Dude Perfect started out as just a group of friends wanting to have some fun. Cory and Coby Cotton, Garrett Hilbert, Cody Jones, and Tyler “Ty” Toney, were your typical friend group. They had been buddies for years and loved to have fun. Eventually, they all decided to try something; “Why not film some trick shots and post them on YouTube?”, they thought. I mean what is the worst that could happen. On April 9^th, 2009, the friends posted their first video on their brand-new channel: Dude Perfect. The group had no expectation for the video would fare on the YouTube landscape, and left it thinking it would maybe amount to a few hundred views. But they were wrong. The video grew into an overnight sensation, garnering hundreds of thousands of views and attention from several top media outlets. Over the next few months, the friend group would continue dropping trick shot video after trick shot video, each one trumping the previous. As the attention and popularity of the channel grew over the years, the group had a choice, give up on the channel to pursue a “normal” career, or quite each of their jobs and go all in. The choice was clear, and not long after each of the friends had quit their jobs in pursuit of their passion. Almost immediately the channel exploded yet again, with tons of deals and sponsors pouring in, and the views and subscribers continuing to rack up.

As the channel grew in popularity, the videos and deals grew in magnitude. Through their channel, Dude Perfect broke numerous Guinness World Records, traveled the world, partnered with big brands like Nerf, made videos with many celebrity appearances, and even went on tour.

Throughout it all, there were three things always at the center of Dude Perfect: faith, family, and friends. Through these cornerstones, Dude Perfect was able to not only excel, but reach levels far beyond their imagination. Each member of the group admits that if it were not for their strong family connection, friendship, and Christian faith, Dude Perfect would have been nowhere close to its current level.

Dude Perfect is an excellent example of what is possible when pursuing one’s passion. Each member of the group made a risk when chasing their dreams. Through hard work, focus, prayer, and dedication, these friends reached new heights; but the best may be yet to come.