<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"The trick-kicking exploits of one Havard Rugland \u2014 better known to the Internet as \"Kickalicious\" \u2014 took him from his native Norway all the way to Detroit for a successful NFL tryout in April. \nNow the man who just one year ago knew next to nothing about American football is apparently killing it in his first training camp. \nSEE ALSO: The Incredible Story of a 5-Foot-5 Dunking Sensation\n\nAs of Wednesday morning, Rugland was 11-for-11 on field goals kicked in scrimmage situations at the Detroit Lions' pre-season camp, including a booming 58-yarder that turned plenty of heads, according to an Associated Press report on his progress. \n\u201CIt\u2019s kind of surreal,\u201D Rugland tells the AP. \u201CA year ago, I was kicking all alone in Norway. And suddenly, I\u2019m here.\u201D\nRugland surged to Internet fame last September when his \"Kickalicious\" YouTube video, embedded above, went viral. It features the Nowegian kicking American footballs with astounding power and precision, despite being a self-proclaimed novice at the sport and its rules. \nIn the video, he kicks the ball into a garbage bin several yards behind him without looking, into a variety of moving vehicles and 50 yards through a pair of goalposts, among a plethora of other feats. The compilation has been viewed more than 4.5 million times since hitting the web on Sept. 16.\nIn April, the Lions signed him to a three-year deal, thanks to his YouTube exploits and the Internet's mysterious ability to make even the most far-fetched realities come true. He's currently competing with 12-year NFL veteran David Akers for the team's place-kicking role, and the pressure is certainly on. If he plays out the entire deal, it will be worth a reported $1.485 million in total. But it's not guaranteed, meaning the team could also cut him at any moment. \nBut Rugland's already won over at least one big-name teammate. \n\u201CThat big boot? He\u2019s legit,\u201D wide receiver Nate Burleson tells the AP. \u201CKickalicious is for real. He isn\u2019t just an Internet sensation.\u201D\nNevertheless, Lions genearal manager Martin Mayhew says that despite Rugland's strong showing in practice, he needs to prove himself in some game situations to have a legitimate shot at making the final roster. The team plays its first pre-season game next Friday, then starts the regular season on Sept. 8. NFL teams rarely carry more than one place-kicker, so Rugland probably has to beat Akers out to stick around. \nAs he soaks up his first NFL experience a year after kicking alone into Norwegian garbage cans, however, Rugland seems to be enjoying the moment \u2014 whatever it does or doesn't end up leading to. \n\u201CIt will be exciting if I get a chance,\u201D he says. \u201CI\u2019m doing a lot of things for the first time.\u201D\nImage: Leon Halip/Getty Images"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2013/07/31/kickalicious-nfl/>