Former minor-league pitcher Mason Denaburg set to join UCF as punter

It felt just like riding a bike.

Mason Denaburg hadnt punted a football in a competitive game for nearly eight years since his junior year in high school.

After putting on one of his younger brothers helmets and kicking a few footballs, he was surprised to find himself experiencing that familiar sensation once again.

An idea started forming in his mind.

Denaburg excelled at baseball and football at Merritt Island High School and planned to attend the University of Florida.

However, the Washington Nationals selection of him with the No.

27 pick in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft was the pinnacle of his baseball aspirations.

He spent four seasons in the minor leagues as a pitcher, appearing in 88 games.

He began in the Gulf Coast League, moved to Single-A with the Fredericksburg Nationals, and finally played for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, a High-A affiliate.

Throughout his career, Denaburg suffered from various injuries, and some of those led to Tommy John surgery in 2021.

This past winter, Denaburg found himself without a baseball contract for the upcoming season.

Not thrilled about joining an Independent League team, he considered his options, and the possibility of returning to football began to take shape.

Its been in the back of my mind like a Plan B kind of thing, Denaburg, 25, told the Sentinel.

I didnt have a [college] degree and always wanted one, so I decided to start training.

So, he found himself teaming up with his brother, Brady, a placekicker who recently transferred from Syracuse to Minnesota.

The two began working out, and it wasnt long before Mason started to find the form he had developed in high school.

Five observations on UCF football this offseason Eventually, he teamed up with Dylan Barnas .

Barnas, another Merritt Island product, had previously been a kicker at UCF from 2017-19.

We live five minutes from each other in Merritt Island, Denaburg said.

Its been perfect because hes very knowledgeable about kicking and he was willing to help me.

Its been fun for me because weve been friends since the seventh or eighth grade.

He understands me and understands how I operate.

In January, Barnas sent several practice videos of Denaburg to Pete Alamar , the current special teams coach at UCF.

Alamar, 64, had just joined Scott Frosts new coaching staff and needed specialists.

The Knights had lost Mitch McCarthy to the transfer portal and urgently needed a punter.

During spring camp, Michael Carter and Kevin Carrigan were the only punters on the roster, but Carrigan entered the portal in April.

Alamar began revamping the special teams unit this spring by bringing in several specialists through the transfer market.

Among those who joined the team are punter Anthony Venneri, who transferred from Ohio State, and placekicker Noe Ruelas, who moved from James Madison.

Denaburg visited Alamar during one of the spring practices.

He told me what he wanted and by that time, I had gotten decently bit better with technique and stuff, Denaburg said.

That sealed the deal, opening the door for Denaburg to make the decision to enroll at UCF this summer.

Bianchi: Big 12s Brett Yormark not SECs Greg Sankey is most valuable commissioner in college sports As part of his original contract with the Nationals, the club will pay for his education, which means he wont take up a scholarship spot.

Denaburg and Venneri will compete for the punting duties alongside Carter.

I want to play this year, but at the same time, I just want to keep learning, Denaburg said.

Coach Alomar has already been a big help, sending videos and trying to mold me into what he wants me to be.

I know hes got a plan for me.

Denaburg believes his experience in baseball will be a huge asset to a younger team.

I know how to go about my business and to keep my head down, work hard and check all the boxes every day, he explained.

Its something that obviously has to be learned.

It took me three to four years into pro baseball to finally learn that.

Please find me on X, Bluesky or Instagram @osmattmurschel.

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