A 54-yard field goal. The longest in Notre Dame history, the kind of kick that made Marcus Freeman call this placekicker, “He’s got a huge leg.” For most, that moment would mark the start of an assured NFL future. But the draft can be unforgiving. Seven rounds passed, three long days came and went, but the kicker behind that historic boot was left undrafted. Ultimately, the kicker entered the league as an undrafted free agent. But the struggle to get that paycheck had only just begun.

Within 11 months, kicker Spencer Shrader rotated between the Indianapolis Colts, the New York Jets, and the Kansas City Chiefs. At Colts, he competed for a roster spot, but was waived and signed to the practice squad. Colt’s starting kicker, Matt Gay, was injured, which propelled Shrader to the active ro

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