Kentucky kicker commit Jacob Kauwe drills 75-yard field goal

Jack PIlgrimby:Jack Pilgrim07/28/23

Kentucky specialist pledge Jacob Kauwe is among the best in the nation at what he does. What is that exactly? Kick the living crud out of the football — a five-star kicker and punter, per Kohl’s Kicking. The Billings, Montana native is rated as a top-30 prospect at both positions, announcing his commitment to the Wildcats back on June 20.

Kauwe turned the heads of Kentucky special teams coach Jay Boulware and quality control assistant Mike Priefer Jr. at a Kohl’s Professional Football Kicking Camp, separating himself from his peers. The two staff members took a closer look at his film and saw a fit, leading to an official visit, then a scholarship, then a commitment.

The rising senior proved once again this week why the Wildcats pushed for his kicking services this summer, booting an absurd 75-yard field goal back home in Montana — with video evidence to back it up.

Take a look at Kauwe’s ridiculous leg below:

How did Kentucky land the standout specialist’s commitment last month? Mark Stoops’ program had everything he was looking for in a college, a place he felt he could develop under the bright lights of Kroger Field playing SEC football.

“Kentucky is the biggest stage with the biggest opportunity to develop. Coach Boulware’s track record with kickers, if you look back at all the places he’s been, it’s amazing,” he told KSR on 630 WLAP’s Sunday Morning Sports Talk. “Everyone I talked to, nowhere was like Kentucky and the plan they laid out for me to get better. That was really important to me. From the first conversation Coach (Jay) Boulware had with my parents, it was, ‘This is what we’re going to do to get your kid better.’

“That’s what is important to me, someone helping me be the best I can be and performing on the biggest stage. That fits Kentucky to a T.”

And he believes he’ll be coming in and making an early impact with the Wildcats.

“A lot of people are really excited about it that they are getting a highly-touted person like myself to come in,” Kauwe said. “That was never a main topic of focus (fixing the kicking position) — I’m ready to come in and compete, whatever the spot is or what the situation is. Coach Boulware made it clear I’m his dude and he really believes in me.

“They gave me the scholarship and I’m ready to come in and compete. Whatever and whoever I have to come in and compete with, that’s alright.”

He previously said he was comfortable “definitely into the 50s” as a field goal specialist. How about 75? Kauwe’s got the leg.

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2024-05-15