Clinton Durst is done punting for Auburn, but has no plans of ending his freshly-started career.
If anything, he’s going to kick it up a notch.
The surprisingly-successful walk-on recently left the Auburn football team because he was not offered a scholarship for the 2009 season. Durst said he was promised a scholarship by former coach Tommy Tuberville, but Gene Chizik told him he would have to try out this summer to earn it.
“My grandpa, my mom and my uncle started calling me to ask what happens now that Coach Tuberville is gone,” Durst said. “They thought that this would happen; I never did.”
Durst said he understood Chizik’s decision and has remained “humble about this whole situation.”
“They’re all great people, I respect them and they’re going to do great things for Auburn,” Durst said.
“But hey, I’m not done.”
While working to finish his degree, which could happen as soon as December, Durst said he would begin training with an ex-NFL punter. Durst said he did not want to reveal the former player’s name until he starts working with him next week.
Durst said his decision came down to basic economics. In order to pay for his out-of-state tuition and living expenses, Durst said he needed to work a part-time job on top of going to class.
“I just couldn’t do it all,” Durst said.
Durst said he hopes to land a few tryouts with NFL teams this summer, even though he didn’t know how the process really worked, he jokingly admitted.
“Nobody thought I’d make it to play for Auburn,” Durst said. “They might laugh at me when I say I want to make the NFL.”
Durst walked on to the Tigers this spring, never having played organized football his entire life. His talent for kicking originated in Destin, Fla., where he was a highly-touted high school soccer player.
He beat out Preseason All-SEC Ryan Shoemaker for the starting job in late August and went on to start every game but one, when he was sidelined with a fever against LSU. Durst’s absence proved costly, as Shoemaker averaged just 35.4 yards per punt and helped set up a short field for the Bengal Tigers’ game-winning scoring drive with a shanked 25-yarder.
Durst finished the season third in the SEC and 26th nationally in punting, averaging 42.1 yards per kick. He placed 18 kicks inside the 20-yard line and forced 22 fair catches.
And he did it all without knowing how to properly drop the ball before a punt, he said.
“I did it all on my own,” Durst said. “With someone helping me out, I can take my punting to the next level.”
agribble@oanow.com | 737-2561
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