Pitt K Ben Sauls Suited for Transforming NFL Kicking Game

PITTSBURGH — The kicking game is changing in the National Football League and it is perfectly suited for Pitt kicker Ben Sauls.

Kickers are attempting, and converting, on kicks beyond 50 yards at a higher rate than ever. For the fourth straight season, a new record was set with 195 field goals from beyond 50 yards, according to ESPN and Pro Football Reference.

Sauls is no stranger to converting on long kicks as he knocked through six 50-yard field goals during his final season at Pitt in 2024, including a pair from 57 and tying a program record with a 58-yard make.

“If you look at the stats, especially in the last five, 10, 15 years, they’re kicking more and more 50-yard field goals,” Sauls said following his Pitt pro day performance. “With that, people are making more and more of them, so the expectation’s a little higher. Back in the day it was probably 50-50. You go out there and hit a 50-yard field goal, great. If you miss it, whatever. The expectation from coaches and kickers like myself is that we go out there to make every kick.”

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey nailed a 65-yarder in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, which is the second-longest in NFL history. He also attempted a kick from 66 in Week 1. Lengthier kicks are becoming the norm in the league and Sauls knows he is well-equipped for that task.

“You’re seeing that across the league, we’re attempting 66-yard field goals. I bet you Aubrey will hit a 70-yard field goal in the next couple years. That’ll keep happening. That transition will keep happening. Talking about building a resume, this season was huge for me that I was so consistent 50-plus and most of those were 55-plus and to show my leg out here today is all good for my resume.”

During Pitt pro day last Wednesday, Sauls showcased his strong leg in front of scouts and numerous special teams coordinators. While his first impression ended with a miss, Sauls rebounded to hit a cluster of consecutive kicks.

“What I’ve tried to personify in my career is that I’m a guy who can bounce back quick. I don’t like to miss by any means. To come out here and miss the first kick and then to hit 10 in a row after that, 11 in a row, whatever it was, that just exemplifies me. Misses happen. That’s a part of what I do. That’s a part of my job. The second half of that is what do you do after that. Today, I got to do that,” Sauls said.

Sauls was booming kicks from 51, 45, 36, among other spots, but his best came from 58 yards with room to spare.

Pitt K Ben Sauls with a 58-yard field goal during Pitt Pro Day — comes as his furthest make on the day.

Had an attempt from 62 but missed. pic.twitter.com/vm94ycFe31

— Nathan Breisinger (@NateBreisinger) March 26, 2025

“At the end of the day, film doesn’t lie. Based on my film and the rest of the resume, coming out here today and just hitting some good balls was my goal and I think I did that,” Sauls said.

The Tipp City, Ohio native has spent his last five seasons at Pitt and head coach Pat Narduzzi has watched him adapt and make big-time kicks in critical moments like a Sun Bowl walk-off winner or a 35-yarder at Cincinnati this past fall with just 17 seconds left, so the pro day performance was nothing new.

“Ben is like, ‘Hey, you want me to hit a 55-yarder, OK, I’ll hit a 55-yarder.’ He’ll do whatever you ask him to do. That’s the kind of kid he is. He’s a great player and we look forward to seeing what he does in the future,” Narduzzi said.

In 2024, Sauls connected on 21-of-24 field goals and a perfect 44-of-44 on extra points. He was selected to the Pro Football Focus All-American team and a Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Semifinalist.

Out of all the deep kicks and late-game attempts, nothing prepared Sauls more for the NFL than kicking at Acrisure Stadium with the wind coming off the three rivers.

Where does Pitt find these kickers?

Ben Sauls drills a 57 yard field goal like a PAT pic.twitter.com/ZQPuPJz6To

— Official Ohio State DG (@DylanEveryday) October 25, 2024

“It’s not like that’s the main reason I’m getting attention, but it’s huge. I’ve gotten a lot of props from a lot of different teams in the NFL like, ‘You had a great career, but you also did it in Acrisure.’ I knew that coming here – Alex Kessman, shout out to him – he was always like, ‘If you can kick here, you can kick anywhere.’ I’ve carried that mindset and that’s certainly helped me out and that’s a resume builder, no doubt about it,” Sauls said.

Ahead of the NFL Draft, Sauls has met with the Pittsburgh Steelers, held zoom calls with Carolina Panthers and New York Giants, while setting up another meeting with the Buffalo Bills as he hopes to land with an organization and start the next chapter of his football career.