Donald De La Haye Bio
Donald De La Haye (born December 2, 1996) is a Costa Rican-American YouTuber and professional American football kicker who last played for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at the University of Central Florida (UCF). De La Haye is known for his videos demonstrating his kicking ability as well as his sports-related skits and vlogs discussing his life journey. He initially came into public attention while in college when the NCAA controversially banned him for profiting off his name and YouTube videos, which sparked reform for student athlete compensation.
Early Life and Background
De La Haye traveled with his family from Costa Rica to the United States at the age of seven, spending the rest of his youth in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He played for the football team at the University of Central Florida as their kickoff specialist and holder from 2015 to 2016. He was a backup placekicker behind Matthew Wright and also played some wide receiver. De La Haye was a marketing major at UCF.
Path to American Football
In 2017, De La Haye drew attention when the NCAA told him to delete or demonetize his YouTube channel, which would have required him to remove his likeness and name from his videos if he chose to continue the channel. Faced with this dilemma, De La Haye ultimately chose to continue his channel normally, at the cost of his scholarship and NCAA eligibility. He sued UCF over this matter in July 2018, settling in November 2018 to finish his education there. Since then, he has made amends with UCF, attending multiple games with on-field passes and posting footage of himself at games. Additionally, coach Gus Malzahn and his coaching staff have invited him to multiple football-related events. De La Haye’s case has been one of several major incidents in which NCAA athletes are barred from profiting off their names, images, and likenesses, leading to legislation in several states, including California and Florida, to allow student athletes to profit while in school.
Donald De La Haye Career
Early Career (2015–2016)
De La Haye began his football career at the University of Central Florida, where he played as a kicker and holder. He gained attention for his kicking skills and his ability to connect with fans through his YouTube channel. His early career was marked by his decision to prioritize his YouTube channel over his NCAA eligibility, which ultimately led to significant changes in NCAA policies regarding athlete compensation.
Breakthrough (2019–Present)
After years of advocating for an NFL team to sign him through his videos, De La Haye was signed by the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League on May 19, 2019. The signing resulted in over 15,000 new followers on the Argonauts’ official Instagram account. He appeared in both preseason games, making his one field goal attempt from a distance of 16 yards and recording one punt for 46 yards. De La Haye was signed to the practice roster to begin the season but was later placed on the Suspended list to allow him to continue creating content for his YouTube channel. He continued making videos that display him practicing kicks, with the ultimate goal of making the NFL. In 2021, De La Haye posted a video in which he got invited to work out for the NFL Scouting Combine and won the Kohls Pro Combine kickoff competition. On January 30, 2024, De La Haye was signed by the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, replacing John Parker Romo. He faced an open competition for the position and was designated as the starting kicker for the 2024 season after the Brahmas released Matt Ammendola. De La Haye led the UFL in kickoff yardage in his opening week of play.
Notable Works and Milestones
De La Haye’s signature work includes his YouTube channel, which has surpassed 5.8 million subscribers. He has collaborated with various NFL players and YouTube personalities, showcasing his kicking skills and engaging in sports-related content. His career milestones include being signed by the Toronto Argonauts and the San Antonio Brahmas, as well as his participation in the NFL Scouting Combine.
Donald De La Haye Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Donald De La Haye has not received any formal award nominations.
Donald De La Haye Awards Won
Donald De La Haye has not won any formal awards in his professional career.
Donald De La Haye Family
Information about Donald De La Haye’s family is not publicly available.
Personal Life
Donald De La Haye maintains a private personal life, with limited public information available regarding his relationships or family.