When I think about a kicker in soccer, a 270-pound athlete doesn’t really come to mind. And, well, it’s not easy to picture a football player of that weight standing just 5 feet 5 inches tall. Yet, that’s exactly what describes Kickernestor “Manny” Higra.
Although he doesn’t quite match the usual kicker profile, that hasn’t stopped him from making a name for himself in the sport.
This past Monday, a video showcasing the hefty kicker reached over 200,000 views on X. The footage captured Higuera performing a dropkick punt during a difficult game for the Wolfpack, which ended in a 98-12 loss. Interestingly, he had previously gained attention in 2021 when he kicked a 46-yard field goal that brought his NAIA College team its first conference title.
After that initial viral moment, he made an appearance on Pat McCuffy’s popular show.
Higura’s football journey started earlier, as he only took up kicking during his junior year at Paradise Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona.
“Back when I began, the farthest I could kick was around 55 yards,” Higura recalled. “I always knew I had the leg strength. During goal kicks, I could reach three-quarters of the field. If I connected better, I might place the ball just 10 yards from the 18-yard box on the other end.”
He picked up the art of kicking quickly, especially with guidance from former kicker Louis Zendejas at a kicking camp held at Arizona Christian University.
“Manny may be shorter and stocky, but he packs a punch. Out of maybe 50 camps I’ve run, he probably won about 45,” Zendejas mentioned in 2021. “He’s a consistent kicker.”
During his college career, Higuera made 24 long-distance field goals, with a longest of 52 yards, and had a successful rate of 67 out of 72 on extra points.
Recently, he marked a milestone in arena football by scoring the league’s first dropkick field goal. While many online have been sharing jokes about him, he expressed back in 2021 that he sees himself as a source of inspiration for kids who, like him, might not fit the typical mold. “My DMs are filled with messages of encouragement. I think it’s uplifting for them,” he said.
