JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There was a time, not too long ago, when the Jaguars' kicker was one of the most consistent and leading scorers on the team. However, that has not been the case recently.
Since the end of the 2019 season, the Jaguars have employed 16 different kickers. Over that same four-year span, they have ranked second-worst in the league in field goal rate.
To overcome these issues, the Jaguars are looking to Cam Little, the youngest kicker ever drafted in NFL history.
"He's so consistent, he's locked in, he's competitive, and he's everything I thought when I went and worked him out, when I met with him. All those great interactions I had pre-draft, he's exactly what I thought, if not better," Jaguars' Special Teams Coordinator Heath Farwell said.
It took Little just five days into training camp to secure the starting job.
"When you know you're the guy and your head coach comes up and says, 'Hey man, we're going with you,' it's obviously a big deal. That just shows how much confidence they have in you. So, that confidence reflects on you a little bit, and you get a little boost and like, 'Yeah, I'm the guy and they're putting their whole trust in me, then I got to go out there and do my job,'" the former Arkansas Razorback said.
During his collegiate career, Little did his job without missing a single extra point. Now, he looks to add power to that perfection.
"It's all about how you use your body. Obviously, strength is a big deal; that's something I'm trying to make progress in because it will only help with recovery and taking care of my body, getting stronger. Technique is the basis of my kicking game, and I think that's what takes my kicking game to the next level," Little added.
Little will play a game with the Jaguars before even turning 21, as he turns the legal drinking age when the Big Cats take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday, Aug. 17, in their second preseason game.