Jacksonville selected three of the record-breaking 57 East-West Shrine Bowl prospects taken 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 at the former exhibition this February, the Jaguars made Cam Little the youngest kicker ever drafted in NFL history last weekend, selecting the three-year Arkansas starter and Shrine Bowl participant with the No. 212 overall pick in the sixth round.
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According to the Shrine Bowl’s director of football operations and player personnel, Eric Galko, the Jaguars landed a steal of a kicker in Little, given he was the third player from his position to be selected.
“We thought he was the best kicker in the draft and we were not alone among NFL teams,” Galko told Jaguars Wire in an interview.
#Arkansas kicker Cam Little (@cameronglittle) just booted this one. Looked like 55ish yards.
Really nice kick to cap off a two-minute drill. pic.twitter.com/bWTC5OQKEy
— Jacob Richman (@JacobHRichman) January 29, 2024
Little’s showing at the Shrine Bowl — a two-of-two day with a long field goal of 48 yards — capped off a strong collegiate career in which he improved as a deep kicker while maintaining short-kick accuracy each year.
Little went 34-of-36 (94.4%) on field goal attempts under 40 yards over three seasons with the Razorbacks and was a perfect 19-of-19 from 29 yards and under, per Pro Football Focus. He went 12-of-17 (70.6%) from 40-to-49 yards in that stretch, peaking at six-of-seven (85.7%) in 2021.
After going one-of-three (33%) from 50+ yards as a freshman, he went 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.
“Just so efficient. I don’t think he’s ever missed a kick under 40 yards in his college career or extra points. The leg, I’ve seen him make 65-plus yarders. I think he posted a 70-yarder on Twitter a couple weeks ago. Like, this guy has an absolute cannon,” Galko described Little.
“Incredibly accurate under 40 yards, obviously 40-to-50 he’s super accurate too. But like, he’s not going to miss a short kick for [Jacksonville]. He’s been one of the better kickoff kickers in the draft this year and he was one of the best in college football last year, too.”
Beyond the box score, Little’s…
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