NCAA Profile: University Of North Dakota Punter Brett Cameron (video)

The CFC looks at Punter Brett Cameron and his play at the University Of North Dakota.

Brett Cameron

Height/Weight
6’1/ 194 Lbs

Position
Punter

Hometown
Winnipeg, Manitoba

For Manitoba native Brett Cameron, NCAA football was never not an option. And once he finally got there, the game that brought him to North Dakota had to be altered. “The biggest adjustment I had to make in going from high school to college football was working on getting punts off quicker, shortening the time in between snap to kick. In high school you have a lot of time to punt the ball but in college you have much less time. You have to get the punt off quickly or else you will get blocked.”

With other positions, such as linebacker, safety, or even quarterback, the thing that separates a player in high school apart from others, is size. For punters and kickers, its not so much about size as it is for work ethic and determination, both of which Cameron has perfected. “Since I was in grade 7 I practiced my kicking and punting a lot. Everyday in the summer time I would take a bag of footballs to the field by my house and kick for hours. In high school I was able to get noticed because I hit some long field goals and punts. I hit a 52-yard field goal and an 82-yard punt. I also played for team Manitoba in the U17 football Canada Cup and was special teams MVP of the tournament two years in a row.” For those looking to get noticed, Cameron’s next bit of advice may be the difference between cracking that roster down South. “I think the best thing I did to get noticed in the states was going to the University of North Dakota football camp in the summer. When I was at the camp I was able to show them, in person, my skills. I ended up being the MVP kicker at the camp. I would suggest to any high school players who want to play in the US to go to the school’s summer camp. By going to a camp it allows the school to see what you can do and can help you get a scholarship. As well practicing as much as I did, I believe, was the biggest contributing factor to being able to play in the states.”

Playing in the states comes with many different positives. Attendance is bigger at games. Fields become stadiums. And opponents becomes legends. Cameron has had the privilege of experiencing some great moments in his NCAA career. “Personally, my biggest game so far was playing against University of Montana during my sophomore season. The atmosphere of the stadium was incredible and we were in it until the very end but we came up a bit short. I punted a career high of 12 times in that game and 7 of the 12 were downed inside the 20 yard line. The game was a battle of field position and I was happy to play a part in my teams success.”

Cameron has also been lucky enough to be apart of something special at North Dakota. “As a team it was very exciting winning the Great West Conference championship last year. We had to win our last game against South Dakota in order to claim the title. We came back from a 20-point deficit in the 4[SUP]th[/SUP] quarter to win the game.”

Once finished at North Dakota, Cameron has a few things in mind when it comes to having a career. “After college I hope to pursue a career in football. I wanted to play college football in the states because I thought it would give me the best chance to make the transition to the pro game.”

If football doesn’t work out, his education will surely guide him into a rewarding field. “In school I am majoring in biology. I am writing my MCAT this summer with hope to pursue a career in medicine.”