Fresno State Athletics
Dylan Detwiler transforms from walk-on to team captain
11/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Famous track and field Olympic athlete Jesse Owens once said in order to make your dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort.
The four-time gold medal-winning Olympian's words certainly ring true for one Fresno State senior football player. Team captain and long snapper Dylan Detwiler has combined all four of those qualities described by Owens to make his own dreams a reality.
Growing up in Hemet, Calif., about 90 miles east of Los Angeles, Detwiler began playing football at the age of seven with Pop Warner and grew to love the game quickly.
When high school came around, he bounced around from center on the offensive line, to linebacker and defensive end at Hemet High School. He exceled at center earning first-team all-league honors and it was also during his time as a Bulldog that he added long snapping duties to his workload.
A team player first, Detwiler wanted to do everything possible to help his team succeed, and thought long snapping was something he could do in addition to help the team as well.
Knowing he was not likely to get many looks from Division I programs at his other positions, he knew his best opportunity to advance to the next level was through long snapping.
"Long snapping is what gave me the best opportunity to play college football so I took advantage of it," said Detwiler.
Getting the opportunity to walk-on at Fresno State in the fall of 2012, Detwiler seized his opportunity putting forth maximum effort daily in practice and staying disciplined on and off the field.
Often looked at as a position where one just snaps on punts and kicks, Detwiler puts in great effort on expanding his role and becoming faster to sprint down the field and help in coverage.
"I take pride in getting down the field on kicks and use my speed to my advantage," Detwiler said. "A lot of long snappers cannot really cover well, they can just snap, and I take pride in getting down the field and helping make tackles and help my coverage team out."
A creature of habit, Detwiler typically does 100-125 snapping repetitions daily between punt and field goal snaps. In addition to staying disciplined in getting in his daily snaps, Detwiler also concentrates on his speed work on coverage units, which have really helped him learn the nuisances of covering punts and kicks.
One coach Detwiler credits for his increased speed and strength is strength and conditioning coach Joey Boese.
"I use the work we put in the summer with coach Boese to help get physically ready for the speed and strength needed to cover kicks and make tackles," said Detwiler.
A model of consistency, Detwiler has appeared in 41-straight games for the Bulldogs, including continuing to play after tearing his MCL in a one-point home victory over Boise State in 2013. His all-out effort and determination during that time did not go unnoticed by the `Dogs coaching staff as they awarded the walk-on with a scholarship.
"That was an awesome moment and something I always dreamed about was playing football on scholarship and something I always wanted to work for," said Detwiler on that rewarding moment.
Entering his final campaign as a Bulldog this fall, Detwiler earned the distinction as one of three team captains and received the most votes on the team.
"It was awesome to find out I was voted a team captain," Detweiler said. "Since I have gotten to Fresno State I have really taken pride in putting all my effort into the workouts in the weight room and conditioning. I think my teammates recognized that and I was incredibly honored everyone views me in that way and I thank them for that."
Detwiler's dedication, determination and effort translate off the field as well as the criminology-law enforcement major applies the same work ethic and self-discipline to the classroom, earning a pair of Academic All-Mountain West selections the past two years for a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher.
"For me, it is pretty simple," said Detwiler. "You come to practice and do what is asked of you at practice and then you go home and do what is asked of you in school. I was always sure to engage myself in all my classes, and once I got into classes in my major, it is something I am passionate about so it was easy to learn and excel in."
It is the willingness to put in the maximum effort in everything that he does and the determination to never settle for less that makes Detwiler shine.
"I do not think I would have got voted a team captain without starting my Bulldog career as a walk-on," said Detwiler. "It gave me that edge and made me want to prove to everyone that I can play at this level. Even though I am on scholarship now, I still want to be the hardest-worker in everything I do and still take pride in being a walk-on and earning a scholarship."
With only four guaranteed games remaining in his Bulldog career, Detwiler knows his time at Fresno State is winding down. Planning to train for the `Dogs Pro Day this spring, he hopes to get a NFL opportunity, but if that falls through, he hopes to use his degree in law enforcement to become a police officer or sheriff.
Whether it is pursuing his dreams in the NFL or chasing down bad guys, one thing is for certain, Dylan Detwiler will be determined to be the very best.
"Be Bold" - Stay connected with the Bulldogs on Facebook (Fresno State Athletics), Instagram (FresnoStateAthletics), Twitter (@FSAthletics) and Snapchat (FSAthletics).
