Tommy Openshaw (17) kicks a field goal as Vanderbilt picked up its first SEC win under Coach Mason 10-3 at Vanderbilt Stadium October 24, 2015
Rather, kickers are often depicted as frail and soft; decent soccer players masquerading as football players who are only on the team because the rules of football mandate it.
However, when Vanderbilt kicker Tommy Openshaw’s high school coach Paul Stanton was asked to describe him in one word: “tough.”
“Physically, mentally and emotionally, he’s just a really tough kid,” he said.
Like a lot of kickers, Openshaw grew up playing soccer at a young age.