Kick-starting new careers

Kicker Michael Husted, a veteran of nine NFL seasons, including six with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, got his bright idea during a workout with the Houston Texans in 2002: Why not put his workouts on a Web site for all 32 teams to see?

So, with the help of his friend, Troy Dohner, Husted formed mikehusted.com.

Not only did it eventually earn him a tryout with the Carolina Panthers -- though not a job -- but it also became the profile for his post-retirement venture, iplayers.net, which he and Dohner started in 2003.

The Internet site has profiles and videos of kickers, punters and long snappers of all ages. Its goal is to help high school special teams players earn scholarships and post-college players get pro tryouts.

"We think this levels the playing field, especially for those players in smaller schools or private schools," said Husted, now retired from the NFL and living in the San Diego area. "This brings them to the coaches virtually."

In conjunction with iplayers.net, Husted and veteran NFL kicker Doug Brien have started a national kicking competition. The Kicking.com Combine Series has 23 regional competitions scheduled for seventh-grade through junior college kickers, punters and long snappers. More than 1,000 are expected to participate.

The South Central Regional, hosted by Dallas-based Rocky Willingham Kicking Services, is Saturday at Standridge Stadium in Carrollton. The top 50 percent in each of the three divisions advance to the semifinals in Dallas on Aug. 5.

The national championship will be in San Antonio or New Orleans in January.

Chris Shaw, a kicking and punting specialist with Rocky Willingham, said he expects 30 to 40 players -- mostly high school kickers -- to participate in Carrollton.

"It's the first competition of this magnitude," Shaw said. "We're not really sure what to expect, but the first year always is the toughest, just trying to get the word out....We feel like, by the second year, we should have 100 to 150 kids."

IN THE KNOW

Kicking.com Combine Series

8 a.m. Saturday, Standridge Stadium, Carrollton

Who: Kickers, punters and long snappers from seventh grade to junior college compete in three divisions: JV (ninth grade and below), varsity (high school sophomores and juniors) and college (high school seniors, junior college, college transfers and college eligible)

Cost: $260, includes three-month membership to iPlayers