If you’re walking around South Bend and see a guy who looks like he’s already lived an entire lifetime before most students have even figured out their majors, you might be looking at Eric Goins. He’s 30. That’s basically 100 in college football years. While his teammates are stressing over TikTok trends or what to wear to a dorm party, Goins is a guy who spent the last seven years in the U.S. Army. He’s not just some "old guy" on the roster for kicks.
The story of Eric Goins Notre Dame fans have been buzzing about isn't just about a comeback. It’s about a complete life pivot that sounds like it was written for a Hollywood script, except the grit is real.
The Long Road to South Bend
Goins didn’t just wake up one day and decide he missed kicking a leather ball. He graduated high school in 2012. Think about that for a second. When he was finishing high school, some of his current teammates were barely in elementary school. He went to The Citadel, where he was a legitimate weapon. Back in 2015, he was knocking down game-winners against Coastal Carolina and setting school records with five field goals in a single game against VMI.
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Then, he just… stopped.
He didn't go to the NFL. He didn't take a coaching gig. He put on the uniform of a different kind of team. From 2016 to 2023, Eric Goins served as an officer in the U.S. Army. We’re talking Infantry and Signal Corps. We’re talking about a man who was deployed to Poland following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He wasn't practicing his 40-yard dash; he was leading soldiers and managing communications for air defense units.
When he finally decided to leave active duty, he headed to Notre Dame for a dual-degree program: an MBA and a Master of Global Affairs. Football was almost an afterthought until he realized he still had a year of eligibility left.
Why Eric Goins Notre Dame Journey Defies the Norm
College football has a "five-year clock." Usually, you have five years to play four seasons once you enroll. But the NCAA has specific rules for military service. Your clock pauses while you're serving. Because Goins went straight into the service after his time at The Citadel, that eligibility was sitting there like a frozen bank account, just waiting to be withdrawn.
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Honestly, it’s kind of wild to think about the transition.
He went from being a Captain in the Army to a walk-on at one of the most prestigious programs in the country. Coach Marcus Freeman, whose own father served in the Air Force, didn't just see a kicker; he saw a leader.
The Locker Room Dynamic
Imagine being 18 years old. You’re the big man on campus, a four-star recruit, and then you sit down next to a 30-year-old who has jumped out of planes 13 times and managed missile defense systems in Europe. It changes the vibe.
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- Age: 30 (Born in late 1993)
- Previous School: The Citadel (Class of 2015)
- Military Rank: Captain (O-3)
- Current Pursuit: MBA/MGA Dual Degree
- Role: Walk-on Kicker/Specialist
Goins has been open about the "weirdness" of it all. He had to get fitted for a helmet and realized the brands he used to wear didn't even exist anymore. He’s basically a time traveler in cleats. But he isn't there to be a mascot. During the 2024 season, he found his way onto the field for kickoff duties, proving that the leg still works despite the seven-year layoff.
More Than Just a Foot
The real value of Eric Goins Notre Dame presence isn't just found in the box score. It's in the Pulte Institute for Global Development and the Keough School of Global Affairs. He’s researching how global financial markets and foreign policy can promote peace. He’s not your average "student-athlete" who’s just trying to pass Rocks for Jocks.
He’s looking at the world through a lens most of us can't imagine. He saw the reality of the conflict in Ukraine from a front-row seat in Poland. He helped with the evacuation of allies from Afghanistan. When he talks about "pressure," he isn't talking about a third-and-long. He’s talking about life-and-death stakes.
That perspective filters down to the younger guys. When a freshman is moping about a bad practice, Goins is the guy who can quietly remind them that, in the grand scheme of things, it’s a beautiful day to play a game.
What's Next for the Veteran Kicker?
As he wraps up his time in South Bend, Goins isn't looking for a long-shot NFL career. He’s looking to continue his service as a civilian. He’s expressed a desire to work in governance and policy, using his dual degrees to make a dent in the world's most complex problems.
His journey is a reminder that the path isn't always a straight line. Sometimes you have to take a seven-year detour through the military to find yourself back on a football field in Indiana.
Actionable Takeaways from the Goins Story
If you're following the Eric Goins Notre Dame saga, there are a few things to keep in mind about how college athletics is changing:
- Eligibility isn't always what it seems. Military and religious exemptions can create unique "super-senior" situations that bring invaluable maturity to a locker room.
- Leadership is transferable. The skills Goins learned as a Captain—discipline, communication, and resilience—are exactly what modern coaches like Marcus Freeman are looking for to stabilize their teams.
- Graduate transfers are the new normal. But Goins takes it a step further by being a "career transfer," showing that the NCAA can be a bridge for veterans transitioning to high-level civilian careers.
If you’re a veteran looking to return to school, look into the Yellow Ribbon Program and specific NCAA eligibility waivers for service members. Schools like Notre Dame have dedicated offices (like the OMVA) to help navigate the transition from boots to books. For everyone else, just appreciate the fact that sometimes, the most interesting guy on the field isn't the one scoring the touchdowns—he’s the one who’s already served his country and is just there to finish what he started a decade ago.