Wikipedia

Donald De La Haye

Donald De La Haye(born December 2, 1996), also known online asDeestroying,is a Costa Rican-AmericanYouTuberand professionalAmerican footballkickerfor theSan Antonio Brahmasof theUnited Football League(UFL). He played college football at theUniversity of Central Florida (UCF).De La Haye is known for his videos demonstrating his kicking ability as well as his sports-related skits and vlogs talking about his life journey. He initially came into public attention while in college when theNCAAcontroversially banned him for profiting off his name and YouTube videos, which sparked reform for student athlete compensation.[1]

Donald De La Haye
refer to caption
De La Haye with the Argonauts in 2019
No. 19 –San Antonio Brahmas
Position:Kicker
Personal information
Born:(1996-12-02)December 2, 1996(age 27)
Limón,Costa Rica
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school:Port St. Lucie (FL)
College:UCF(2015–2016)
Career history
As a player:
As an administrator:
Roster status:Active
Career UFL statistics as of Week 2, 2024
Field goals made:0
Field goal attempts:0
Field goal %:0.0
Points scored:0
Longest field goal:0
Touchbacks:0
Tackles:1
Statsat CFL.ca
Deestroying
YouTube information
Also known asDeestroying
ChannelsDeestroying
Years active2015–present
Genres
Subscribers6.07 million (Deestroying)
Last updated:September 23rd, 2024

Early life and college career

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De La Haye traveled with his family fromCosta Ricato theUnited Statesat the age of seven, spending the rest of his youth inPort St. Lucie, Florida.[2]He played for the football team at theUniversity of Central Floridaas theirkickoff specialistandholderfrom 2015 to 2016. He was backupplacekickerbehindMatthew Wrightand De La Haye also played some wide receiver. De La Haye was amarketingmajor at UCF.[3][4]

Loss of NCAA eligibility over YouTube channel

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In 2017, De La Haye drew attention when theNCAAtold him to delete or demonetize his YouTube channel in order to stay on the football team, as the NCAA at that time forbid its athletes from profiting off their athletic ability aside from their scholarships. He was also not allowed to have his likeness or name in any of his videos if he decided to continue the channel. Faced with this dilemma, De La Haye ultimately chose to continue his channel normally, at the cost of his scholarship and NCAA eligibility.[4][5][6]De La Haye sued UCF over this matter in July 2018, settling in November 2018 to finish his education there. Since then, he has made amends with UCF, attending multiple games with on-field passes and posting footage of himself at games. Additionally, coachGus Malzahnand his coaching staff have invited him to multiple football-related events.[7][2][8]

De La Haye's case has been one of several major incidents in which NCAA athletes are barred from profiting off their names, images, and likenesses (NIL) and allowingstudent athlete compensation.Legislation has since been issued in a few states,including Californiaand De La Haye's home state ofFlorida,in an attempt toallow student athletes to profit while in school.[9][1]

YouTube career

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While removed from the active UCF football team roster, De La Haye put more focus on hisDeestroyingYouTube channel, which he started as a teenager in 2015. Evolving from skits on football stereotypes and kicker trick shot videos, the channel has also featured gaming videos, skits impersonatingNational Football Leagueplayers such asOdell Beckham Jr.,Tom BradyandJuJu Smith-Schuster,actual collaborations with players such as Smith-Schuster,Marquette King,Cam Newton,Antonio Brown,andTyreek Hilland partnerships with the NFL and other sports organizations to create content. The channel has since surpassed 5.8 million subscribers after having just 94,000 when De La Haye left UCF.[10]

De La Haye has also collaborated with other YouTube personalities such asLogan Paul,competing in the latter's "Challenger Games" in July 2019.[11]

Professional football career

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Toronto Argonauts

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After years of advocating for an NFL team to sign him through his videos, De La Haye was signed by theToronto Argonautsof theCanadian Football Leagueon May 19, 2019.[12][13]The signing resulted in over 15,000 new followers on the Argonauts' officialInstagramaccount.[14]He appeared in both preseason games, making his one field goal attempt from a distance of 16 yards, and recording one punt for 46 yards. De La Haye was signed to the practice roster to begin the season.[15][14]Due to limits on American players allowed on the roster, the Argonauts later placed De La Haye on the Suspended list in order to allow him to be free of team obligations and continue to upload videos consistently, which, according to De La Haye, generated more income than being on the practice squad.[16][17]

De La Haye continued making YouTube videos that display him practicing kicks, in the ultimate goal of making the NFL. In 2021, De La Haye posted a video in which he got invited to work out for theNFL Scouting Combine.De La Haye also won the Kohls Pro Combine kickoff competition in 2021.[18]

San Antonio Brahmas

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On January 30, 2024, De La Haye was signed by theSan Antonio Brahmasof theUnited Football League,[19]replacingJohn Parker Romo,who had declined to return to the Brahmas after a successful 2023 season.[20]De La Haye faced an open competition withMatt Ammendolafor the position.[21]On March 10, 2024, the Brahmas released Ammendola, designating De La Haye as their starting kicker for the 2024 season.[22]

De La Haye led the UFL in kickoff yardage in his opening week of play.[21]He was effectively akickoff specialistfor his first two games of the season, as the Brahmas did not attempt any field goals in those games and the league does not allow kicking for extra points.[23]He was placed on injured reserve on April 8, 2024, following multiple neck fractures he sustained making a tackle on a kickoff return.[24][25]

On October 29, 2024, De La Haye re-signed with the Brahmas, stating that "I refuse to go out like that (...) the story is far from over and I have a lot more football to play.[26]

Esports career

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In April 2022, De La Haye signed withFaZe Clan.[27]He played in a flag football game with FaZe Clan in the2022 Pro Bowl.

Other ventures

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De La Haye was also a co-owner of theFCF Glacier BoyzofFan Controlled Football,along withQuavo,Richard Sherman,andAdin Ross.

References

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  1. ^ab"UCF kicker Donald De La Haye invoked as DeSantis backs college athletes getting paid".orlandosentinel.October 24, 2019.RetrievedDecember 25,2019.
  2. ^abHenneke, Robert; Riches, Jon (November 16, 2018)."Attorneys: UCF's De La Haye settles for a bright future off the field".orlandosentinel.RetrievedMay 28,2019.
  3. ^"Donald Delahaye Bio".UCFKnights.RetrievedMay 27,2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  4. ^ab""A college football player has a hit YouTube channel. He might have to give it up to remain eligible." (June 12, 2017). USA Today ".June 12, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on November 25, 2018.RetrievedMay 27,2019.
  5. ^Deestroying (July 31, 2017).I lost my full D1 scholarship because of my YouTube Channel.YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on January 12, 2018.RetrievedMay 27,2019.
  6. ^""Ex-college football player Donald De La Haye signs with Whistle Sports" (Aug 18, 2017). CNBC ".CNBC.August 18, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on April 3, 2019.RetrievedMay 27,2019.
  7. ^Kirshner, Alex (July 13, 2018)."How the YouTube kicker's lawsuit challenges the NCAA".SB Nation.RetrievedMay 28,2019.
  8. ^De La Haye v. Hitt, 6:18-cv-0135 (M.D. Fla. 2018).
  9. ^"NCAA to consider allowing athletes to profit from names".SI.May 14, 2019.RetrievedOctober 1,2019.Last year, a kicker at UCF gave up his scholarship rather than stop making money off his profitable YouTube channel, which threatened to make him ineligible.
  10. ^James Loke Hale (January 31, 2019)."YouTube Millionaires: NFL Hopeful Donald De La Haye Was Forced To Choose Between YouTube And Football — But Now He Aims For Both".tubefilter.RetrievedMay 31,2019.
  11. ^Leskin, Paige (July 19, 2019)."Logan Paul is holding a race on Saturday to find the fastest YouTuber, and the winner gets $100,000. Here's who is competing".Business Insider.RetrievedAugust 2,2019.
  12. ^"Argos add five to training camp roster".Toronto Argonauts.May 19, 2019.Archivedfrom the original on May 19, 2019.RetrievedMay 27,2019.
  13. ^Deestroying (May 22, 2019).I GOT SIGNED TO A PRO FOOTBALL TEAM YESTERDAY.YouTube.Archivedfrom the original on May 26, 2019.RetrievedMay 27,2019.
  14. ^abBeede, Jason (June 25, 2019)."Ex-UCF kicker Donald De La Haye has no regrets after choosing YouTube over Knights, earns spot in CFL".Orlando Sentinel.RetrievedJune 27,2019.
  15. ^"Toronto Argonauts announce final roster cuts ahead of deadline".Tip of the Tower.June 9, 2019.RetrievedJune 11,2019.
  16. ^"Transactions".CFL.ca.RetrievedAugust 16,2019.
  17. ^Deestroying (July 22, 2019).THE TRUTH ABOUT MY PRO FOOTBALL CAREER.. (WHY I'M NOT PLAYING).YouTube.RetrievedAugust 15,2019.
  18. ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:I GOT INVITED TO TRAIN FOR THE NFL COMBINE.. (NFL COACHES GIVE ME ADVICE).YouTube.
  19. ^Larsen, James (January 30, 2024)."Youtube Star Kicker Deestroying Signs To San Antonio Brahmas".Pro Football Newsroom.RetrievedJanuary 30,2024.
  20. ^Nelson, Mark (December 28, 2023)."XFL San Antonio Brahmas kicker Parker Romo does not plan to return for the 2024 season".UFL News and Discussion.RetrievedFebruary 7,2024.
  21. ^abWaters, Andres (April 3, 2024)."How a kicker went from UCF to YouTube to the UFL: Deestroying is chasing his dreams".ESPN.RetrievedApril 3,2024.
  22. ^Larsen, James (March 12, 2024)."Deestroying Comments On Earning A Starting Role With Brahmas".Pro Football Newsroom.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  23. ^Fernandez, Lance (April 6, 2024)."Cam Newton raises questions at Deestroying's debut UFL game with Brahmas:" Where's the field goals? "".Sportskeeda.RetrievedApril 7,2024.
  24. ^"Brahmas K 'Deestroying' (neck) out for season".Yardbarker.April 9, 2024.RetrievedApril 9,2024.
  25. ^"UFL Transactions".UFL News and Discussion.RetrievedApril 9,2024.
  26. ^Donald De La Haye has some unfinished business in San Antonio 💪.United Football Leagueon X. October 29, 2024. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
  27. ^"Deestroying joins FaZe Clan to" take the sports world by storm "".tubefilter.April 12, 2022.RetrievedApril 12,2022.
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