Ben Sauls

Position:
PK
Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Height:
5-10
Weight:
185
Hometown:
Tipp City, OH
High School:
Tippecanoe

2024: Achieved one of the finest seasons ever by a Pitt specialist…the lone kicker selected to the Pro Football Focus (PFF) 27-member All-America squad…additional accolades included selection to the SI.com All-America Team (second team)…Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Semifinalist…All-ACC (third team)…led Pitt in scoring with 107 points on 21-of-24 field goals (87.5%) and 44-of-44 extra points…ranked 12th nationally and second in the ACC with an average of 1.62 field goals per game…his 87.5 field goal percentage ranked 18th nationally and fourth in the ACC…made 6-of-7 field goal attempts from 50-plus yards (85.7%)…his six field goals of 50-plus yards set a Pitt season record…matched the longest field goal in Pitt history with a 58-yarder against California (tied with Alex Kessman, 2020)…twice hit from 57 yards: at Boston College and against Toledo in the GameAbove Sports Bowl…his 57-yarder against Toledo broke the GameAbove Sports Bowl record of 51 yards set by Pitt’s Kessman in 2019…each of his three misses were from long-range (59 yards, 47 yards and a blocked 45-yarder)…dating back to the 2023 season, Sauls converted 23 of his last 26 field goal attempts, including a school-record 15 consecutive successful tries…he finished his career ranking third in all-time kick scoring at Pitt with 278 points (52 field goals and 122 PATs) and fifth in overall scoring…selected to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl...recipient of the prestigious Panther Award, presented to the senior student-athletes who have best promoted Pitt through their outstanding athletic achievements...the winners of the Panther Award have their names engraved on the Varsity Walk on Pitt's campus.

2023: Pitt's starting placekicker for all 12 games...led team in scoring with 61 points, converting each of his 28 PATs and 11-of-16 (69%) field goals...scored a season-high eight points twice (Wofford and Louisville), converting each of his six placements (one field goal and five PATs)...kicked a season-long 47-yard field goal at Duke...as the Panthers' kickoff specialist, averaged 63.6 yards on 52 kickoffs with 37 touchbacks (71%).

2022: Played in all 13 games as Pitt’s starting placekicker…converted 20-of-24 field goals (83%) and each of his 47 PATs for 107 points, the third-highest kick scoring total in a season at Pitt…became only the fifth Pitt kicker to eclipse 100 points in a season…made 15 of his last 16 field goals, the lone miss coming from 54 yards…finished second in the ACC and 17^th nationally in field goals per game (1.54)…finished third in the ACC and 26^th nationally in points per game (8.2)…as the Panthers’ kickoff specialist, averaged 62.4 yards on 80 kickoffs with 57 touchbacks (71%)…had a heroic performance in Pitt’s stirring 37-35 win over UCLA in the Sun Bowl, converting each of his seven placements (five field goals and two PATs) in windy conditions, including a game-winning 47-yard kick with just four seconds left…named the John Folmer Sun Bowl Special Teams MVP…set Sun Bowl records for field goals made (five) and kick scoring (17 points), breaking marks originally set by Nebraska’s Paul Rogers in 1969 (four field goals, 15 points)…tied the Pitt single-game record for field goals made (Conor Lee at Notre Dame, 2008)…named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team…selected the ACC Co-Specialist of the Week for his performance against Duke…accounted for eight points in the 28-26 victory over the Blue Devils, making each of his four placements, including a pair of field goals (47 and 51 yards) in blustery conditions…tallied 13 points in the Panthers’ 37-7 win at Virginia, converting 3-of-4 field goals (lone miss from 54) and each of his four extra-point attempts.

2021: Played in all 14 games, serving as Pitt’s primary kickoff specialist…averaged 62.3 yards on 104 kickoffs with 44 touchbacks (42%)…had four tackles on kickoff cover, including a personal-best two at Tennessee…converted both of his extra-point attempts against Massachusetts for two points on the season…finished 2 of 4 on PATs overall for the year.

2020: Made his lone appearance in the opener against Austin Peay…converted an extra-point try to complete the scoring in Pitt’s 55-0 victory over the Governors.

HIGH SCHOOL: Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association (OPSWA) Division III All-State (first team) as a placekicker…accounted for 31 points as a senior, converting 3-of-5 field goals and 22-of-23 extra points…kicked a school-record 55-yard field goal as well as a 49-yarder in the same game…averaged a school-record 43.5 yards per punt…rated the nation’s No. 12 kicker by 247Sports and No. 19 by ESPN…played under Coach Matt Burgbacher…also was an All-Ohio selection in soccer and led Tippecanoe to its first boys soccer state championship.

PERSONAL: Is the son of Christine Diehl and Mark Sauls…has one sister…earned his bachelor's degree in economics.