NFL DraftProspect Interviews

2021 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Danny Laudet, P/K, Concordia St. Paul

Danny Laudet Concordia St. Paul
Danny Laudet is an impressive athlete that has played both punter and kicker at Concordia St. Paul. Laudet found a love for football coming to the US from France. He recently told his story to NFL Draft Diamonds writer Jimmy Williams.
  • Name: Danny Laudet
  • Height: 6’3”
  • Weight: 230 lbs
  • Position: P/K
  • College: Concordia University St. Paul
  • Twitter: @DannyLaudet
  • Instagram: @frenchiekicks

Talk about your experience as a student. What is your major/minor? Did you participate in any other activities or campus organizations other than football?
I majored in International Business. I wasn’t super involved on campus as I was a little older than most students. It just created a slight disconnect for me. 

How did you become a punter/kicker?
I originally came in as a punter and kickoff specialist but graduating Jonas, a prolific kicker at the school, led to me being pushed into all the kicking duties.

How did you end up at Concordia St. Paul?
I ended up at Concordia because I wanted to stay close to the twin cities and had followed what Coach Currier was trying to do with the program. I walked into the football offices and said I would like to play for you in a month this was July and by august I was on the field experiencing college football!

Talk about any experiences you have had at any offseason kicking camps.
I owe my kicking start to Taylor Mehlhaff and his camp. He helped me realize kicking was something I should pursue. He’s always been so helpful in molding me into the specialist I am today. I’ve worked with Chris Husby from the start as well and am so grateful for all his help in pushing me to grow.

Next on the list is Luke Radke from Kohls kicking who’s always been a great resource and really helped me become a better punter!

Finally, John Carney in the past two years has been the most incredible resource to help me become a kicker and punter with post-collegiate aspirations. I highly recommend any specialist trying to pursue the dream to go out and work with him!!!

NFL Draft Diamonds 2021 Small School Prospect Rankings

What’s your mentality towards training? Do you have a favorite kicking drill?
I’ve found my training is a balance of weight-room work, kicking drills, and a lot of outdoor work like cutting trees and reshaping yards.

My favorite drill of late has come from John Carney in California. It’s a dart drill where the goal is to generate directional line drive spiral punts to get into a groove and help increase consistency in punts.

Describe a time in your life when you were able to overcome a struggle.
The biggest thing I can remember dealing with was being a 16-year-old kid sent to live with a family in America that I had never met as I was adopted by them. This was a really difficult thing to process at that age for a shy kid.

What is something that you are most proud of? What would you say is your biggest achievement?
I am most proud of having moved successfully to the United States and overcome a lot of challenges in order to play college football. I just find a way to make things work.

My biggest achievement would be getting my degree in International Business and pursuing a master’s degree.

Describe one of the most memorable plays of your collegiate career.
I’m between two moments. One more so being muscle memory where I saw a low snap, trapped it with my foot, rolling it away from the player and  taking contact on my plant leg so I could get the kick off, and we recovered the muffed punt.

But the true play I will forever remember came on 4th down. We were only up by three and couldn’t get anything going. I saw the return team peel away every time and without anyone on my team knowing I took off when I saw all the guys turned away from me. My personal protector John Damrow made a heck of a block, and I ran for a first down letting the team score shortly after and putting that game away.

Which one of your teammates impresses you the most?
Chris Garrett has to be the most impressive player to me. He’s always found a way to be the truest definition of a leader no matter what life throws at him. He worked his tail off and was always so dominant. I remember the St. Cloud game and how excited he was when I made the fifth field goal. That just meant a ton to me seeing a guy like that acknowledge my performance.

Do you have a favorite athlete or professional team? Is there a player that you model your game after?
Thomas Morstead has to be the guy I model my game after the most. I’ve met him at a few Kohls events and he’s always impressed me as a true pro. He’s so detail oriented and asks the absolute most out of himself. It’s a dream of mine to get to punt alongside him someday!

What do you do in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies? Do you have any secret talents?
I’m an avid outdoorsman. I really enjoy fishing and love putting on the waders and getting lost in cold little creeks chasing trout. I’ve been fishing since I can remember. 

Why do you play football? Who or what motivates you the most?
Football was that place I found when life here in the US pushed me down and depression was a constant battle. Football was that one constant I could put work into and lose myself in the craft. Kicking a ball is so mental it demands the absolute full attention of your brain and was a huge way to overcome depression for me. I’ve always wanted to change my stars as a kid and football has been that outlet where I can become something more than myself in those few seconds the ball leaves my snappers hands and hits my foot.

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Back to top button