This Spring's honor for "Viking to make the most unusual journey to the Park Blocks" would likely go to Kyle Loomis.

The 25-year old junior punter was neither recruited, nor expected, when he came to Portland State just a few weeks ago. Loomis is in his first term at PSU and is on the football field competitively for the first time since 2006… that's right, 2006.

Oregon State football fans with good memories might recall Loomis. He was a punter for the team as a true freshman in 2006. Loomis earned a scholarship from Coach Mike Riley and the Beavers, and promptly proved his worth. A prep from Roseburg High School, Loomis earned the starting role at OSU, averaging 41.3 yards per punt. He was even honored as a third team All-American by the Sporting News.

"It all happened so fast. I graduated from high school. Two weeks later I was taking classes at OSU in the (summer) Bridge Program, then fall camp started… It took me maybe five games to really get the speed of the game down at the college level," Loomis recollected in a recent interview. "It took me a while to relax. I was nervous, but I finally figured it out the last several games."

The highlights were plentiful on an Oregon State team that went 10-4, beating USC, Oregon and winning the Sun Bowl over Missouri in a thrilling overtime game.

"We beat USC when they were ranked number three. That was a good one. I actually dropped a snap in that game which allowed them to score a touchdown and make it close. So that was really exciting to win. I would have felt pretty bad if we lost," said Loomis.

"One of my best games was against Cal (despite the OSU loss). I was punting to DeSean Jackson and he didn't have any return yards… and, we beat the Ducks."

However, following his freshman season, Loomis grew weary of school and football, and eventually left school. "I told everybody it was for personal reasons. Basically, I got burned out on school from not really having a break. Then, I got burned out on football. I was talking to Coach Riley that whole spring about whether I would stay. He was really good about it. He is an awesome guy. He just said, 'it's up to you.'"

Loomis left school in the summer of 2007. He considered getting a job, then he looked at joining the Marines and finally the Army. "I didn't leave Oregon State to join the Army. A couple months after I was gone from Oregon State I finally decided to do it."

So from July 2008 through February 2012, Loomis was a member of the US Army. His basic training was at Fort Benning in Georgia. He was then stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Loomis served three years and eight months in the 2-325 Airborne Infantry Regiment - 82nd Airborne Division. Twice his battalion was deployed. Once to Haiti and once to Iraq. However, Loomis never shipped out. He had ankle problems and ended up getting two ankle surgeries while in the military. In February 2012 he was honorably discharged.

Upon returning home, he once again had a decision to make about the next step in his life. Working temporarily for the Oregon Department of Transportation, Loomis wanted to go back to school. He looked at Western Oregon, Southern Oregon and Portland State. At no time was playing football again a part of the equation.

While in Roseburg, a family friend, Ryan Carhart, who also happens to be a punter for the Roseburg High School football team, asked Loomis if he would help him work out. Loomis agreed and soon discovered something about himself; he could still punt.

"Ryan asked if I could come punt with him and coach him on some of the finer points. He also plays free safety and wide receiver so he doesn't get a lot of time to punt during practice," said Loomis. "So we started hitting some footballs together, and after a week or so I realized, I can still punt a pretty good football. And I'm pretty sure I can still do it at a pretty high level with a little practice."

That got the wheels spinning as Loomis had a desire to try to play once again. On January 10 of this year, Loomis sent an email to the person who was cornerbacks coach at Oregon State during his one season of college football. That person was Nigel Burton, current Viking Head Coach. Loomis stated his desire to play again and asked for a chance.

"I looked at eligibility and saw that the five-year rule of eligibility (didn't apply) if you went on a mission or joined the military. So I sent Coach Burton an email telling him I can still punt. I had pretty much decided I was coming to Portland State anyway."

Burton needed to see Loomis' level of commitment and asked him to come to campus and meet.

"Coach Burton wanted me to come up and talk to him face-to-face. He wanted to know what I wanted out of it. He knew me from Oregon State as a guy who could punt and kick but not much else because he was a cornerbacks coach. He wanted to know if I wanted to go to school and buckle down, and if I would be committed to the PSU program. I think I got it across that I definitely am.

"I have a little more maturity than when I was at OSU. I definitely realize education is a lot more important now because I definitely took it for granted at OSU. Now I'm school first and football after that. I want a degree," said Loomis.

So, he is relearning the position that he excelled at some seven years ago. Loomis was an All-State punter and kicker at Roseburg. He will compete with freshman transfer Marcus Kinsella, as well as returning kicker Nick Fernandez, for the starting role.  

"I want to start at punter, but I still have to relearn everything about kickoffs. Punting, I need to get my consistency back to where it was, and get used to the speed again. I think I can."

It's not likely that the stress and burn-out of his previous college experience will be a factor this time.

"We always used to joke in the Army, because there were some guys who were athletes in college," said Loomis. "College athletes complain about, 'we (are so busy) with practice and study hall and stuff.' Once we were in the Army and did some of those things, with no break at all, going back to college is a piece of cake. I have to turn in a paper next Tuesday? That's the hardest thing about my week right now?" Loomis smiles.

For Loomis, the maturity is there and the spirit is willing. Now a Criminal Justice major on the GI Bill, and a college football punter isn't daunting at all in his second go-around.

REMAINING 2013 SPRING FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Friday, April 12            1:30-4:00 PM
Monday, April 15         1:30-4:00 PM
Wednesday, April 17  1:30-4:00 PM
Friday, April 19            1:30-4:00 PM

*No practice April 22-26 – Recruiting break*

Monday, April 29         1:30-4:00 PM
Wednesday, May 1     1:30-4:00 PM
Friday, May 3              1:30-4:00 PM
Monday, May 6            1:30-4:00 PM
Wednesday, May 8     1:30-4:00 PM
Friday, May 10            1:30-4:00 PM
Monday, May 13          1:30-4:00 PM
Wednesday, May 15   1:30-4:00 PM
Saturday, May 18      Spring Game, site and time to be announced 

Other Key Dates of Spring:
Portland State Football Coaches' Clinic, May 10-11
Evergreen GaveKal Coaches' Open Golf Tournament, May 17 (The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club)
Viking Football Camps, June 2013