The sound of a spiraling punt cutting through the summer sky has become a familiar sight at Tennessee State football games. For punter Mark Shenouda, however, each booming kick represents more than just field position — each one reflects a journey that began nearly 6,000 miles away in Cairo, Egypt, and eventually led to the turf at TSU.

"I was actually born in Egypt and grew up playing soccer my whole life," Shenouda said. "When we moved here, I kept playing. My brother was the first one to get into football and seeing him transition from soccer to football really persuaded me to go and learn, too."

His brother, Kerolos Shenouda, played a central role in shaping Mark's path. After the family relocated from Cairo to Mount Juliet, the brothers carried both a love of soccer and the discipline of a tight-knit household. Kerolos tried football first, serving as a kicker and punter at Wilson Central High School before committing to TSU in 2020. Mark followed in his footsteps, but punting always came naturally.

"My older brother taught me a lot," Shenouda said. "He was my mentor. Every year since freshman year of high school, my average has gone up. He always pushed me to be better."
By his senior year at Mount Juliet High School, Shenouda had become one of the nation's top specialists. Rated a five-star punter by Kohl's Kicking in the Class of 2023, he ranked No. 2 in Tennessee and No. 15 nationally. He averaged 42.2 yards per punt with a long of 57. Those numbers made him a coveted recruit and earned him a spot at Memphis to begin his college career.

But football, like life, often requires adjustments.

"Out of high school, I had TSU, but I thought Memphis was where I was supposed to be," Shenouda said. "When the scheme changed there, I hit the portal again. My brother got me in touch with Coach Eddie George and Coach Keith Burns, and I felt like this is where I needed to be."

Shenouda transferred to TSU ahead of the 2024 season, making an immediate impact. He averaged 40.2 yards per punt across 40 attempts that year, with a season-long boot of 60 yards. Through the first four games of 2025, he has improved to 42.5 yards per punt, including 10 pinned inside the 20 and five traveling 50 yards or more.

"I feel like it's been a good start to the season," Shenouda said. "But it could be a lot better. Really, the main thing for me is consistency — perfecting the little things that eventually become big things."

That drive for consistency has been tested under two different coaching regimes at TSU — first under George and Burns, and now under Reggie Barlow and special teams coach Jerod Kruse. The transition has required both physical and mental adjustments.

"The biggest difference is really the punt formation," Shenouda said. "Last year we were in more of a pro style, and this year we're running more spread, which benefits me big time. Having more gunners running down the field to bail me out makes the net punt better."

The new scheme highlights Shenouda's strengths — a powerful leg, steady mechanics, and the ability to flip the field when his team needs it most. And while punters don't get as many chances as other players, he treats every opportunity as a moment to shine.

"In soccer, you're always in the game," he said. "But in football, I don't get many chances. So, when I do, I've got to take advantage of them."

That balance between patience and precision is something Shenouda has carried from his family's journey across continents. Most of his extended relatives remain in Cairo, leaving Nashville as home for him, his parents, and his two brothers. "It's really just my mom, my dad and my two brothers here," he said. "I went back once, and it was special. All my family is still in Egypt."

In Nashville, Shenouda has built a new home — blending the passion of a soccer player with the focus of a football specialist. His pregame playlist may surprise some, leaning on country artists like Riley Green, Zac Brown Band and Gavin Adcock, but it keeps him calm and locked in.

"Really, I like the fast-paced ones," he said with a grin. "They get me ready for games."

That preparation has extended to leadership. Even as a specialist, Shenouda has embraced a bigger role on the team. "It's something I feel like I was meant to be," he said. "I've been a leader since I was young, and I always liked holding people accountable — which ultimately holds myself accountable. I hope I set a good example for the other guys."

Playing for George sharpened that mentality. "Since day one, he was a big leader," Shenouda said. "I looked up to him, and every day he pushed me to be better. Growing up, I watched him a little, so when I found out he was the head coach here, it was kind of sick that I got to play for someone I watched when I was younger."

Now, under Barlow, Shenouda's role is even more defined. He's not just a punter — he's a field-flipper, a tone-setter, and a symbol of resilience. Every time he drops the ball onto his foot, it's more than a kick. It's the story of Cairo, of Mount Juliet, of family, of patience, of persistence.

And for Shenouda, that story is still being written.

"I feel like every year I get better," he said. "That's the goal. Just keep growing, keep getting more consistent, and keep helping this team."

At TSU, the kid who once chased a soccer ball in Cairo now chases perfection — one punt at a time.