James Aho, by all definitions, fits the quaint, stereotypical mold of a kicker.
He is reserved and reluctant to talk - to the point that one of Aho's teammates playfully volunteered to speak on his behalf.
"I told you guys to block me off," Aho said, jaw-jabbing at his lockermates for pointing him out.
His answers, like his field goal attempts, are straight and vary in length but are preferably short.
Does being named Mountain West Conference Special Teams Player of the Week mean anything to you?
"Nah," he said, sweeping aside a baited opportunity to gloat.
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You're just here to kick?
"Yeah," he said. "I don't care about those things."
But other people do.
It's why the MWC has taken notice of the true freshman kicker out of Roswell.
And even though Aho didn't convert all his attempts against Wyoming - going 1-for-3 - he has been as consistent this season as the field goal posts are yellow.
Quietly, working within the framework of the team, Aho has cashed in on 11 of his 14 field goal attempts. He leads the team in points with 44.
Aho is every bit an ends-justify-the-means player.
After attempting to walk on in 2007, Aho was cut.
Going back to what he knew best in high school, Aho said he considered joining the soccer program at UNM but decided against it because he wasn't in shape.
"I (decided to) keep with kicking," he said.
That was one of the better decisions Aho made.
Since head coach Rocky Long has spearheaded the University's football program, no kicker has been offered a scholarship coming out of high school.
Somehow though, in the end, the Lobos never have to worry about the kicking game.
"When kickers come into our program, the other ones teach them what being a kicker here means," Long said. "It's a tradition between our kickers that if you're going to be our kicker, you're expected to make them."
Punter Adam Miller reaffirmed the notion that kickers have to earn their jerseys.
"No one's brought in on scholarship, so everyone that comes here has to earn their spot," he said. "And in doing so, they become good."
That's what makes Aho unique, however. He has earned the recognition he has received but chooses not talk about it.
"I don't like the attention," he said.
But Aho admits he is a little superstitious.
"I had some bands on my legs," he said. "My boy (cornerback Anthony) Hooks told me I was going to miss 'cause I was wearing those. Sure enough, first one out hit the pole, so I took them off."
Perhaps, in Aho's mind, if he recognizes his accomplishments, he opens himself up to complacency.
Or as Miller suggests, maybe Aho just really doesn't like the limelight.
"He's just out here to do his job," he said. "Not everyone's made to talk to the media."
