New Wolfpack kicker Connor Haskins, who transferred from UNC Pembroke for his final year of eligibility this spring, grew up an NC State fan. That means he’s plenty familiar with the story of Seattle Seahawks kicker Steven Hauschka, who arrived at NCSU for the 2007 campaign as a post-graduate from Division III Middlebury College.
Hauschka was perfect on all 25 extra points and went 16 of 18 on field goals that year, earning a tryout in the NFL. After playing for five clubs in his first three seasons and even spending some time in the UFL, he was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks, and became a Super Bowl champion and one of the most reliable kickers in the professional ranks.
It’s a story of perseverance and overcoming the odds when opportunity presents itself, and one with its beginnings running parallel to Haskins, who started at a Division II program and is intent on replicating at least part of that journey once more in Raleigh.
“It’s inspiring and also that was kind of my sell to a lot of the coaches [when looking for a new school] — it’s been done before,” he said. “It’s crazy that I end up at NC State, where it’s happened before.
“The biggest thing for me was to get my foot in the door, then once I got in, just to prove myself and show I’m capable of playing at this level.”
When Haskins was calling around and gauging interest from potential landing spots, he even compared the statistics from his first three years of college football to Hauschka’s — and the results favor the youngster. Hauschka was 20 of 28 on field goals and 35 of 40 on extra points at Middlebury, while Haskins started his career by going 38 of 53 on field goals and 91 of 96 on extra points.
Haskins not only comes to State more proven, but his accuracy averages were better in both departments (71.7 percent to 71.4 on field goals and 94.8 to 87.5 on extra points). However, Hauschka was incredibly reliable in Raleigh — which is something the new Wolfpacker is striving to duplicate.
He’s had his chance already and delivered when head coach Dave Doeren put the pressure on the senior newcomer at the first spring scrimmage. The coach told his team that they would run if Haskins missed either of his two “game-winning” kicks, and he converted both like the veteran he is.
“Whenever you’re put in a big-time situation like that, whenever the team is counting on you, you want to come through for them,” he said. “That’s what I did. That’s kind of my mantra — just be able to be reliable, consistent and counted on.
“They’re going to make a lot more plays than I am, so when I’m called upon I want to be able to come through.”
Even a few months ago, though, Haskins wasn’t sure where he would end up for his final year of college football. He admitted he was about to commit to another Division II school. Days before pulling the trigger he got in touch with NCSU, and they asked him to take a visit.
“They said, ‘If we can get you into school, we’d love to have you just to come in and compete, try to win the job,’” Haskins recalled.
That was exactly what the kicker wanted to hear. The plan to enroll at NC State, where his mom was a cheerleader, in January after graduating from UNC Pembroke was put into motion.
“I applied and got in, and the rest is history,” he said. “I’m just thankful for the opportunity. Division I football is definitely a different animal … but I love it. I always wanted to be here, I just never really got the opportunity.
“Now that I have, I’m just trying to take full advantage of it.”
Haskins, who turned 22 on March 29, has always lived in the Pembroke area — his father, John, is the longtime coach of the women’s basketball team at his former school (he also previously coached the men’s basketball and golf teams).
The kicker attended Lumberton High and noted adjusting to life in the state’s capital is a big change, especially the traffic. But the chance to play on college football’s biggest stage for the school he has always cheered for was impossible to turn down.
“There’s definitely a lot of things I do love about it — I love the fanbase and atmosphere here,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better spot.
“I went home [two weekends ago] and everybody was singing my praises for being here at NC State. … I was ready to go anywhere, but I’m glad that State came calling.”
Making the jump from Division II to the ACC will have its challenges, but Haskins is quick to note the only things that change have to do with the mental part of the game. The football is still the same size and shape, and his techniques will not differ.
“Fans — unless they all blow in one direction — are not going to be able to make the kick much different,” he said with a laugh. “I kicked at UNC Charlotte and they had about 20,000 there because it was their homecoming, and I fed off that. That was the best game of my college career, without a doubt.
“Being in that atmosphere, I loved everything about it. I’m not shy about being in Carter-Finley in front of 60,000; I’m not shy about going to Clemson and being in front of 80,000.”
Despite the presence of returning starter Kyle Bambard, who went 7 of 14 on field goals as a rookie, nobody on the roster has made more field goals on the college level than Haskins. Still, he knows nothing will be given to him, and he’s looking forward to competing for the job.
“On kickoffs, Jackson Maples does a fantastic job there, but I’d like to just be behind him and push him, make him that much better,” Haskins explained. “I think Kyle and I were having a good battle until he hurt his leg earlier this spring, and we’re going to have a good battle whenever fall camp comes around. I’m excited for it, competition makes you better.
“At Pembroke, I never really had competition. … It’s really made me try to be the best me here because I know there’s another guy just as good as me that can step up and make kicks.
“Everyone is rooting for me — they want Kyle to succeed as well — but honestly they just want someone that is going to come in and do the job. That’s what I’m here to do, and I’m excited. I love the competition, and I’m just trying to do as much as I can for this team.”
Hauschka had to compete with Josh Czajkowski for the kicking job when he arrvied at NCSU, and he certainly had more competitions after he started his NFL career. Now, he’s one of the top kickers in the league, which has proven it’s impossible to predict what lies ahead — the unrealistic can be possible when the opportunity presents itself.
Right now, Haskins is not concerned about the future beyond next fall — he’s focused on taking advantage of his opportunity in Raleigh to author another successful chapter in his football story, delaying the inevitable “real world” for another semester.
Hauschka has proven to Haskins there’s no telling where these winding gridiron journeys that pass through Raleigh can go.
Read more about NC State’s practices in The Wolfpacker’s spring football headquarters
