The former spring football stars who made the biggest impact on the NFL are all special teams players. KaVontae Turpin, Jake Bates, and Brandon Aubrey are among the NFL’s elite. Turpin and Aubrey are headed to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year and Bates was named an alternate.
The NFL’s Best Special Teams Players Are Spring Football Alums
Field goal kickers are the most expendable position in the NFL. Kickers are rarely taken in the draft since teams prefer to use draft selections to fill other positions. Even when a kicker has a terrific season, it doesn’t guarantee longevity with the team.
Nonetheless, the 2024 NFL season will be remembered as the year special teams players were the ultimate game-changers. Never before have so many close games been decided by a critical game-winning field goal, an astounding kick return, or a key punt that pinned the opposition so far back, that the team couldn’t mount a comeback.
How NFL Special Teams Players Changed The Course Of The Game
Twenty years ago, a kicker attempting to convert a field goal of 5o yards had a 50% probability of success. Today, by comparison, a kicker’s ability to consistently convert 50-yard kicks is a mandatory requirement. During the 2008 season, the Oakland Raiders had kicker Sebastian Janikowski attempt a 76-yard field goal. When the kick failed by almost 20 yards, the team fired coach Lane Kiffin later that week.
This season, when the Dallas Cowboys had an opportunity for Aubrey to kick a 71-yard field goal in the season opener, head coach Mike McCarthy opted not to go for it. Two weeks later, McCarthy relented and gave his kicker a chance. Aubrey’s 65-yard kick in week three against the Baltimore Ravens made the record books as the second-longest in NFL history. But Aubrey’s kick is only one of a record number of long-distance field goals by NFL kickers this season.
Today, NFL kickers regularly convert kicks over 50 and sometimes even 60 yards. Special teams are improving as coaches implement better training techniques and provide more opportunities for longer-distance attempts. After seeing a kicker nail the kick in practice, coaches are more willing to risk a long-distance boot in close-game scenarios.
Bates and Lions Specials Teams Players Smashing NFL and Franchise Records
Bates, the Detroit Lions’ rookie place-kicker, set a new franchise record for the team with 142 points coming from 26 of 29 field goals and 64 of 67 extra points. He kicked five field goals over 50 yards this season with his longest NFL kick at 58 yards.
In his first UFL game, Bates broke the internet when he booted a game-winning 64-yard field goal for the Michigan Panthers. It was the second-longest kick in professional football history until Aubrey beat it this season. But what made Bates’ field goal even more sensational was that he had to kick a second time after a penalty call negated his first kick. Despite his outstanding year, Bates may end up forfeiting his first Pro Bowl since the Lions are the NFC’s number-one seed and could be headed to the Super Bowl.
Lions Pro Bowl and NFL First Team punter Jack Fox boasted the best stats in the league despite having fewer opportunities to punt this season. That’s largely because the Lions’ offense has been so outstanding in obliterating their competition with high-scoring games, that Fox hasn’t had as many chances to punt. Furthermore, head coach Dan Campbell’s propensity for ‘going for it on 4th down’ rather than punting reduces Fox’s window of opportunity. But punting and special teams have played a huge role in the Lions’ success this season.
Why UFL Special Teams Players Are In Demand
At the same time, the NFL requires an athlete to kick farther than ever before, the demand for accuracy and consistency has never been higher. In recent years, the NFL kicking game underwent significant changes. Several years ago, the NFL extended the distance for kicking an extra point. Consequently, there are more missed kicks these days.
Implemented this year, the dynamic kickoff encourages more returns while limiting contact and reducing the risk of injury. However, the change requires precision kicking and delivery in the designated landing zone.
Although the NFL places the ball at the 35-yard line rather than the kicker’s 20-yard line, the rule resembles how USFL kickoffs were previously handled. The kickoff principle is the same with stationary players waiting in the zone. Therefore, spring football players are in high demand because of their previous experience.
Other Spring Football Players Making An NFL Impact
Turpin, the Cowboys’ outstanding return specialist and wide receiver continues to break records in the NFL. During an explosive 64-yard touchdown return in week 11, Turpin was clocked at 22 mph. The following week, he torched the Commanders on a 99-yard touchdown, scoring the NFL’s longest kickoff return this season.
Several other UFL players impacted the NFL this season. Replacing injured Minnesota Vikings kicker, Will Reichard, former San Antonio Brahmas kicker John Parker Romo played in four NFL games this season. Romo made an impressive debut nailing 11 of 12 field goals including a 55-yarder. Consequently, he was snapped up by the New England Patriots and is currently signed to a reserve/futures contract.
Another kicker signed to a reserve/futures contract with the Cleveland Browns is St. Louis Battlehawks kicker, Andre Szymt. His Brahmas teammate, Rex Sunahara, is the Browns’ long snapper. Two other special teams players saw NFL action this season. Former Michigan Panthers wide receiver and return specialist Kaden Davis was activated by Cleveland in week 18. He returned three kicks for 107 yards. Former D.C. Defenders punter Daniel Whelan was active with the Green Bay Packers, recording three punts for 133 yards.
Spring Football Special Teams To NFL Pendulum Swings Both Ways
The UFL to NFL pendulum can swing both ways. Rodrigo Blankenship signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. During his rookie season, he earned the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and converted 32 of 37 field goals, with a long of 53 yards. However, subsequent struggles led to his release from the Colts in 2022.
Blankenship spent time with the Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers but injuries and competition led to his release. Blankenship signed with the UFL this week as the kicker for the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Upcoming UFL Stars for 2025
Keep an eye out for two UFL special teams stars this season. Social media sensation, Donald De La Haye is returning as the kicker for the San Antonio Brahmas. “Deestroying” as he is known to his six million plus fans is likely to be among the most popular and exciting athletes this spring. Another popular return specialist is D.C. Defenders’ Chris Rowland who led the league with the most all-purpose yards; 1,657 from kickoffs and punt returns in 10 games with four touchdowns. Averaging 165.7 per game, Rowland was named to the 2024 All-UFL Team. Only time will tell if either of these athletes will make it to the NFL, but the path is open for special teams players who can make an impact.
Main Photo: Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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