Winning in Every Field: Peyton Todd
December 18, 2024
Fourth Downs to Farm Calls: LSU’s Peyton Todd Tackles Football and Veterinary Dreams
It’s fourth down, and punter Peyton Todd stands alone in LSU’s endzone. The capacity crowd is restless. He takes the snap and launches the ball 40-plus yards with no return. Tiger fans roar.
It’s a pressure-filled role that Todd has dreamed about for years.
“I have looked forward to coming to LSU my entire life as a Louisiana native. This is the place I've always wanted to be. I grew up watching LSU football,” he said.
Yet, there’s another arena where he works hard under pressure: caring for animals. For the West Monroe native, football is just one part of his focus. The other is animal sciences. When he graduates in December, the animal science major plans to attend veterinary school.
“I was always interested in medicine, and I've always had a love for animals. I put two and two together, and it landed me here,” Todd said.
Balancing the demands of college football and the animal science curriculum isn’t easy, but Todd is driven by discipline and a carefully crafted routine.
“It is a large load having to juggle the responsibilities of football and my education," he said. “But it comes down to having discipline, creating a schedule, and sticking to it the best that you can. I feel like having a routine and great habits is the only way I'm able to juggle all the things I do.”
He took one step closer to becoming a veterinarian this summer at Summerview Farm in St. Gabriel. That’s where Todd worked closely with local veterinarian Dr. Josie Cormier, providing help to horses through x-rays, physical exams, chiropractic work, acupuncture, and dental work.
“LSU is successful at building winning teams, and that’s winning on the field and off the field. Everything that I do here at LSU is going to help me strive and meet my goals in the future.”
— Peyton Todd
Dr. Cormier, who works at a clinic called Faith Veterinary Services, is a two-time LSU graduate and a former member of the LSU Equestrian Team. She said she typically works with students already in veterinarian school who need the training for a class grade.
“It’s pretty rare for undergrad students to volunteer. Peyton actually reached out to me on his own. He did not receive a grade and was not required to volunteer with me. While most students were enjoying their summer off, Peyton worked long and physical hours at our clinic,” Dr. Cormier said. “He also spent almost eight full weeks this summer helping out and learning. I almost exclusively work with students from the vet school, so it was very fun to take an undergrad student with as much interest in the field as he has.”
Dr. Cormier said the first-hand experience Todd gained helps his chances of being accepted into veterinary school application but it also helps to shape the career he takes.
“I also hope his experience showed him that there are truly hundreds of avenues that veterinary medicine can take you down,” she said. “No matter what your interest or love is, chances are there is a place in this field for it. It is a very challenging job, especially as physical as equine medicine can be, but it can truly be a blast.”
Todd said his football experience comes into play when he’s working with animals, teaching him to keep a clear mind in high-pressure situations.
“These animals are big, and that comes with unexpected movements and situations that you put yourself into. And in those moments, you have to realize you're dealing with a sick animal and the need to keep yourself as safe as possible while also providing the best care for these animals that you can,” Todd said.
Once he graduates from veterinary school, he plans to be a veterinarian who specializes in large animals, working with horses and cattle. His discipline, focus, and drive have been shaped, in part, on the football field, a byproduct of football coach Brian Kelly’s philosophy to “graduate champions.”
“It is all about building great habits on and off the field that will help you succeed in the classroom and on the football field," Todd said.
For him, this approach is what makes LSU exceptional.
“LSU is successful at building winning teams, and that’s winning on the field and off the field. Everything that I do here at LSU is going to help me strive and meet my goals in the future."
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