It takes a certain type of personality to be a place-kicker.
Ben Sauls is noted for his confidence. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more confident player at any level. James London exudes a quiet confidence, as much as one can upon arriving at a new location, but he’s not Sauls.
And he doesn’t have to be. If you ask Sauls, London shouldn’t be like him.
“He said just come in and be me and do what I do,” London said Wednesday on the South Side.
Sauls certainly played a role in Pitt landing London this winter. He’s competing in the Shrine Bowl this week but was a major recruiter when London was in town for his official visit. He offered all the advice he could, tried to explain his mindset as a successful kicker and sort of convinced London that Pitt was where he needed to be.
London took what he heard to heart. He decided to follow in Sauls’s footsteps. And try as you might, the comparisons are inevitable.
London converted 14-of-19 field goal attempts at Murray State last season. Half of those came from at least 50 yards, with a long of 55 yards. He was an All-MVFC and All-American honoree, pacing the conference in field goal percentage and distance. And it all started with preparation.
“I practice like it’s a game, so when it comes to game time, I just put my head down, follow through and make my kicks,” London said.
Of course, like Sauls, he’s always challenging himself. And while he will always be grateful for the opportunity with the Racers, he craved more. He wanted greater competition and bigger moments. Pitt offered that.
London heard about Acrisure Stadium, and how challenging it is for a kicker. And he decided if he could kick at Acrisure, he could kick anywhere.
He wanted to compete at the highest level and win games. He can do both, while challenging himself to be the best version of himself possible, with the Panthers. Confidence has never been an issue.
“I listen to Bob Marley before games, kind of just chill and keep that positive energy and positive vibes,” London said. “I just go out there and make my kicks, and I trust in myself. I trust in the preparation I did, and I work hard. I get a lot of reps, so when I go out there, I got the reps in, so I’m not nervous.”
London isn’t nervous when he steps up for a game-winning kick and certainly isn’t nervous to fill the shoes left behind by Sauls. It’s why he came to Pitt. He’s put in the work and wants to showcase what he can do on the biggest stage. Again, not to draw direct comparisons, but it’s the same flair for the dramatic that Sauls has shown throughout his Pitt career.
London wasn’t highly recruited out of Miami Central High, playing alongside Lamar Seymore and Cataurus Hicks, but he can’t be mad about the journey. It’s paid off with the opportunity he’s dreamed about.
“Murray State was the only school that gave me a real opportunity, so I just took full advantage of it and it brought me here,” James London said.
