The greatest gestures in life are the ones that catch you completely off guard, and for the most part, itās only with hindsight when we can truly appreciate the moments that changed everything.
Each player has his introduction story, but not many can recall it as vividly as Michael Bobak, who was nothing more than a curious kid just looking for somebody to hang out with. His curiosity soon led him to a boy named Peter and a house full of football equipment, which marked the beginning of a long journey that still continues to this day.
āThe summer when I was seven years old a new family moved onto my street and I soon became good friends with the youngest child. As the summer went on I realized my new friendās brother played football and had all different types of equipment from footballs to shoulder pads to helmets.ā
As an impressionable youngster, Bobak was intrigued by the foreign equipment and often wondered what it may be used for, until one day he finally gained the courage to ask. His seven year old brain didnāt expect what was coming next, but to his shock, Peter embraced his question with open arms and spilled all the knowledge he had about the game.
āThe moment I realized I wanted to play football was when Peter took his helmet off the desk, Ā looked at me, then put the helmet on my head and said āthis looks perfect on youā.ā
āWhen he said those words, I knew I wanted to play football.ā
Flash forward a decade full of meticulous training and counting steps, now Bobak is considered one of the top 40 kicking prospects across the United States, and his stock is only going to rise with every attempt he gets at Mercyhurst Prep in Pennsylvania this season. Heās spent his entire life preparing for moments like this, but all the prep work in the world wasnāt able to prepare him for that initial jolt of adrenaline he got when he teed up a ball for the first time south of the border for The Kiski School.
āI can still remember the game like it was yesterday. It was a cold Autumn night. It was gameday and kick off was at 8pm. It was only 30 minutes till kick off. All my bodyās senses were going off like crazy. My heart rate was through the roof, I could feel my blood flowing, all my senses were heightened.ā
Thatās what you call anxiety, which can be a kickerās worst enemy – but not for Bobak. Despite all the alarm bells going off inside his head, he proved to himself and everybody watching that he belonged on the field that night.
āWhen I stepped onto the field I felt a feeling that Iāve never had before. It was a rush of pure adrenaline mixed with my own fear. I got in my stance and was ready to kick off to start the game. The feeling of my first kick off going for a touchback is a memory Iāll never forget.ā
That cool demeanor in the face of fear is what makes any good kicker into a great one, and this trait hasnāt fallen on deaf ears across various scouting camps around the country. The offers havenāt come yet, but Bobak has left his mark by winning kicking competitions at Penn State, Ball State, Bowling Green, and UAB, plus heās also made appearances at camps for Old Dominion, UNLV and SMU. He says that as the weeks go by the recruiting process only continues to intensify with more coaches getting in contact, but at the end of the day the only part he can control is what happens between the hash marks.
Bobak trains tirelessly on the smallest of details to ensure he is a cut above the rest, and when you do that, you gain a certain type of self-confidence that can ice the pressure in any big situation.
āI would have to say what gives me an edge over the thousands of other high school students in the United States is my training, mentality, and the ability to travel and compete. I use my training to my fullest every day. If Iām not out on the football field physically kicking, I’ll be at home or wherever practicing my steps for field goals, my drops for punting or even my hurdles for kickoffs. My mentality is if I donāt get better through training myself, who will do it for me?ā
The answer of course is nobody, and that mentality is the reason why Bobak now finds himself on the sidelines alongside CFC100s Jesse Luketa and Michael Allain at Mercyhurst Prep. The team can be considered a powerhouse in the Division 10 3A scene, and itās Bobakās plan to leave his mark on the record book before he heads off to a top ten business school where he can earn a degree. Thatāll be nice to have in his back pocket for the future, but if you havenāt realized yet, Bobak isnāt a guy who likes to settle for mediocrity, so thereās only three letters on his mind when he talks about his goals after college.
āI would love to work in the field of government regulations with businesses after my career in the NFL.ā he casually states.
āOn the other hand, my football plans are quite simple. I plan to go as far as football can take me and I know I could get pretty far. After college, I am going to go and try out for the NFL and have a very successful career there.ā
You read it here first, and it may sound cocky, but Bobak isnāt the first guy to call his shot then make it a reality. This self assurance comes from the years of training with coaches like Jeff Mandelker and Jamie Kohl whoāve given him the tools to succeed, but more importantly itās been his parents that have set him on the right path. Bobak says that the life experiences his parents have provided him are the ultimate blessing, and without them the story above would’ve never have come to fruition.
āThe most influential people in my life and football are the same two people. My parents have been here with me every step of the way and are really the ones who allow me to perform at 100% of what I can. Without my parents, I wouldnāt be doing any of the things I am today. Theyāve helped me get into a great US high school, theyāve taken me to multitudes of US camps, let me compete at showcase ranking camps. I will always be thankful for all theyāve done for me.ā
Michael Bobak (#6)
Kicker
5’11”, 200lbs
Teams:Ā Jr. Argos, Brampton Bulldogs, MIFA Indoor , Sefa Bears, Spalding Cup, Robert F. Hall Wolf Pack , International Bowl/Team Ontario, Guelph Jr. Gryphons, The Kiski School, Mercyhurst Prep
Official visits: none
Unofficial visits: Rice University, Bowling Green, Indiana University, Western Kentucky, Ball State, Penn State, Dickenson, White Water Wisconsin, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Old Dominion, UNLV, SMU
Considerations: open
Class: 2018
Advocating for football prospects one story at a time.