Kicking the Competition: Brooks Rossman Looking To Excel in the UFL

In a few years, Brooks Rossman might come full circle in the sports world. As the kicker for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League, Rossman utilizes the services of an agent, as well as attorneys, to help manage his career. But after what appears to be a promising professional kicking career, Rossman hopes to attend law school and could be, himself, a future sports agent.

In the meantime, Rossman’s sole focus now is a successful year kicking in the UFL, an opportunity that he’s excited about.

“The UFL has opened new doors for free agents,” said Rossman, a former two-year starter at Kansas State. “It has competitive pay and will allow me to get some good game tape. It’s kind of taken the place of NFL Europe. It’s great opportunity to have.”

Rossman’s tale is not unlike many kickers in the National Football League who have had to pay their dues before sticking in the NFL. After graduating from Kansas State in 2009, Rossman went undrafted in the NFL Draft, but was fortunate to receive an invitation for mini-camp with the St. Louis Rams and then later the New York Giants.

However, with high-paid veteran kickers Josh Brown and Lawrence Tynes in St. Louis and New York, respectively, it was tough for Rossman to supplant the two. Rossman, nonetheless, wanted to leave a positive impression.

“You don’t really know what the coaches are thinking at that level, you just hope that someone out there likes you,” he said. “I knew [trying to make the NFL] was something I wanted to do my entire life, so I was just going to see what happened. I just feel fortunate that I was able to attend those mini-camps.”

Rossman kept his head high, seeing his mini-camp experience as progress in the right direction rather than a roadblock and continued to chase his dream. However with just 32 spots in the NFL for kickers, sometimes being in the right place at the right time is just as important as a skill set.

“Kicker is one of the few positions on a football roster where you don’t see two or three guys on the depth chart,” said Scott Rochelle, one of Rossman’s agents. “Therefore, we have had the unfortunate situation where Brooks has been deemed good enough by several NFL teams, but no positions were available.”

Rossman gained momentum this past March when he attended the Aguiar Kicking Camp, which brought in some of the top-special teams coaches in the NFL, CFL and UFL. In front of those coaches, Rossman put on a show and finished as the top-ranked kicker at the camp.

“There were a lot of talented kickers and punters at the camp; anyone who is anyone was there,” he said. “It’s the best place to go to if you’re looking to get picked up. It was a real positive and made me feel like I belong.”

Rossman’s performance at the camp netted him two more mini-camp invites, from both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets this past spring, which continued to provide him more NFL experience.

“Everything’s just a building block,” he said. “It’s a three-to-four-year process, and I'm willing to give it that much time.”

Rossman continued to bide his time until his big opportunity came along similar to current NFL kickers David Akers, who kicked for a year in NFL Europe before joining the Philadelphia Eagles, and Robbie Gould, who was working construction when he got a call from the Chicago Bears.

Early in the spring, Rossman received substantial interest from two Canadian Football League teams, as well as three United Football League teams, but in late spring, his big opportunity arose when he attended an open tryout in Los Angeles with the Las Vegas Locomotives.

There, Locomotives special teams coach Larry Mac Duff saw enough of Rossman to invite him to a private workout in Las Vegas with one other kicker. At the workout, Rossman beat out his competition and was signed as the sole kicker of the Locomotives, giving Rossman a kicking job in an unlikely location for sports.

“It’s interesting,” he said “People don’t come to Las Vegas to watch football. They’ve never really had a pro sports team here, but the team has done a great job of marketing. It’s a cool place to live and play football.”

Despite his busy schedule, Rossman has also found time to help the next generation of kickers. Also in the spring, Rossman met former Missouri kicker Jeff Wolfert through a mutual friend. Despite being Big 12 North rivals in college, the two connected instantly, being able to empathize with each other’s drive to make it as NFL kickers and started kicking together.

As their friendship started to grow, Rossman asked Wolfert if he would be interested in opening up a kicking academy in Kansas City where they both were living. Wolfert acquiesced and Kansas City Kicking was born.  On July 19, the two held a camp at Blue Valley West High school in Overland Park, Kan., a suburb of Kansas City. It has provided Rossman a way to give back to a sport that has given so much to him.

“It’s definitely nice to help younger kids out,” he said. “I’ve been in their shoes and know what it’s like being a young kicker. They see what I have done and where I am, and so I hope it gives them hope that anything is possible.”

Whether it’s kicking a ball through an upright, mentoring younger football players, or possible even law school, Rossman has the determination and work ethic to be a success in any field he chooses.

“Brooks is going to find success regardless of what obstacles are thrown in his way,” Rochelle said. “He is the personification of perseverance, and I have truly enjoyed helping him along this journey thus far. He has remained positive throughout the process and is gracious about every opportunity that he receives. I’m thrilled to see that he will finally be able to further prove his case to NFL scouts this year through the United Football League.”