Note: The following appears in the Troy football gameday program.
Though listed at just 5’5” and 145 pounds, Quinn Castner plays a much larger role in the program, in both attitude and impact. Despite finishing among the national leaders in made field goals his senior year of high school, Castner, who is in his sixth season with the Tigers, faced major hurdles in the 2020 recruiting process due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Determined, he took to social media, recording himself kicking and tagging college coaches in highlight videos he posted online.
“I had to play the social media game,” admitted Castner. “During the pandemic, I would kick four days a week, put my phone in my shoe to record and fire off clips on Twitter to every coach I could until someone noticed.”
A strong student, Castner had already committed to Clemson for academics, planning to study bioengineering. His efforts eventually caught the eye of former Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables.
“He liked what he saw and really went to bat for me. I owe a lot to him for giving me the opportunity, and the rest is history.”
That history began when Castner’s first college kick, a touchback against The Citadel, sparked huge cheers from fans and teammates alike.
“I didn’t expect the reaction because I don’t necessarily pass the ‘eye test.’ But after the kick, everyone was going crazy. It showed me this was the place I wanted to be.”
Castner’s journey has not been without hardship. In October, he was hit by a truck while riding a moped and suffered a broken leg. The accident gave him a new perspective on life.
“You never expect something like that to happen. It reminded me to appreciate the little things and that life can change in an instant.”
He credited Clemson’s program and culture with helping him recover, both physically and mentally, from the unfortunate injury.
“We emphasize that football isn’t our foundation. Our foundation is our faith, our soul, ourselves and our brothers next to us. I was upset about losing football, but it wasn’t devastating, because I still had what truly matters…myself, my family, my teammates and my friends.”
Selfless and team-oriented, Castner said his favorite Clemson moment was not even one of his own. Instead, it came when freshman placekicker and long-time friend Nolan Hauser made a 56-yard walkoff field goal in the ACC Championship Game to send Clemson to the College Football Playoff.
“We grew up kicking together. I couldn’t have been happier for him. It was about a month and a half after my surgery, and I could barely walk, but I was sprinting onto the field to celebrate with him.”
Castner praised the bond within the special teams unit, noting his teammates’ mutual trust and accountability.
“Our unit is all about trust…in the snap, the hold and the kick. Everyone counts on each other.”
He added that this year’s team chemistry is the best he has seen during his time at Clemson.
“Practice doesn’t feel painful…it feels fun. Guys like challenging each other, and no one is offended by it.”
Castner wants people to know he is much more than just a football player.
“I made it the hard way and earned my spot, but I’m also more than an athlete. I take a lot of pride in academics.”
Castner holds a degree in bioengineering and is pursuing a master’s degree while developing a hamstring rehabilitation device he hopes to patent and present at conferences in the future.
As his Clemson chapter comes to a close, Castner, a P.A.W. Journey ambassador, remains focused on building lasting connections with teammates, coaches and the Clemson Family, all while staying true to who he is.
