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Steelers Sign Record-Setting Kicker as UDFA
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- Steelers Sign Record-Setting Kicker as UDFA
2025 NFL Draft Pitt Panthers Kicker Ben Sauls PITTSBURGH STEELERS
From Steelers Now :
Pittsburgh Panthers place kicker Ben Sauls (90) October 12, 2024 David Hague/PSN
Pitt kicker Ben Sauls was one of the top options at his position heading into the 2025 NFL Draft. While he did not get selected, it did not take long for the next-door neighbors the Pittsburgh Steelers to scoop him up.
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Sauls will move his stuff from Pitt to the Steelers side of the UPMC Rooney Complex as he is signing a rookie undrafted free agent deal with the organization, a source confirmed with Steelers Now. Sauls had previously visited the Steelers in the pre-draft process.
Sauls is built for a transforming kicking game that features more and more attempts beyond 50 yards. He 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 performanc e. "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."
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During the Pitt pro day in March, 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.
Sep 12, 2020; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers place kicker Ben Sauls (90) against at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sauls was booming kicks from 51, 45, 36, among other spots, but his best came from 58 yards with room to spare.
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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.
The Tipp City, Ohio native spent the last five seasons at Pitt and benefited from kicking in Acrisure Stadium — one of the toughest stadiums to kick in.
"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.
Overall, Sauls finished his Pitt career hitting on 52-of-64 field-goal attempts, while averaging 63 yards per kickoff.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Steelers Sign Record-Setting Kicker as UDFA
