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Hijab Shah

Sophomore kicker Casey Dobyns doubles as a high fashion model in the offseason.

Name: Casey Dobyns
Sport: Football
Position: Kicker
Hometown: Highland, Md.
High School: Georgetown Prep
School/Year: COL ’11
Major: Undecided
High School Career: Four year starter as place kicker and punter. Holds the school record for longest field goal at 49 yards. Was also captain of the track team.

Freshman hall: Village C West. I was on the quiet floor, which I didn’t pick, but it turned out all right. It was easy to go to sleep at night.

What do you do for fun around campus? I hang out on the lawn a lot in front with my friends from the football team and outside the team. I go down to M Street — I live here, so I’ve seen a lot of the stuff before — but I like to go to the movies when it’s raining.

We heard a rumor that you’re a model. Is that true? Yes, I am a high fashion model. Just like everyone else has a summer job, I do that.

What kind of modeling? So far, I’ve done a lot of editorials and shows. I’m up for a couple of campaigns in the spring — Benetton, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lacoste. It’s a big culture shock. It’s a lot different from being on campus. The schedule is different; it’s not exactly your nine to five. It was my first time this summer — I was away doing an internship and working in Milan. … You meet a lot of interesting people, a lot of people I wouldn’t necessarily get to meet in football, but it gives me an opportunity to explore a different side of life.

How did you get involved in modeling? In senior year of high school, I was working at a charity basketball game, and a lady just walked up to me out of the crowd. She gave me her card and said she wanted me to call her. It’s from a local agency in Great Falls called New Faces Models, and two weeks later I booked a show for Versace, and went on from there.

Do the guys on the team know about it? A couple do, a couple give me a hard time. But I don’t think they care as long as I come through with the kicks. It’s all in good fun.

Have you been in any magazines? I’ve got some stuff coming out in Uomo Vogue (it’s Men’s Vogue in Italy), German GQ, and hopefully I have a job going up in Details Magazine.

How far do you want to go in modeling? Right now it’s just a job to help out with student loans. It’s a great opportunity; I’ll ride it as long as I can. As long as it doesn’t interfere with football — my first commitments are to football and school. My parents made that clear and I feel the same way. It’s a great second option to fall back on and make some money.

Back to football, who is your biggest inspiration on the team? I probably had the best and closest relationship with Eric [Bjonerud (MSB ’08)], just because I went to high school with him. He taught me how to kick when I came here. He was like a big brother. On the team now, our captains Nick [Umar] and Dan [Matheny] are motivational and they set a great example. We have a really great and intense atmosphere going on, and I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.

Who is the team joker? Joe Tavarez. Nothing too outlandish, but he’s got a lot of one-liners, zingers, jokes. He lightens the atmosphere when the coaches get on your back. The coaches try to keep it in check, but you can only do that for so long.

Do you have any superstitions? I always put my right shoe on first. Always. Before a game I always have my shoes pointing out in my locker the night before.

What’s your longest kick? Forty-nine in high school, and in practice, 63 yards. That was off of a half inch block, but off the ground, college style, I’ve made it from 60. I don’t know if Coach Kelly is going to let me kick those in a game, maybe at the end of the half. I think he’ll be happy if I can make it from 40 and in.

Booey’s or Wisey’s? Definitely Wisey’s. You can’t go wrong with anything there. Chicken Parm, California Chicken Sandwich, Chicken Madness.

— Photo by Hijab Shah,
Interview by Kevin Wessel.