As a senior, he recorded 64 points on 14-of-19 field goals and 22-of-24 extra points attempts. His 14 field goals ranked second in school history and earned him All-MIFC honors. He received second-team All-MIFC honors as a center fielder in baseball. He finished his college career with 41 field goals (school record) and 204 career points (fourth in school history).
In 2000, although he was out of football for more than two years, teaching and coaching at Lucas High School, he was contacted by the Dallas Cowboys, after they had reviewed his highlight tape and wanted him to have a try-out.[1][2] At the end of preseason, he won the placekicker job over rookie Rian Lindell.
As a rookie, he led the Cowboys in scoring with 108 points (third in franchise history by a rookie), converting 25 field goals (franchise record for rookies) for a 75.8% and all 27 extra point opportunities. He also had one rush for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals, which was the first one by a kicker in Cowboys history.[3]
In 2001, he had an eight-yard touchdown run in the fourth game against the Oakland Raiders, although he had 2 field goals attempts blocked. In the fifth game against the Washington Redskins, he scored all Cowboys points including a 26-yard field goal as time expired for a 9-7 win, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In the eighth game against the Atlanta Falcons, he injured his right ankle trying to recover an errant snap from rookie long snapperRandy Chevrier.[4] He was placed on the injured reserve list on November 14. He made 11 out of 17 field goals (64.7%) in the year and was replaced with Jon Hilbert.
On September 1, 2002, he was waived after being passed on the depth chart by rookie Billy Cundiff.
Minnesota Vikings
On September 1, 2002, he was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings.[5] He was released on September 3, after spending just one day with the team and losing a kicking tryout against Doug Brien.[6]
From 1998 to 1999, he coached football, baseball and the freshman basketball team, while also teaching health and physical education at Lucas High School.