B
rady Denaburg, and Merritt Island High School (Florida), had run out of options.
In the 2021 Florida High School State semifinal game, Merritt Island trailed 10-9 with just over three minutes left in the game. A failed trick play led to a seemingly impossible 4th-and-11. On the do-or-die play, Denaburg rolled right and hit his receiver down the sideline to move the chains.
Three plays later, he lobbed up a pass to set up the game-winning field goal. Unlike most quarterbacks, however, Denaburg stayed on the field. After lining himself up, he nailed the 43-yard kick. Dan Denaburg, Denaburg’s father and Merrill Islands’ video coordinator, caught the entire drive on tape.
“This is what coach (Bob Ligashesky) saw in Brady,” Dan said. “Brady’s not your normal kicker. He doesn’t just kick, he leads.”
While a quarterback-kicker hybrid may be rare, his brother, Mason, previously filled the same position for Merritt Island. Denaburg has always been defined by his family. They’ve helped him become SU’s special teams captain and starting kicker in just his sophomore year. Yet, the achievement is nothing to be surprised about. The Denaburgs are a decorated athletic family.
Mason is a pitcher in the Washington Nationals’ minor league system. His older sister Lexy is a beach volleyball player at UCLA. Karly, his oldest sibling, played college soccer at Division-II North Greenville University. His mother Connie is a Hall of Fame volleyball coach in Florida. While not as involved in athletics, Dan still does well for himself. He builds rockets for Blue Origin, an aerospace company owned by Jeff Bezos.
Mason remembered he and Denaburg started kicking when they were 11 or 12 years old. The pair’s shared interest stemmed from soccer, as all four kids played, and because extra points were worth two instead of one in Pop Warner football.
Though Denaburg grew up following what his older brother picked up — the two shared the same positions and sports — Mason believes Denaburg did things his own way.
“I think he just kind of did it, too,” Mason said. “I wouldn’t say (he was) following my footsteps because he kind of went his own way and I went my own way.”
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But Karly and Connie didn’t think Denaburg had a chip on his shoulder as the youngest sibling. Rather, Karly said that Denaburg would challenge himself to play sports like his older siblings. “‘If they can do it, I can do it,’” Karly recalled him saying. Connie added that in a team-oriented sport like football, Denaburg couldn’t prove himself individually.
Denaburg always strived to be better than his siblings on the field. Off of it, when he wasn’t watching “eight to 10 hours of opponent’s film,” according to Dan, Denaburg needed to be doing something.
Connie jokingly said her family “doesn’t sleep” and Denaburg serves as a prime example. In high school, he painted soccer fields and paved volleyball courts, making $1000 a month.
“I used to tell him to get ready for college, I’m like, ‘Brady, you got to learn how to take naps when you go to college,’” Connie said.
Ironically, Karly described Denaburg, the youngest of four, as an “old soul.” He enjoys activities like fishing. He often hangs out with his grandfather, who gave him a Pontiac LeMans. The car has become a source of arguments between Denaburg and Dan on how to fix its engine.
But the “old soul” knew how to have fun. Every year, when Mason and Denaburg got new pads, they tried them on and lined up against each other. One year, with the two on opposite sides in crouching stances, Denaburg told Mason his side pad was out. The comment distracted Mason just enough, allowing Denaburg to lunge in for a tackle.
“I hit him while he was fixing his pad,” Denaburg said with a smile on his face.
“I mean, it’s one of the funniest videos I think I have,” Mason said.
In high school, Denaburg didn’t have much time to think about his kicks. Before a field goal, he’d usually be leading his team downfield as quarterback, unable to practice on the sideline. Syracuse was the first place where he actually practiced with a kicking net during games.
“I think that I really never thought about it too hard, it was just always another kick,” Denaburg said.
Under Szymt’s wing at Syracuse, Denaburg could finally dedicate his focus strictly on kicking. He implemented a routine to make sure he stays calm during every attempt.
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As soon as he walks onto the field, Denaburg fixates on the uprights. He’ll perform a practice swing and take a deep breath when he’s 10 yards away. Then, he’ll take three steps back, breathe again and take a couple of steps toward his left. After one more read, Denaburg will kick.
This season, despite the pressure of being named a regular starter, Denaburg has missed just one field goal and extra point try through four games.
At times, however, Denaburg does miss home.
Karly said he often calls family members when he feels down. When he’s in Florida, Denaburg mows the lawn and grades the dirt for his parents. If he isn’t working, Denaburg is out on a boat fishing either by himself or with Mason. When most of the family is home, they compete outdoors on the volleyball court. Connie said that Lexy is the outside hitter, while Denaburg and Karly are setters.
While Denaburg didn’t attempt any field goals at the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl — as that was still Andre Szymt’s job — his family was in attendance. For such a large family, finding time to be together was always challenging. But, all six trekked from Denaburg’s hometown of Merritt Island to Yankee Stadium and watched their youngest compete for Syracuse.
Connie said she misses the constant “go, go, go” mentality when all of her kids were at home. But, she treasures times like the upcoming weekend when her, Dan, Karly and Mason will head to the JMA Wireless Dome for when Syracuse takes on Clemson.
“For the next few years our family vacation is wherever Syracuse goes to a bowl game,” Connie said.
Photograph courtesy of Connie Denaburg
Published on September 27, 2023 at 10:55 pm
Contact Henry: henrywobrien1123@gmail.com
