Shrine Bowl director: Jaguars received draft’s ‘best kicker’ in Cam Little

Jacksonville selected three of the record-breaking 57 East-West Shrine Bowl prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft. One of them was not like the others.

Junior prospects were allowed to play in all-star games like the Shrine and Senior Bowls for the first time earlier this year.

After his strong showing in the previous exhibition in February, the Jaguars made Cam Little the youngest kicker ever drafted in NFL history this past weekend, selecting the three-year Arkansas starter and Shrine Bowl participant with the overall pick No. 212 in the sixth round.

According to Shrine Bowl Director of Football Operations and Player Personnel Eric Galko, the Jaguars stole a kicker in Little, as he was the third player at his position to be selected.

“We thought he was the best kicker in the draft and we weren’t alone among NFL teams,” Galko told Jaguars Wire in an interview.

Little’s showing in the Shrine Bowl — a two-for-two day with a long 48-yard field goal — capped off a strong college career in which he improved as a deep kicker while maintaining accuracy on short kicks each year.

Little was 34 of 36 (94.4 percent) on field goal attempts from under 40 yards over three seasons with the Razorbacks and was a perfect 19 of 19 from 29 yards or less, according to Pro Football Focus. He was 12 of 17 (70.6%) from 40 to 49 yards in that stretch, making him six of seven (85.7%) in 2021.

After hitting one of three (33%) from 50-plus yards as a freshman, he was six of eight (75%) from the same range during his sophomore and junior years. He also never missed an extra point attempt with Arkansas, making 129.

“So efficient. I don’t think he ever missed a kick from under 40 yards in his college career or extra points. The leg, I saw him go over 65 yards. I think he posted a 70-yarder on Twitter a few weeks ago. Like, this guy has an absolute cannon,” Galko described Little.

“Incredibly accurate at less than 40 yards, obviously at 40 to 50 it’s also super accurate. But like, he won’t miss a short shot for [Jacksonville]. He was one of the best starting kickers in this year’s draft and was also one of the best in college football last year.

In addition to the score, Little’s confidence — even more impressive considering his age: 20 years, eight months and 10 days on draft day — stood out to Galko throughout the draft process.

Little’s stance reminded Galko of the charisma of two current NFL kickers, Cincinatti’s Evan McPherson and San Francisco’s Jake Moody. The latter participated in the Shrine Bowl a year ago. Galko also sees shades of Moody’s fellow 49er and former Shrine Bowler, quarterback Brock Purdy, in Little.

“[McPherson] told his teammates, like, ‘Let’s go to the Super Bowl.’ That’s something Cam would do,” Galko suggested, recalling the moment before McPherson’s game-winning field goal against Tennessee in the 2022 AFC Divisional Round. “That demeanor, that confidence just doesn’t come around very often.

“It borders on, like – arrogance is the wrong word. It’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ Do you know what I mean? And that’s what Jake Moody had too, that’s what Brock Purdy had. Quarterbacks and kickers share this sometimes, the greats… this kind of confidence that when things are going wrong, if they do, everything will be okay.

Although his field goal throughout his college career was from 56 yards, Galko believes Little has the leg and confidence to shoot from much further in the NFL. Considering his youth, Little should also become a stronger and more accurate kicker over time.

“I’m pretty confident the Jaguars are going to put him outside for a 60-plus yard kick,” Galko predicted, “and I’m betting if it’s not inside, it’ll be left or right, not up the middle. He’s got that kind of leg.

This story originally appeared on Jaguars Wire