2023 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Gavin Baechle, K/P, University of Texas-El Paso

• Name: Gavin Baechle
• Position: K/P
• College: University of Texas-El Paso
• Height: 6’3”
• Weight: 175 lbs
• Twitter: @GavinBaechle
• Instagram: @gavinbaechle

What made you decide you wanted to be a football player?

When I was young, I loved sports, so my parents put me in soccer, baseball, football, and basketball. The only 2 that really stuck were football and soccer. I was the most promising in both of these so I wanted to pursue and become a player at the professional level. Then I ended up loving football more and I stuck with football through middle school, high school and now college to hopefully get a chance in the pros.

What are you looking to achieve as a football player going forward?

In the short term, I am looking to achieve a spot on a practice squad or mini camp where I can prove myself and perform how I know I can. Eventually working up to kicking on game day. Long term, I hope to win a Super Bowl and do what ever is necessary to be a team player and help the team as much as possible, maybe breaking a couple of records along the way.

If you could hang out with any football player past or present for a day who and why?

Probably Justin Tucker, just so I could pick his brain on what goes on inside his head during his kicks. He is the greatest of all time when it comes to kicking so I would love to just sit down and talk with him over anything.

What are your favorite moments from your football life?

Making it to a bowl game for the first time.
Making a game winning field goal vs FAU.
Making the skill time for the 300 yard shuttle test.
Turning the UTEP program around.

Which one of your family members inspires you the most and why?

Both of my parents inspire me because of how they work hard and never give up. My parents have instilled in me at a young age the importance of hard work. I have not always been the fastest, strongest or best kicker, but I have learned to never give up and to keep competing and working hard no matter what. My dad always has told me to always go the extra mile in whatever you do in life. Don’t do anything half way. I have taken this and ran with it. While others are taking reps off, I am getting the extra work.

What is your typical training routine?

So kicking wise, I’ll warm up, stretch, roll out, theragun to make sure my legs are ready to go. Then I do no step kicks, working on ball contact, then 1 step and then full step. Usually I have a set training like, today I am going to work on shorts or longs or kickoffs or mixed. Then I do whatever the plan is for around 30 minutes so I do not over kick myself. Then I do game winners at the end where time is running out, and I finish by making 10 straight NFL extra points.

For lifting, I continue to do what I did for my time at UTEP, snatch on Monday, squat Tuesday, rest Wednesday, Thursday clean and Friday bench along with sprints and stretching.

What should we know about Gavin Baechle the person?

That I never give up. My whole life I have been doubted. I walked on to UTEP and earned a scholarship. I wasn’t invited to the combine and it lit a fire under me. I have something to prove and all I need is a shot.

What stands out about you as a kicker?

What stands out about me as a kicker is that I am able to adjust my kicks based on the field goal, shorter field goals I can add more height and less distance and vice versa for long field goals. I am extremely consistent and repetitive. I have extremely clean ball flight and fast leg speed. I have the mental, emotional and physical toughness to make it in the next level.

How do you handle challenges both in life and on the football field?

I have always been able to juggle life, school and football. I always make sure that no matter what is going on in my life, as soon as I step on the field, I am in game mindset. I never let anything outside of football affect football. And same with my life, I never let what is going on in football affect my life. Whatever highs or lows are happening it stays in on its respective side.

What would a team get in a player like you?

A team would be getting someone who hates to lose and will do whatever I can to make sure that we win. They would be getting a dependable, hard working, team oriented player who puts the team first. Someone who will be the hardest worker in every room and someone who doesn’t take no for an answer.

What do you love the most about the game of football?

What I love most about football is winning, the competition and the family aspect of it. The competition between people for the starting spot and the competition between teams brings out the best in the players and it’s great to watch the best play against the best. The family aspect is great because you get people from all backgrounds coming together for a common goal and it is cool to hear everyone’s story of how that got to the same place because it is always different.

Who is the most underrated player you’ve played with and why?

I have played with a lot of underrated players at UTEP. I think one that stands out is a guy who started the year as a 4th string linebacker and finished the year as Dave Campbell’s first team all Texas. His name is Cal Wallerstedt. He has just a really good story and he never gave up. He overcame a lot of adversity and never quit. He was our best linebacker last year.