Jake Bates playing like he has nothing to lose, chasing a dream playing pro ball and he's making the most of it. Looking forward to see which NFL roster he ends up on.
"hey google, when was the last time a kicker won league mvp?" "a ha ha, a ha ha, a ha ha" "i'm a bass player that's not funny" "mark moseley in 1982" "damn straight"
@@jesu_ss4977I imagine it takes generations to build up a hardcore fan base. Just think about it. The teams most people like are because they grew up watching them with their dad.
@@eddiesander403happens more often that you think. If he subbed in on a previous fg block cuz of fatigue or injury he prolly just assumes he should be on the field. Or sometimes a coach thinks they need 1 player and just yells out he needs a body on the field. Regardless it’s poor planning and organization but it’s not hard to understand how it happened 😂😂
I have never followed a kicker till this guy showed up out of nowhere . What a story pretty awesome. Kicking his way to a bigger payday. He will be a fan favorite wherever he plays just because nothing was handed to him, he earned all of it so far. Wait till he gets his first 60+ yarder in the NFL, immediately we will wondering can he hit a70 yarder. Hell of a expectation , but this kid might be the guy to do it.
Oh he's playing right where he's at...in Michigan. As an Ann Arbor resident I cant wait for my home team Lion's sign him. Long fg's were our Achilles heel last season and why we didn't make the Superbowl...Bates will be kicking in July in Allen Park. So his season ends in June and he has no off time to get in his head, he goes right to training camp.
@@TheRealScooterGuy you must not of saw Badgley kick last year...dude couldn't hit from beyond 40yds...Bates will get plenty of action in the pre season...he's shown he has the leg and he knows he's kicking for an NFL job so the nerves have been there...he could be our next Jason Hanson.
Does Campbell go for it on 4th down so often because his kicker sucks, or does he just enjoy the excitement of going for it? If it's the latter, then this kid's skills won't be utilized to their fullest.
@@pkmntrainerian1092I like Campbell as a coach, but he makes some dumb choices at times. You don't keep going for two in that Dallas game because you have a bad kicker. It was just him making an ego based choice.
@@denisfolcik1373 the Dal case isn't on the kicker. He went for 2 because he realized his team was wearing out and they wouldn't be able to stop Dal in overtime. So he took that out of the equation by putting the ball in the best part of the team's hands (the offense) and said "win the game"
I don’t think there’s any way he leaves Michigan. The lions will sign this kid when the season ends in June. In my head it’s kinda a done deal, they need a kicker and Jake bates will fix those issues.
I saw Szmytz from Syracuse, with a 60 yarder last week with the Battlehawks. McCrane has been also been very good. If not for Bates, McCrane would be the top kicker prospect from the UFL.
I was there at that game, was my first UFL game I've ever been to and the energy in the air when Bates was coming up to kick was electric every time without fail. The kicker scored 15 of their 28 points and won the game for the Panthers. I am very excited about the Lions potentially picking him up, the man is a beast.
i was watching live, and that "last" kick that went left, was definately the whistle. i'm no kicker, but before the ball got down field, i'm watching and i kinda felt his stutter, if that makes sense.
Eagles fan here. Kid reminds me of Jake Elliot. The longer the kick the more confident we are he'll make it. Just like Jake, the one he technically missed was the one that's supposed to be a layup.
Looks a lot like another guy that made the big time: Brandon Aubrey. He came out of nowhere(relative obscurity with a soccer background at that)and was arguably the best thing about the Cowboys last season. I'm a Razorback fan too but Bates was "just a kickoff specialist" at Fayetteville. Interesting. I can almost guarantee you Bates would be on the Cowboys speed dial if they didn't already have Aubrey. He will be in the NFL soon.
This is why developmental leagues are important. Brandon Aubrey was the best kicker in the NFL last season and he came from the USFL. Wouldn’t have gotten a shot without that. Jake Bates seems on a similar trajectory.
@@waltlock8805 They literally didnt. Longer, more difficult shots should be awarded. It grew the game for skill, and not shot chucking like it was in the 70s. I'm still an advocate for 4 point half court shots, just makes sense.
@@falcon1378 I think if you can put two feet in the paint with possession you should get three from the key. Bring back driving to the hoop. And drop shots outside the 3 point line to worth 1.
you're not alone ... nobody snaps in football for a field goal ... so i watched the video expecting an outraged kicker snapping on someone ... but that dude Jake Bates sure has one hell of a leg!!
Cam Little left Arkansas with the career best fg% as well as never missing a PAT. Biggest question is what didn't the Texas see when he was practice squad last year before being cut before the season
Bates is a really good kicker and he has a huge leg. The only reason he was relegated to kickoff duties at Arkansas was because he was behind Cam Little (just drafted this year), who was Freshman ALL-SEC/ALL-AA the year before. Even as a kickoff specialist he was a huge asset. The only time we didn't have a touchback is when the coaches wanted him to kick it short--otherwise it went through the back of the EZ. Glad to see him showing off his place kicking abilities in a game situation.
I don't expect the Buffalo Bills would get him. he's too good and reliable and looks like he could win the big game. Something the Bills like to NOT do..
I'd like to see how he does outside of a dome. Being able to make adjustments for the elements and be that cool under pressure puts you on the road to the HOF.
I love the ufl i hope they continue to grow. I honestly stopped watching NFL some years ago these games are making me feel like there's something great coming in the future
I find it absolutely silly that we just assume kickers should hit a 50 yarder let alone his distance consistency. One of the coolest sounds to me is when it’s a crazy quiet stadium and you have a punter just blaaaaast the ball. That loud “BUH!” Boom is lovely.
The one thing I noticed is the fact there’s no waves of fans sitting where he’s kicking towards like there would be in the NFL. So I don’t know if that’ll shake him a bit more when he’s facing that. Kickers hit 60 yarders in practice often and when you’re facing empty seats, it feels like practice so it will be different. If he manages to do it, I’ll be rooting for him though. And I’m a Niner fan. 😅
If you look closely, the setter set the ball incorrectly on the pulled kick, so it was not his fault. Also, he probably does math as his major, so he knows to hit it high rather than low, easily gaining 20+ yards.
He is having a lot of his success indoors, and specifically, in Ford Field. Half of his kicks would be at home, meaning if he signed with the Lions or another team with a roof, most of his kicks will be made indoors, where if he signs with GB or another team without a roof, it would be the opposite. Big risk to change scenery when you have a lot of eyes looking to sign.
I wondered about his pulling that one, he sent it toward where that defensive player was trying to run off. Him being the long distance kick off guy in college makes as much sense as Favre running the option in HS.
Are these all indoor? I want to see him in weather conditions… game on the line .. that’s a whole different beast.. but he definitely has some serious abilities kicking
It's cute that this guy thinks ONLY the Lions would be interested. Someone should tell him that just because he plays in Michigan, that doesn't give the lions dibs.
The UFL is incredible football to watch, it’s as if every single player is either wanting to get back to or into the NFL, so there’s no crappy players, they are all playing their best on every play. Definitely was a great idea for the two spring leagues to merge and become the UFL.
I hope if he does get signed, that he can handle the crowds of a packed NFL stadium vs what appears to be an empty stadium (Or at least an empty endzone seats).
...it looks like they caught up then won... Single handedly by Jake. I was watching his technique... Because that ish is crazy... And his follow through is short.. Even on the long ones. You see other pro kickers dragging their shoelaces on the helmet stripe with a zipper to open on their choad... This is something that will change the game as far as kickers go.
He is contracted to the UFL, NFL teams are not permitted to contacxt him until the UFL season is complete. It has been reported that NFL teams are reaching out to him now, in violation of the rules and at risk of penalties from the league office. With that being said, he was a Undrafted FA signed with the Texans in 2023 but did not make the final 53-man roster.
Wasn't that long ago that a 60 yarder in college or the NFL was almost unheard of and the odds of making it slim to none. Now they just boom them at will.
I had a friend on my hs football team that could've gone pro as a kicker. Kicked a 55 yard FG in a game as a sophomore. Got moved up to varsity. Unfortunately, he got into drugs and a fight the next year. Got suspended and kicked out of school. Went downhill from there.
He seems steady kicking indoors. I hope whoever signs him tests him outside. Kickers might pan out but he seems a stretch to be decent. I think the most important thing is making sure his angle is high enough so he aint hitting NFL blockers in their helmets.
apart from that 1 squirt the rest went right down the pipe with hardly any deviation at all, thats some bloody awesome kicking and i dont even watch gridiron
