Why Deestroying Deserves a Shot at the NFL: A Compelling Case

By Jason Bolton September 02, 2024 10:30

Photo by Matthew Stockman/UFL/Getty Images

Few figures have managed to capture the imagination of fans in sports like Donald De La Haye, better known as Deestroying. He's a former college football kicker who made himself known on YouTube, merging his athletic ability with lifestyle coverage. In this article, we look at the reasons why Deestroying deserves an NFL opportunity and break down his background as a multi-sport athlete and social media personality, skill-set on tape compared to current players in the league, but also touch about some certain challenges he has faced during pursuit of his dream.

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Athletic Background

Deestroying began his athletic journey at the University of Central Florida (UCF), playing as a kicker for the Knights. In his time there, he showed the consistency and accuracy required of any upstart NFL kicker. He made intriguing highlights in college, such as a 50-yard field goal that swung the momentum in his team's favor. On top of having one heck of a leg and clutch gene with all the pressure around him

Following some NCAA rule-breaking for his YouTube page, Deestroying had to cut short the college portion of his football career but never stopped improving as a player. The many training videos that he shares with his fans are evidence of his commitment to staying in top physical form and working on the basics. These videos showcase his talent and the effort he puts into playing football.

Social Media Influence

His life revolves around YouTube, where he has over four million subscribers and a strong following on other social media fronts, but the average sports fan knows him well. From football challenges, workouts, and travel vlogs to lifestyle videos, he always smiles in everything he does.

This social media presence made him more famous and gave him a platform to showcase his preternatural skills to the world. While traditional athletes depend on scouts and coaches alone, Deestroying has created a personal brand that taps into the digital world to engage followers of his creation and potential sponsors. It's a quality the NFL needs and craves, considering it has struggled to captivate younger audiences and reach out to a wider demographic.

Skill Set

Deestroying can do it all and then some. He boasts accuracy and distance, his two biggest skills as a kicker. He's been incredibly accurate in kicking long-field goals that NFL games frequently come down to due partly to how he consistently drills them. His practice regime, well-documented on his YouTube channel, consists of exercises to enhance kicking power, endurance (flexibility), and visual comfort.

Kicking aside, Deestroying moves with elite agility and speed may translate to various special teams assignments. Many of those videos show him running through agility and speed drills, illustrating how many roles he could fill at the next level. His versatility, work ethic, and desire to improve at all costs make him a pretty attractive draft prospect for an NFL team.

Comparison to Current Players

There are several similarities you can find when comparing Deestroying to that of current NFL players. As for him, he kicks a lot like the top NFL booters of today. The most recent examples are two-time Pro Bowler Justin Tucker and Super Bowl winner Harrison Butker, who are both lauded primarily because they can hit from anywhere. These are some of the characteristics these athletes have. Hopefully, Deestroying has shown he can do it, especially under pressure, which is very important when stepping into a pros-league.

His blue-collar work ethic and desire to better himself bear a semblance of many NFL player who have struggled in life and only turned their fortunes around.

Challenges and Criticisms

With the impressive resume he has to his name, there are too many obstacles in overcoming the odds of making an NFL roster. He could potentially be rusty after going pro; many critics argue his style/approach to the game isn't necessarily suited for competition at a professional level since he hasn't played anybody on an elite team in a year. His journey from college athlete to YouTube sensation is unlike anything we have seen. It has created doubt in some about his commitment to ever playing football professionally. He has done plenty of pro days and camps to show he's continuing his quest for an NFL dream. His ability to maintain his level of history while managing social media content magnifies his dedication and time management.

With accolades and a blue-collar high school athletic background, which is as impressive, he sure built to win at the professional level. His reach across various social media channels increases his own exposure and provides NFL teams a chance to tap into an unrivaled fanbase. Regardless, his skill set's accuracy, versatility, and adaptability make him a good fit for what is being asked of players at the NFL level.

The obstacles and criticism may still exist, but Deestroying's tenacity in adversity speaks to his potential value at this level. The NFL looks a bit different every year, with new faces representing various backgrounds, and this chapter of Deestroying's career is simply the newest iteration in how sports has transformed to mold into today's digital era. His intriguing mix of on-field talent and off-field pizzazz might give him an opportunity somewhere, as long as a team can fully trust his commitment to playing.