From College Football to YouTube Stardom

Donald De La Haye, better known by his online persona "Deestroying," has built one of YouTube's most successful sports entertainment channels while pursuing his dream of professional football. ^[1] Born in Costa Rica on December 2, 1996, De La Haye moved to the United States with his family at age seven and grew up in Port St. Lucie, Florida. ^[1] His journey from college athlete to social media mogul began during his time as a kicker and holder at the University of Central Florida from 2015 to 2016. ^[1]

The NCAA Controversy That Changed Everything

De La Haye's path took a dramatic turn in 2017 when the NCAA presented him with an ultimatum regarding his growing YouTube channel. ^[3] The organization demanded he either demonetize his athletic-related content or forfeit his eligibility to continue playing college football. ^[3] At the time, his channel had approximately 91,000 subscribers, but the NCAA's strict rules prohibited student-athletes from profiting off their name, image, and likeness. ^[3] Rather than comply with the NCAA's demands, De La Haye chose to continue monetizing his content, ultimately losing his scholarship and eligibility. ^[4] This decision, made years before NIL rules were reformed, gained him over 30,000 new YouTube subscribers and established him as a pioneer in the athlete-creator space. ^[4] He later sued UCF over the matter in July 2018, settling in November 2018 to complete his education at the university. ^[1]

Building a Multi-Million Subscriber Empire

Since leaving college football, De La Haye has transformed his YouTube channel into a major entertainment destination. His content has evolved from simple kicker trick shots and football stereotypes to include gaming videos, NFL player impersonations, and collaborations with professional athletes. ^[1] The channel has grown exponentially, reaching over 6.2 million subscribers as of 2025, up from just 94,000 when he left UCF. ^[1] Current analytics show the channel maintains strong engagement, with an average of 124,500 views per video and 17,000 likes per upload. ^[5]12 The channel has accumulated over 1.6 billion total views since its inception in 2015. ^[7] Recent subscriber growth data indicates the channel added 420,000 new subscribers between April 2024 and June 2025. ^[7]

High-Profile Collaborations and NFL Partnerships

De La Haye has leveraged his platform to secure collaborations with some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. His partnerships have included NFL stars such as Cam Newton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Antonio Brown, and Tyreek Hill. ^[1] One of his most notable achievements came in 2019 when he competed in Logan Paul's Challenger Games, winning the 100-meter sprint and claiming a $100,000 prize. ^[11]23 In 2023, De La Haye secured an official partnership with the NFL for an expanded version of his "1ON1" series, visiting ten cities to find the best local wide receivers and defensive backs. ^[8]15 This collaboration culminated in winners competing at the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl, demonstrating the league's recognition of his influence in the sports entertainment space. ^[9]

Professional Representation and Business Ventures

Recognizing his growing influence, De La Haye signed with talent agency WME to expand his entertainment and business opportunities. ^[12] The agency is helping develop his lifestyle and sports entertainment businesses across digital platforms, linear television, brand endorsements, and licensing deals. ^[12] With approximately 6 million followers across all social media platforms, including Instagram and TikTok, he represents a valuable asset for brands targeting younger demographics. ^[12] De La Haye has also launched his own merchandise line, selling apparel including t-shirts and hoodies through his dedicated online store. ^[10] Financial estimates suggest he earns millions annually through various revenue streams, including YouTube monetization, sponsorships, and merchandise sales. ^[4]

Return to Professional Football

Despite his success as a content creator, De La Haye never abandoned his football aspirations. In 2019, he briefly signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League, though he was later placed on the suspended list to allow him to continue his YouTube activities. ^[1] His most significant return to professional football came in 2024 when the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League signed him as their starting kicker. ^[2] He documented this journey through his "Project NFL" video series, which chronicled his training and preparation for professional competition. ^[2] However, his season was cut short when he suffered multiple neck fractures during a tackle in just his second game, requiring a neck brace for three months. ^[14]33 Demonstrating his resilience, De La Haye re-signed with the Brahmas for the 2025 season, stating "I refuse to go out like that after my injury. The story is far from over and I have a lot more football to play." ^[13] In the 2025 season opener, he successfully made his first field goal since high school, converting a 39-yard attempt. ^[1]

Content Evolution and Current Focus

De La Haye's content strategy has continuously evolved to maintain audience engagement across multiple platforms. His recent videos include fitness content, behind-the-scenes football training, and collaborations with other creators and athletes. ^[6] He has launched additional content initiatives, including the "Kickin It with Dee" podcast co-hosted with Brahmas punter Brad Wing. ^[13] His influence extends beyond entertainment, as he has become a case study for the changing landscape of college athletics and name, image, and likeness rights. ^[4] His early stand against NCAA restrictions helped pave the way for current NIL legislation that allows college athletes to profit from their personal brands. ^[4]

Deestroying (Donald De La Haye)

Deestroying (Donald De La Haye)

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