Chapman University punter enters last year of college football with impressive stats, creating an even bigger legacy

Owen Tapia is recognized as the top Division III punter, helping the university reach number four in the nation in net punting. Photos courtesy of Owen Tapia

Owen Tapia, who has been a student at Chapman University for five years, entered his second football game of his freshman year without many expectations. But little did he know, he was going to rewrite the university’s football history.

Immediately becoming a starter his freshman year, Tapia was well aware of who he would be replacing as the punter: Chapman University All-American athlete Elias Deeb. He practiced a lot during practices to earn the results he received during Chapman’s second game against Whitworth University. It started off with 50 yards and higher on the first couple of punts. But, the next few moments were something Tapia would never forget.

“I got lined up on the 1-yard line, and I didn’t even feel like I kicked it that hard, and it just kept going,” Tapia told The Panther. “And the next thing I knew, it kept rolling and rolling, and it ended up on the (12-yard line), like a 73-yard punt, and I’m screaming, hollering down the field because I knew I just had a good punt.”

And his story is far from over. This past season against Whittier College, Tapia was able to break his own record again with an 80-yard punt. Despite acknowledging help from the wind, he was not even aware of how far he had exactly punted the ball, with the help of long snapper Adam Fujiwara.

“I told (Fujiwara), ‘Just tell me when I go out there to just slow down and kick a normal ball,’” Tapia said. “And so, the moment came when the ball was on the (20-yard line), so I’m standing on the (5-yard line), and he snapped me the ball, which was fine, and I kicked it. (It) didn’t even feel like anything crazy, and then (the) next thing I know, it landed on the opposite 10-yard line and bounced through the end zone.”

But to reach a success such as Tapia’s is something that takes a lot of time, and most importantly, a lot of mental training. Even though Tapia strives to perform at his very best, his presence probably means he’s back out to perform his job: punting the ball as far as he can so that receivers will never return it, and essentially giving the ball to the other team.

And sometimes, the key to Tapia’s success is for others to challenge his ego. Tapia recalls many situations in which receivers inch closer than he would have liked, and yet, he has a solution to calm himself.

“I have a few words I say to myself before I punt, before the snap even comes,” Tapia told The Panther. “It’s just, ‘Stay slow, get your drop right, get it straight out, release it out, follow through, get my leg as high as possible.’ Usually, if I do all that, the ball is going to go where I want it and as high as I want it, as far as I want it.”

Tapia is considered to be part of the specials team, and he works together closely with Fujiwara and kicker Ken Baierl. The trio have very specific roles within the football team, but this does not stop them from working together to boost each other’s stats. Commonly seen on and off the field together, the trio focuses on improving together as a team. In addition to Fujiwara and Baierl, Tapia also works with three personal protectors protecting him.

“They know I can perform very well, and so, if they just do their job, then I do mine and then everybody’s happy,” Tapia said. “If I kick the ball well, there’s no return. Nobody has to run down, nobody has to make a hit. If I don’t hit the ball well, then we’re risking a return, and everybody has to run down to try and make a tackle on some guy. That’s pretty much how it goes.”

When asked about the legacy Tapia wants to leave behind for the new freshman punter, he acknowledges that he understands his position is considered to be “easy,” especially considering the training he undergoes.

“I think the legacy that Ken (Baierl) and I have continued and built upon is that special teams is one-third of the game,” Tapia said. “You have offense, defense and special teams. And so, our team has already put such a high emphasis on special teams and for us to perform.”