Posted in: NFL, Sports | Tagged: Alex Zendejas, Becca Longo, entertainment, nfl, Place Kicker, sports

Becca Longo – Kicking Her Way To Being The First Woman To Play In The NFL

Published Mon, 19 Jun 2017 20:00:37 -0500

When it comes to place kickers, there is no more prolific name in professional football than Zendejas. And when coach Alex Zendejas tells people that a prospect is like to continue on past college and into the pros, you definitely keep an eye on them. The latest kicker that caught his eye, 18-year-old Becca Longo from Arizona. She is the first woman to earn a football scholarship at the Division II level or higher. She will be playing this fall at Adam's State University in Alamosa, Colorado.

Female place kickers in the high school level are rare, but Longo saw Heidi Garrett hit a 48-yarder to beat Long's cousin's team when Becca was just 5 years old. That kick is still the record for longest by a high school female. As a freshman, she surprised many when kicked the ball across the field on a dare. She spoke to her father about wanting to become the school's kicker. She did a workout in front of a few former players and coaches, wowing Zendejas and NFL kicker Mike Vanderjagt. She continued practicing with Zendejas and then approached the athletic director of her school. Longo hit 34 of 37 in her first season of Junior Varsity. She now regularly hits from 45 yards out and will be one of a dozen women to have ever played college football at any level.

Zendejas told Longo: "What separates you from everyone else is that you stuck with it, even in the hard times. You have all the potential in the world. Keep at it, and who knows? Maybe you'll be the first female playing on Sundays."

Longo has had her share of doubters: "I've heard people say that I'm just a publicity stunt, that I don't deserve this chance. I don't let that bother me. I just need to stay true to who I am — and stay true to what I've learned and keep improving — and I'll be just fine. I really believe that. I really do."

Meet the first woman to get a college football scholarship. #BRMag https://t.co/3DpmR56rH1 pic.twitter.com/28Vk9FLA7D

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 13, 2017

[Source: Bleacher Report]

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!