THE Cleveland Browns signed Scottish punter Jamie Gillan as an undrafted free agent following the conclusion of the 2019 draft in Nashville, Tennessee, and the former fly-half has been on cloud nine ever since, with the dream of making an NFL roster inching closer to reality.
Gillan moved stateside as a 16-year-old Merchiston Castle School rugby prospect with all the talent and potential to go far in the game he lived and breathed. A change in circumstances at his dad’s work meant Gillan Sr, an officer in the RAF, was posted to Maryland, USA, and a promising rugby career looked set to be over before it started.
However, an encounter with the coach of his high school football team saw Gillan ditch the dream of reaching the elite level of one oval ball sport and set his sights on a new goal, this time one involving pads and helmets.
A short but tremendously successful high school career as a kicker and punter had colleges fighting over the fittingly named “Scottish Hammer” and after accepting an offer of a full scholarship to the University of Arkansas Pine Bluff, interest in the Scotsman grew.
The Hammer seamlessly smashed Pine Bluff’s kicking and punting records and in the lead up to this year’s draft, one of the NFL’s marquee annual events where all 32 franchises take their pick from the pool of talented athletes graduating from the college game, Gillan was invited by the Cleveland Browns for a tour of their facilities and to meet the coaches. It is an opportunity enjoyed by few and one usually reserved for more glamorous positions than a punter.
But Gillan, who still has his Scottish accent, says he was grateful for the chance to make an impression.
“I was taken to the Cleveland Browns for a visit. It’s not something punters usually get to do so I really appreciated that.”
The 21-year-old, who brings a unique blend of rugby skills and athleticism to gridiron punting, missed out on having his name called in the draft but signed with the Browns hours later and is spending the summer trying to earn a place on the Cleveland roster.
With pre-season under way, the Scots athlete already has a four-day rookie camp and several weeks of organised team activities under his belt and says the experience has left him hungry to succeed in a career he could never have envisaged while organising attacks and pulling the strings on the Merchiston rugby pitches.
“It’s just a crazy experience being at the next level. It’s great hanging out with new people and getting some training in, I really enjoy it. They gave us an induction and brought in some Cleveland Browns player alumni who gave speeches about what it means to them to be a Brown and what it should mean to us.
“The pressure is on all the time but if you just go out and enjoy it then it doesn’t feel like pressure.
“It’s all about adjusting to the next level and how serious training is but I’ve always taken training seriously so that’s not a problem for me.”
One thing that has changed for Gillan is the intensity of media attention the former Pine Bluff star receives. As specialists, punters and kickers are usually overshadowed by more charismatic and fashionable positions on the team but the American fans are intrigued by the Scottish Hammer and his meteoric rise.
“It’s been a little weird because punters don’t usually get the kind of coverage I’m getting. Nobody knew who I was a couple of months ago and now everyone’s showing a big interest in my story and where I’ve come from so it’s really cool. I’ll always be humble and thank everyone around me who’s been part of the journey.”
Gillan now finds himself rubbing shoulders with some of the games top superstars, including senior Browns and new signings like wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, who was recently traded by the New York Giants from his five-year, $90m contract.
Like all top athletes, focus, determination, self belief and above all the will to constantly improve is the reason behind Gillan’s astonishing story, and the one- time school rugby sensation refuses to rest on his laurels.
“I’m just focused on the end goal. I achieved a huge goal of mine to get this opportunity but now that’s done and dusted I can’t think about it too much. I have to focus on the future and making the roster.”
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