Inside The Panthers

Pitt Kicker Earns East-West Shrine Bowl Honors

Pitt Panthers kicker impressed NFL Scouts with his play.

Dominic Campbell

Nov 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers place kicker Ben Sauls (90) kicks off to the Virginia Cavaliers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Nov 9, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Panthers place kicker Ben Sauls (90) kicks off to the Virginia Cavaliers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
In this story:

PITTSBURGH — A former Pitt Panthers player received praise for his performance recently, as he prepares for the NFL Draft.

Pitt kicker Ben Sauls is competing at the East-West Shrine Bowla postseason all-star game that has been played almost every year since 1925. It will take place this year at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where the Dallas Cowboys play, on Jan. 30.

He spent the past few days practicing and working on his craft, which earned him West All-Practice Team honors for a special teamer.

Sauls has had a fantastic 2024 season, going 44-for-44 on PATs and 21-for-24 on field goals, with one blocked. He made his first 13 attempts, before missing a 47-yard field goal in the second quarter of the 48-25 loss to then ranked No. 20 SMU on the road in Week 10. 

He also made six 50+ yard field goals, with the 57-yarder he made at the end of the first half in the road loss to Boston College in Week 14 marking the most in a season for a field goal kicker.

His 49-yard field goal in the first quarter for Syracuse in Week 9 was his 13th straight field goal dating back to 2023, which set a new school record for most consecutive field goals. This eclipsed the previous record of 12, that both Chris Ferenick in 1995 and Conor Lee in 2007 set, and he had 15 consecutive he made before that miss vs. SMU.

Sauls also made a 58-yard field goal vs. Cal in their Week 7 matchup on Oct. 12 at Acrisure Stadium, that tied former Pitt kicker Alex Kessman's 58-yarder he converted against Boston College in 2020 to send the game into overtime. It is also the longest field goal at Acrisure Stadium in Pitt history, as Chris Boswell of the Pittsburgh Steelers made one from 59 yards there.

His best game of the season came against Cincinnati in the River City Rivalry on the road in Week 2, for which he earned ACC Specialist of the Week and Lou Groza Star of the Week honors.

Sauls finished the day 3-for-3 on field goals, including the only points in the second half from 47 yards and a career-high of 53 yards at the end of the first half. He would also hit the game winning field goal from 35 yards out in front of his friends and family, as he grew up 65 miles north of Cincinnati.

His six field goals of 50 yards or more in 2024 was the most in program history, which included a 57-yarder in the 48-46 loss to Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl.

Sauls has had some great moments is most famous for his heroics against UCLA in the 2022 Sun Bowl. Against the Bruins, Sauls went 5-of-5 in the El Paso, Texas wind. He made kicks from 22, 49, 31, 27 and 47 yards against UCLA. Sauls made the 47-yard field goal as time dwindled down to seal the Sun Bowl victory for the Panthers.

He was also just the third Panther to earn a Lou Groza Semifinalist honor, along with Kessman in 2020 and Ferencik, who was a finalist for the 1995 award.

Sauls does have an extra year of eligibility, but he chose to walk on Senior Day and is now eyeing a chance to play in the NFL.

He will represent Pitt, along with seniors in wide receiver Konata Mumpfield and defensive back Donovan McMillon, at the East-West Shrine Bowl.

Sauls earned PFF All-American honors and All-ACC Third Team honors for his play in 2024.

He finished his Pitt career going 52-of-64 on field goals, 81.3%, and 122-of-124 on PATs.

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt

Published
Dominic Campbell
DOMINIC CAMPBELL

Dominic writes for Pittsburgh Pirates On SI, Pittsburgh Panthers Pn SI and also, Pittsburgh Steelers On SI. A Pittsburgh native, Dominic grew up watching Pittsburgh Sports and wrote for The Pitt News as an undergraduate at the University of Pittsburgh, covering Pitt Athletics. He would write for Pittsburgh Sports Now after college and has years of experience covering sports across Pittsburgh.

Home/News