Arkansas kicker Jake Bates didn’t attempt at field goal in college. He will still find his way to an NFL training camp.
Jake Bates signed a free-agent deal Saturday night with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bates served as Arkansas’ kickoff specialist last year.
Bates was able to show off his impressive leg during Arkansas’ Pro Day. During the regular season 64 of his 75 kickoffs went for touchbacks, the best rate in the nation. He earned first-team All-SEC honors from the coaches as the team’s kickoff specialist.
He transferred to Fayetteville for his senior season after playing the previous two seasons at Texas State. Before that, he played soccer at Central Arkansas.
Arkansas had two players taken in the 2023 draft. Linebacker Drew Sanders went to the Denver Broncos in the third round and center Ricky Stromberg was selected by the Washington Commanders in the same.
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