This time last year when Ross Bolger spoke in depth to RTÉ Sport, he was dreaming of getting a scholarship offer from a US university and pursuing his American football ambitions.
The former Laois Under-20 footballer had come under the tutelage of ex-Connacht rugby player Tadhg Leader and via the latter's Leader Kicking programme, Bolger stood out as the first of what would potentially be a wave of Irish talent that would cascade across the Atlantic and establish an Irish foothold among the ranks of prospective punters and kickers.
On SuperBowl Sunday, it is obvious that the groundswell from this side of the pond has only been growing.
Four Irish sportspeople - Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan, Wicklow goalkeeper Mark Jackson, Down's Charlie Smyth and Tadhg's brother, fellow ex-Connacht rugby player, Darragh Leader - are participating in trials this month as part of a select group of 16 overseas prospects that make up the International Player Pathway class of 2024, who will have the opportunity to showcase their talents at the NFL Combine in March.
While their training camp takes place at Florida's IMG Academy, Bolger meanwhile has seen his dream become a reality.
Last August, it was confirmed that he had received and accepted a two-year scholarship offer from Division One American football university Idaho State and is part of the Bengals roster in the NCAA's Big Sky Conference.
"It's unbelievable because the last time we were talking, that was the dream to get that scholarship secured," Bolger tells RTÉ Sport as the Killeshin clubman reflects on a whirlwind 12 months.
"My life's completely changed but it's been a great fit as well. I've no regrets with picking this college. All the lads here are dead sound and I had an unbelievable experience my first season playing here and I'm looking forward to next season."
Interestingly, while punters and kickers are specialised roles respectively, such was Bolger's abilities with his feet, that Idaho State signed him up to cover both positions.
"In the NFL, it's unheard of because it's so cut-throat that they only want you focusing on one position and that's it - no ifs or buts really," he explains.
"But in college there are a few, not loads, but there are a few who both kick and punt. But out here, I was the only one who's kicking and punting, which kind of meant I'd be going from this drill to that drill or this station to that station, just really snappy and changing straight up from the kicking to the punting.
"But I enjoyed it. I'm used to playing games for 60 minutes, 70 minutes back home so when people were saying, 'Was it too taxing on the legs?' or whatever, I didn't mind it at all."
The training and gym programmes that he has been part of since August were all, of course, to set him up for game days and during the 2023 season which ran from September until November, he appeared in 11 matches.
The one thing to get used to was the fervour of game-days on the road as well as at Idaho State's home stadium, the 12,000 capacity ICCU Dome.
"The game days are hard to replicate. The coaches try to do it best (in training) with sounds of fans cheering in our home stadium and all that or if we're playing away games where the atmosphere is hostile but they are hard to replicate," says Bolger.
"But they're an unbelievable experience home or away games because home fans, they're all rooting for you and then away fans you want to shove it in their face when they're booing you when you're running out.
"It's an unbelievable experience travelling around to states I've never been in, cities I've never been in, playing in these big stadiums with a load of fans and then going out and killing 66-yard ball, it's quite a good feeling afterwards when you're running off and you're getting high fives and pats on the back as well."
And given just how huge the college game is, especially outside of the major metropolises, being part of the football team confers a high degree of recognition and attention around campus and beyond into the small city of Pocatello where Idaho State university is based.
"The thing is there is no NFL team in Idaho and there are none near Pocatello so the Idaho State Bengals are the biggest football team around," says Bolger, who also receives extra curiosity from fans who are interested in why an Irishman has chosen to go on the journey that he has.
"It's who everyone roots for around here, so you can easily get recognised so that's why you have to be a bit careful with off-the-field stuff. You have to have your wits about you.
"But especially when you're Irish with a thick accent from Laois and ginger hair, it's easy to get recognised on campus!
"But people will be coming up and saying, 'good game' or whatever or 'well done' and all the lecturers and professors know as well that you're playing at the weekend and they'd give you a little shout-out before class and stuff like that. It's a good community here. It reminds me a bit of the GAA back home in that it's tight-knit because it's not this huge city."
On the academic side, Bolger had completed his undergrad at DCU and the fact that he is on a Masters programme - he is studying communications - has proved beneficial when it comes to balancing study with sport.
"I'm kind of lucky in that I'm doing my Masters because that means my classes are in the evening so I have an early start and a big gap in between to reset, do a bit of homework before class - not running off to class covered in sweat like some other lads who are doing their undergrads," says the 22-year-old.
"It's nice to get that break for me and I don't find it too strenuous. Obviously, you have to be keep on top of it but with all the support you have, I don't think it's too difficult."
The long-term plan for Bolger is to graduate this December after his second season and then return home to Laois "to start training for a professional lifestyle and see what happens".
All the while he keeps in close contact with Tadhg Leader and it was no surprise for Bolger, who receives many an enquiry from people in Ireland asking for advice on following a similar pathway, to see the Galway man help out the aforementioned quartet of Beggan, Jackson, Smith and Darragh Leader on the cusp of a potential NFL dream. And he believes that this first wave will prove to be just the tip of the iceberg.
"All of them have that natural striking ability. You can see it from a mile away and there are definitely more and more lads out there as well," says Bolger.
"Without a doubt, Tadhg has definitely opened up a pathway for Irish lads and he's dead right as well. He's one of the best coaches out there so I can definitely see more and more Irish coming over to NFL programmes like the international one or colleges as well."
Watch the full interview above.
