Exclusive Q&A: Rookie Kicker Billy Vinnedge

SDBoltReport.com’s Mike Kranzler talked to Wyoming kicker/punter and undrafted free agent Billy Vinnedge about coming home to play football, the life of a family man and the transition from the college game to the NFL. Look inside for more.

Click here for the "Insiders only" portion of this interview, where Vinnedge talks about his high school career, learning from Mike Scifres and Nate Kaeding, and the strengths and weaknesses of his game.

Michael Kranzler: Why did you choose to sign with the Chargers?

Billy Vinnedge: I think it was the best opportunity to get in the preseason, to get me the film that I need for the next few years down the road, to have that experience, and I know that they like to rest their guys during the preseason, so I would just give me the opportunity to get out there during the preseason and get game film.

MK: How does it feel to be back in Southern California to play professional football?

BV: Oh, it feels great. I came home last weekend and there was a blizzard out here in Wyoming. To go back home to the weather that I grew up around, you just can’t beat it.

MK: Were you a Chargers fan growing up?

BV: I wasn’t a big football fan, I never really had a favorite team growing up. I’m more into baseball, and I’m an Angels fan. I would go watch the Chargers play when I got a chance to go down to San Diego, but I don’t really have a favorite team out there.

MK: What do you do in your free time?

BV: Just hang out at the house. I’ve had a girlfriend for four-and-a-half years and I just hang out with her. I don’t get out and do too much I’m just sort of a relaxed kind of a person. I like to play sports, I go out and play golf and just do a bunch of relaxing things.

MK: Do you hang out with any of your teammates a lot off of the field?

BV: I’ve only been out for that one weekend, and we didn’t really get a chance because we were so busy. So when we come back out, I’m sure I’ll hang out with a bunch of the guys, go to some Padres games, go to the beach, and do a lot of things like that.

MK: From a kicker’s standpoint, how is the pro game different from the college game?

BV: You know, it’s not much different. I think you either know how to kick a ball or you don’t. We don’t have to learn a playbook like a lot of the other guys, so as long as we know how to kick, it’s pretty much going to be the same I think.

Click here for the "Insiders only" portion of this interview, where Vinnedge talks about his high school career, learning from Mike Scifres and Nate Kaeding, and the strengths and weaknesses of his game.