It's partially because no player should have to celebrate with himself, like he did in that viral video after he made a kick last season. He's outgoing, showing a sense of humor about himself in person and on Twitter.
He's also one of the best in the nation at his position, making a school-record 25 field goals last season. He shattered the Mountain West kicker scoring record with 134 points (previous record was 122) and 59 percent of his kickoffs were touchbacks (17th nationally).
But Rausa knows kickers aren't always loved, always one key miss away from scorn. There's a reason Adam Sandler wrote "The Lonesome Kicker" almost 20 years ago (sample lyric: "Another blocked kick/And everybody blames me/But it was the left guard/Who didn't pick up his man/Oh, why can't they see?").
Rausa is doubling down on the good vibes, saying "fans are seeing kickers as people, too, and more than meets the eye." He showed off his swing at the Broncos' summer charity softball game, reaching the finals of the home run derby before falling to former minor leaguer and current middle linebacker Joe Martarano.
The preseason All-Mountain West kicker and a Lou Groza Award candidate, Rausa shrugs off the preseason attention. He jokes that "watchlists don't really mean anything. I could watch someone babysit." But he still fits the mold Boise State wants at the position.
Last season, Rausa hit 1-of-4 field goals from more than 50 yards. He tried kicks from 54 and 55, both had the distance, but one hit the upright and another was wide. He'd love to get another shot, perhaps even for the 56-yard school record, or who knows, show off the athleticism on a fake.
This is BSU after all.