About Cristiano
Born and raised in Colorado, I played football and ran track at Heritage High School in Littleton, Colorado. There I was a 4-year varsity letter winner, earned All-Conference honors for two years as a corner back and was nationally recognized as a place kicker. I joined the Oregon Ducks as a place kicker for my first year of college football under Head Coach Mario Cristobal. That year, we (the Ducks) went 10-4, beat Ohio State in their Horseshoe, and played the Oklahoma Sooners in the Alamo Bowl.
Following the coaching staff changes at the University of Oregon and after Spring football with Head Coach Dan Lanning, I transferred back home to CU as a place kicker for the 2022 football season under Coach Dorrell, the 1-11 season. When Coach Prime took the helm, I happily stayed and competed for a spot with the CU Buffs. I earned a number and a spot on the team during spring ball with Coach Prime. I played my second season for the Buffaloes under Coach Prime and mainly contributed on kickoffs.
During the past two seasons at CU I have been dealing with a severe hip injury. I played through the injury when Coach Prime arrived in order to prove my value to Coach Prime as well as my commitment to the Colorado Buffalos. After the end of the 2023 football season my injury was diagnosed as a torn labrum and three torn muscles in my hip caused by an odd bone growth on my femur. I played the entire season with the three torn muscles and a torn labrum. On December 21st 2023, I had corrective hip arthroscopy surgery by world-renowned surgeon Dr. Omer Mei-Dan and I am scheduled to be ready by the time spring ball rolls around. I am hoping that I will be back to 100%,... maybe for the first time in 2+ years.
For the 2024 football season, I will be going into my fourth year of College football. I will have three years of eligibility left due to redshirting and injury. Academically I am a junior and I am pursuing a degree in Integrative Physiology. In my years at CU I have earned a 3.77 GPA. My dreams in college are to be the most consistent and reliable kicker for CU. The latest challenge/adversity is to fully recover from surgery and return to prime form. Additionally, I want to finish top of my class for my major (Integrated Physiology) when I finish school here.
Following my college years, my biggest dream is to start a large family when young and become a great husband and father. I am interested in becoming a firefighter and serving my local community, but I am still looking into what I am most interested in doing after college.
I grew up in Littleton Colorado and have two siblings. My brother Gianni, recently graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with an Aeronautical Engineering degree and is preparing to start pilot training. My sister Gabriela, who is the oldest of us three, played D1 soccer at the University of St. Thomas, graduated with a mechanical engineering degree, and is now a Combat Systems Officer on gunships in the US Air Force. My parents, Royce and Karin come and support me at every game they can. My father is a CU Alum with a graduate degree from the Leeds School of Business.
Outside of football and school at CU, I am a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic parish and lead a Bible study for the football team. I enjoy the outdoors, fitness, reading, public speaking, as well as playing guitar and piano.
I am interested in many forms of NIL exchange. I am very accustomed to sharing social media posts on my accounts or creating content for my partners. I am very comfortable with public speaking, creating content to promote a business, making public appearances, and I will represent your company well. I can work with you on NIL arrangements similar to those that have been beneficial to my other NIL partners. I am also open to new ideas and crafting new ways to support your endeavors.
I look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Cristiano Palazzo
