Brandon Talton: Kick after kick
RENO, Nev. (BVM) — The University of Nevada, Reno football team did nothing less than show up last season. Finishing up the 2020 season 7-2 and playing one of the best seasons the team has had for a decade, pointing out the Wolf Pack’s star players would be simple. But Brandon Talton, a sophomore placekicker, has shown what unity and skill can do for a team.
What sets Talton apart from the rest of this talent-filled team is his moments of being a walk-on before becoming a scholarship-receiving collegiate athlete. The first game of the 2019 season, a game against Purdue University in the final quarter, Nevada had tied the game 31-31. Then Talton kicked a 56-yard field goal to win the game for Nevada.
UNREAL FINISH!
Nevada true freshman Brandon Talton nails a 56-yard FG to stun Purdue on the final play of the game 💰 pic.twitter.com/ECnq7kPKR6
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 31, 2019
Talton described what it was like to achieve such a goal.
“Before receiving the scholarship I was just excited and thrilled to be in that position,” Talton said. “It was the start of my career. The first thing that went through my head was I always told my parents I would get one, and I made my dreams come true. To have it happen in my first college game ever was one of the coolest things to happen for me.”
The former receiver, return specialist and holder, Kaleb Fossum, elaborated on this first game of his senior season.
“I remember I grabbed Brandon and I was like, ‘Hey man, go be a hero!’, and that’s all I told him,” Fossum said. “It’s weird when you hold the football you can feel the energy through it, he kicked it and I felt it,” Fossum explained. “I knew right away it was good. I’m glad they didn’t throw a flag, I ripped my helmet off before the ball even went through, it was honestly magical.”
Game-winner from 56.
Scholarship postgame.
Life-changing night for @NevadaFootball freshman kicker Brandon Talton 🙏pic.twitter.com/50pCXcWO6u
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 31, 2019
Before coming to Nevada, Talton played at Vacaville High School. While there, he lettered in football for three years. He also managed to be named All-League as a punter and honorable mention as a kicker. Talton describes how his high school career prepared him for the work he would have to put in once he came to Nevada.
“I didn’t start playing football until my sophomore year of high school,” Talton said. “I had been playing soccer my whole life, and that was the route I wanted to go with, but then I decided that I wanted to try kicking. I started kicking for my high school’s JV football team, eventually the varsity coach asked me to come out to their practice and I spent three years on the varsity football team.”
In his most recent season, Talton executed an 83.3 field goal percentage, scoring 73 points this year. To show just what Talton’s work ethic is like, long snapper Austin Ortega described what it is like to play with his placekicker.
“It’s exciting, to say the least, it has been cool to see him achieve all he has. He gained a great amount of respect from his teammates that night against Purdue,” Ortega stated.
The team has not stopped either. Preparation for the coming season has been underway.
“We are in winter workouts right now working hard getting bigger and stronger,” Talton said. “Next season looks promising for us, we have everyone coming back and it’s going to be a fun one for sure. I am hoping to accomplish first-team All-American, first- team all-conference and Lou Groza winner.”
With great strides to make next football season, Talton’s goals show his Nevada Grit and what he has learned these past few years.
“This last season taught me to just stay in the moment and just enjoy every moment,” Talton said. “Never take anything for granted and when you get your opportunity, kill it.”
The 2021 fall season will be an exciting one for the Mountain West Conference. The season is to be announced, looking to begin September 4.
