Sam Valenzisi (Football, 1992-95)
Sam Valenzisi began his career as a walk-on and finished it as an All-America kicker for the most storied team in Northwestern football history.
Valenzisi walked out of the stands and onto the sideline to begin his career. He attended games in 1991 as a fan before earning a spot on the roster during walk-on tryouts in January of 1992. He won the team's place-kicking duties one game into the 1993 schedule and proceeded to convert 24 field goals during his sophomore and junior seasons.
He earned enough respect from his teammates to be elected a team captain—as a kicker—for the 1995 season that would end in a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl berth. That year, he set a school record by converting on 13 consecutive field goals attempts, making 15 total in just seven games before an injury derailed the remainder of his season. Still, he was named a first-team All-American and graduated as the ninth-leading scorer in program history with 169 points.
In the classroom, Valenzisi was named a CoSIDA Academic All-America first-team selection following the 1995 season.
Valenzisi walked out of the stands and onto the sideline to begin his career. He attended games in 1991 as a fan before earning a spot on the roster during walk-on tryouts in January of 1992. He won the team's place-kicking duties one game into the 1993 schedule and proceeded to convert 24 field goals during his sophomore and junior seasons.
He earned enough respect from his teammates to be elected a team captain—as a kicker—for the 1995 season that would end in a Big Ten championship and a Rose Bowl berth. That year, he set a school record by converting on 13 consecutive field goals attempts, making 15 total in just seven games before an injury derailed the remainder of his season. Still, he was named a first-team All-American and graduated as the ninth-leading scorer in program history with 169 points.
In the classroom, Valenzisi was named a CoSIDA Academic All-America first-team selection following the 1995 season.
