Vakos’ meteoric rise to the incredible placekicker from an eighth-grade junior player at high school is, however, is awe-inspiring.

Nathanial Vakos saved a wane place kicker situation for the Badgers

Eagle’s eye of his former coach at Avon High School in Ohio long-noticed the gas in his tank to flourish as a remarkable placekicker in the future. ‘I know this, kid. He’s got a big leg’: the concise yet impactful review spoke highly of the potential he held as a teen. Nathanial Vakos was consistently scrutinised and given new opportunities to explore his talent even more widely. The current Wisconsin sensation once got the call to kick at a varsity practice, and he nailed it. He kept going to the camps, tweaking his craft, and the result was laid bare in daylight.

Initially, the Avon native left his mark in the Mac at Ohio University with spectacular statistics of 22 field goals, 98 per cent of his extra points heading to his Freshman All-American honours. In just his second game over, he first posted his first lone goal attempt, which was huge. Bidding goodbye to the freshman season on a high note, Nathanial Vakos stepped into the Wisconsin locker room, giving a thumbs down to the other teams standing in the line.

Coach Fickell approached him, conveying the need after an initial rejection, and Vakos took no time to prove he didn’t pick the wrong one. Vakos took charge of a declining place kicker position and stabilized it, which was under trouble ever since Vito Calvaruso failed to hold down the momentum.

It will be a treat to watch how far the Wisconsin saltwort Nathanial Vakos goes with his unmatched grit to the team and the game this season and beyond.