Randy Bond '24
Aggie Football kicker is reaching high altitudes on the field and in the engineering classroom
By Kiri Stanford '14
Randy Bond has always bled maroon.
The son of a former drum major in the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band, Bond's love for Aggieland blossomed early. However, his path to play football at Texas A&M was anything but traditional.
In high school, Bond dreamed of landing a coveted spot in Texas A&M's College of Engineering.
He always knew he wanted to be an Aggie, but Bond's desire to become an engineer was shaped by two significant influences in his life. His club soccer coach, who happened to be a civil engineer, inspired Bond to consider a future in engineering. Additionally, Bond admired his grandfather who had worked for NASA. A fascination with the intricate designs of military airplanes led him to pursue a degree in aerospace engineering.
When he arrived on campus in the fall of 2020, Bond was focused on receiving an exceptional education in rocket science but found himself missing the joy of being a part of a team.
Throughout his youth, Bond logged countless hours on the field — primarily the soccer field. He was a First Team All-District soccer player for Plano West High School and earned Second Team All-District punter honors after joining the football team for his senior year.
Bond called his father for advice.
“I asked him if I should try out for the football team,” Bond recalled. “He basically said, 'Go for it.'”
With that nudge of encouragement, Bond decided to try and walk on during the spring semester of his freshman year.
“I am very fortunate to receive a scholarship. The support of 12th Man Foundation donors has been extraordinary for me and my family.”
“After the tryout, I was told I could compete during the spring, and they kept me around in the fall,” Bond said. “I knew there were other guys in front of me, but I just kept going out each day working to get better.”
That fall, Bond served in a backup role behind fellow kickers Seth Small and Caden Davis, however, he did have the opportunity to put his skills on display at Kyle Field. He made his Aggie Football debut during A&M's 2021 season opener, kicking off eight times against Kent State.
Bond's defining moment in an Aggie uniform unfolded during the second game of the 2022 season when he stepped in for Davis under the lights at Kyle Field and made a 26-yard field goal in A&M's 17-9 victory over Miami. He has kicked every field goal for the program since.
“It's surreal to me that I'm on the football team and that I've played in front of 100,000 people,” Bond said. “People think I'm crazy when I say I'm also studying aerospace engineering.”
Bond admits that balancing football and aerospace engineering is challenging as both programs are highly demanding and require exceptional time management. In such a rigorous student-athlete journey, he has found a profound yet simple idiom to be true — “Be where your feet are.”
“I think it helps me focus on the task at hand,” Bond said. “When I am at practice, I zone in exclusively on kicking. When I am in the classroom or lab, I am 100-percent focused on aerospace engineering. You compartmentalize with precision, because you have to.”
The former walk-on earned a scholarship in the fall of 2022 through the 1922 Fund.
“I am very fortunate to receive a scholarship,” Bond said. “The support of 12th Man Foundation donors has been extraordinary for me and my family.”
For Bond, the 1922 Fund represents not only financial support, but also a deep connection to the rich history and traditions of Texas A&M.
“1922 was a special year in Texas A&M history, as the original 12th Man came out of stands,” Bond said. “Trying out as a walk-on for the Aggie Football team, and then being afforded the opportunity to stick with the team while benefiting from the program that's named for our original walk-on, means the world to me.”
Bond's dreams extend beyond the football field and the classroom. While he nurtures hopes of kicking in the NFL, he also feels called to contribute to the world of aerospace engineering.
If a future in professional football does not come to fruition, Bond aspires to work with industry leaders like Lockheed Martin or Boeing, focusing on designing and developing military aircraft. With his unwavering drive and determination, Bond is ready to excel wherever his feet take him.