As a defensive lineman who currently handles the place-kicking duties for his team and has also punted in the past, Abilene High senior Tristen Hall is something of a rarity at the large-school level.

And his path to that unique combination of roles wasn’t exactly a linear one.

If his mother had had her way, he would have simply been a kicker in high school. And if he had had his, he likely would have stayed on the offensive side of the ball at tight end — the position he played as a freshman.

But team needs and a veteran coaching staff dictated another path for the 6-foot-2, 215-pound athlete. And now, after a successful transition to the defensive end position, everyone’s happy with the way things have turned out.