Pitt FB Recruiting
Kicker Ben Sauls ‘Couldn’t Be Happier’ Signing with Pitt
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Although his recruitment took a couple different turns and included a couple of other commitments, Ben Sauls couldn’t be happier about finally doing what he’s always wanted to do and that was sign with the Pitt Panther football program.
The highly regarded kicker form Tipp City, Ohio originally committed to Boston College but de-committed after their coaching change. Then a week ago, Sauls gave a verbal to Iowa State over Pitt because they were offering him a full scholarship. After a couple of days to re-consider, Pat Narduzzi changed his mind and informed Sauls a full scholarship was available if he was still interested in Pitt.
“This whole process is hard to explain because it was such a chaotic and crazy process,” Sauls told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “But at the end of the day, I couldn’t be happier that I found a home at Pitt. After I de-committed to Boston College, they were #1 but a full scholarship wasn’t available until last Friday and I had to go with where my gut and my heart is and that’s in Pittsburgh.”
Welcome, Ben Sauls!
PK • Tipp City, Ohio#H2P ✍️ #2ManyLights0n pic.twitter.com/fPQWenbTVy
— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) February 5, 2020
After committing to Matt Campbell and Iowa State last Wednesday, Sauls never thought that Pitt would counter with a scholarship offer, but they did.
“I thought that chapter was closed, I really did,” Sauls said. “I had called the Monday before I committed to Iowa State and told them I was going to go to Iowa State and they said they were sorry. Then on Wednesday, I committed to Iowa State and I’m all in and that Friday, out of nowhere, Coach Narduzzi calls me and surprises me with a full scholarship offer. That’s when my family and I had to re-think things but in the end, Pitt was my favorite from the start so it just made sense.
“Coach just told me that things change everyday and something changed and a scholarship opened up for me. He did express the importance of wanting to get me in their program. Specialists these days are a very important piece of the puzzle when it comes to successful football programs and I’m just so excited to get there and help them out,” said Sauls.
New year same ball down the middle @HKA_Tanalski @byron_floyd pic.twitter.com/EXMEa7A6Y8
— Ben Sauls (@bsauls22) January 4, 2020
The plan for Sauls hasn’t changed as Pitt will redshirt him in 2020 and have him train and prepare behind senior Alex Kessman and to take over in 2021.
“They already have Alex Kessman, who’s one in a million and that’s another reason why I picked Pitt so I can learn behind him. I’m looking forward to kicking in Heinz Field, one of the hardest places in the country to kick in. Getting a year under my belt behind Kessman, developing myself and getting used to the academics of college will be very beneficial.”
