East County Athlete of the Week: Brunno Reus

Brunno Reus is a rising junior kicker on the Braden River High football team. Reus earned a full scholarship offer from the NCAA Division I University of Louisiana-Monroe on July 25. As a sophomore in 2022, Reus had a touchback percentage of 67% on kickoffs and made eight of his nine field goal attempts. 

When did you start playing football?

I only started during my freshman year of high school. I grew up playing soccer, and one day I was kicking a football barefoot during gym class when my coach (Pirates assistant coach Amanda Porco) saw me and asked if I wanted to come to practice. I went and I liked it. By the end of the season I was the starting varsity kicker. 

What makes you a successful kicker?

I naturally have a strong leg. That power helps me on both kickoffs and field goals.

What has been your focus this offseason?

Getting more consistency. I want to kick the ball as well as I can each time. I have been practicing more from the hashes instead of from the middle of the field to make things harder. 

What is your favorite football memory?

My first-ever football game was for the junior varsity team. My first kickoff went for a touchback. I was so new to football that I didn't even realize what I had done. I'll never forget that. 

How did receiving the ULM offer feel?

It was out-of-this-world awesome. Going back three years ago, I never thought something like this could happen. I changed sports and now I can be a DI athlete at it. 

What are your goals for the 2023 season?

I want to kick all of my kickoffs for touchbacks. I want them to go 65 yards at least, no matter if there's wind or rain. That's a big goal. I want to be perfect. 

What is your favorite food?

I love going to Chipotle. I get white rice, black beans, steak, queso and lettuce. 

What are your hobbies?

I like playing video games. I usually just play Fortnite. I'm stuck in the old days I guess. 

Which superpower would you want?

I would want a power that lets me do everything with perfect consistency, no matter what I'm doing. It would be great as a kicker. 

What is the best advice you have received?

Put in the work and you will see the results. I was a scrawny kid when I started playing football. My coaches helped me add muscle, and now the ball flies way farther when I kick it. But I had to work for it. 

Finish this sentence: "Brunno Reus is …"

Outgoing.