Reaching Canton big kick for former Michigan State Spartan Morten Andersen

If it wasn't for Morten Andersen's experience as a high school exchange student, he said he wouldn't have kicked at Michigan State, let alone graduate and go on to enjoy a 25-year NFL career.

Andersen will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during an enshrinement ceremony Aug. 5 in Canton, Ohio. Joining him in the 2017 class are Terrell Davis, Jason Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and Kurt Warner. 

Andersen grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark, but he spent the 1977-78 school year at Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis. Not only did he learn English and American culture there, but he discovered his natural ability to boot long-range field goals. 

More:Is Morten Andersen a 'no-brainer' for Pro Football Hall of Fame?

"The intent was to come to America as a cultural exchange student for 10 months and then go back home and finish my studies in Denmark," Andersen said during a conference call Wednesday. "American football was not on the radar at all for me. It was simply to learn the language, immerse myself in the American way of life, soak up as much as I could about American culture, the language (and) social values and bring that back home and impart that knowledge to other young kids who might want to come to the United States." 

Andersen grew up participating on handball and gymnastics teams, but he wanted to play soccer once he got to Ben Davis. 

The trajectory of his life changed when he attempted his first field goal during a football practice in 1977.

"I had 80 new friends like that when they saw the ball fly vertical and high through the uprights," Andersen said. "I was the new kicker, and that happened overnight – literally. That's how my American dream started. Without it, there's no question we wouldn't be talking (about me in the Hall of Fame) today." 

Anderson is only the third former Spartan to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining cornerback Herb Adderley (1980 inductee) and offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure (2003). 

Columnist:Voting Morten Andersen over T.O. is awful

Andersen played at MSU in 1978-81 and led the team in scoring three of his four years there.

He said one of his favorite college memories was setting the Big Ten record for the longest made field goal, a 63-yarder he converted against Ohio State in 1981. 

"It's one of those balls that when you hit it, it took off and sounded liked a rocket," Andersen recalled. "It sounded like a cannon coming off the foot, and it cleared the goal post for about 10 yards. We have the old 8-millimeter tape to prove it." 

Anderson's other favorite memory was helping the Spartans become co-Big Ten champions with Michigan in 1978. 

"There were some big moments there," he said. "Playing with Kirk Gibson and Ed Smith in 1978, and we won the Big Ten championship – co-champions with Michigan – but unfortunately we couldn't go to the Rose Bowl because of probations. But, nevertheless, a lot of great memories (came) from my Spartan days, and I look forward to seeing about 30 of my older teammates in Canton." 

Andersen made 45 field goals and was 126-of-130 kicking extra points in his 44 games at MSU. The athletic department inducted him into its hall of fame in 2011, while the Walter Camp Football Foundation honored him by placing him on its All-Century Team (1900-2000). 

New Orleans drafted Andersen with the 86th overall pick in the fourth round of the 1982 NFL draft. He played 13 years for the Saints before joining the Atlanta Falcons for another eight seasons. The seven-time Pro Bowler finished his career with brief stints with Kansas City, Minnesota and the New York Giants. 

Andersen still holds four NFL records, including most career points scored by any player (2,544), field goals made (565), field goals attempted (709) and games played (382). 

"I didn't know anything about the game," Andersen said of his time in high school before joining MSU. "The shape of the ball was different, and there were so many different things that were foreign to me, and I spoke very little English at the time anyway. But It became a vehicle, a vessel, if you will, for me to integrate very quickly into the American way and high school way of life."