Younghoe Koo hoping to help create NFL path for players from

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As a 12-year-old who spoke very little English at a middle school in New Jersey, football served as an introduction to American lifestyle for Younghoe Koo.

Little did Koo realize that a decade later he would be playing football professionally as the fourth South Korean-born player in the NFL.

"It's exciting for me. I'm sure there aren't that many, it will start a trend a little bit," Koo said. "Hopefully, have people out there playing. ... I love to represent. I'll just kind of see what else I can bring to the table."

23,Koo, becoming the team's third kicker in the past four years.Authentic Derek Wolfe Jersey, An undrafted rookie out of Georgia Southern, Koo missed just one field goal last year as a senior, outlasted incumbent kicker Josh Lambo to make the Los Angeles Chargers' roster, finishing as a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, presented to the nation's top kicker.

"He was consistent in making his kicks,Authentic Trevor Siemian Jersey, when asked why he chose Koo over Lambo. "We like his demeanor," Chargers general manager Tom Telesco said, and he also showed pretty good ability to directionally kick off.

"It was a tough decision -- actually, it was a very,>womens Justin Simmons Jersey , very difficult decision -- but we thought he came in and won the job."

Koo played soccer in South Korea and played both sports through middle school, when his football coach convinced his family that he could earn a scholarship to college by playing football.womens Derek Wolfe Jersey,"

Koo was a varsity kicker for four years and also finished with six interceptions his senior season as a defensive back at Ridgewood High in New Jersey. In track and field,Authentic Ziggy Ansah Jersey, he competed in the long jump, high jump and javelin.

"Me and my dad,womens Matthew Stafford Jersey,were trying to decide which [sport] I was going to go with in high school, my parents," Koo said. "My middle school coach came to my dad and explained to him, 'He can get a scholarship. He can actually have a future in this.'

"My dad thought it was just kicking a football,Authentic Matthew Stafford Jersey like, 'What are you talking about?' ... I gotta thank my middle school coach."

Hyungseo Koo,Koo's father, and his mother,'womens Ziggy Ansah Jersey, is a professor at Induk University back in South Korea,,Authentic Barry Sanders Jersey, Seungmae Choi, is a nurse in Georgia.

Koo's eyes light up when discussing his backflip kick that caused a stir on Twitter when he posted the video.

"A lot of college kickers at that time were doing trick shots and making trick-shot videos, and we were doing that at practice all the time,womens Trevor Siemian Jersey,, Koo said. "I saw a video where they were doing the spinning the ball with your feetAuthentic Justin Simmons Jersey, and I learned how to do the flip kick in high school. So I kind of put two and two together, and I was just kind of messing around and it happened."

Now that he has won the Chargers' kicking job,,womens Barry Sanders Jersey,Koo said he has to prepare for his first game as a pro. And it won't be easy, kicking in the high altitude at Sports Authority Field at Mile High when the Chargers hit the road to face the Denver Broncos.

"I just have to remind myself,,Authentic Marvin Jones Jr Jersey,'" Koo said. "But after that, 'Let it soak in for the day and enjoy this moment,womens Marvin Jones Jr Jersey, I have to get my mind right because the real football starts."