HOUSTON – For Jake Bates, the time is now. With booming, long-distance field goals, the Michigan Panthers’ standout kicker and Tomball graduate and soccer player is excelling in the United Football League.
A year ago, Bates was briefly with the Texans as an undrafted free agent for one game to give regular kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn a break.
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In the UFL, though, Bates is a headliner for a team that has already qualified for the playoffs.
Bates connected on a 64-yard field goal on his first attempt to beat the St. Louis Battlehawks, a 62-yarder in a loss to the Birmingham Stallions and has hit 15 of 18 field goals overall, including three kicks from 60 yards or beyond heading into Sunday’s game against the hometown Houston Roughnecks at Rice Stadium.
“It’s going well,” Bates said in a telephone interview with KPRC 2. “I have a really good operation with Jordan Oben and Brock Miller. I truly think they’re NFL talents. It’s a really good situation for me. I felt that really quickly through camp with my relationship with Jordan and Brock. It’s a bunch of really good guys. They’ve been really good to me through the ups and the downs.
“It’s awesome to feel the trust from the coaching staff. I think they’re doing a great job. Knowing this was my first rodeo, so to speak, helping me along, they’ve been absolutely fantastic and showing me a bunch of love. They make sure my head stays where it needs to be. The last thing we need is to stall out.”
Michigan Panthers @USFLPanthers kicker Jake Bates @jakebates30 a @TomballISD graduate who kicked for #Texans in preseason, has hit 15 of 18 kicks, including 64-yard field goal heading into Sunday game against @XFLRoughnecks Sunday @KPRC2 @RazorbackFB @TXSTATEFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/YOCGx5ECau
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) May 25, 2024
Bates has an incredibly strong leg, booming kickoffs with such distance and force that he was named All-Southeastern Conference first-team as a kickoff specialist in his lone season for the Razorbacks. He previously was a reserve at Texas State, again as a kickoff specialist, after playing soccer at Central Arkansas. The 64-yard kick was his first kick in eight years after playing soccer mostly at Tomball High School. He got to try just two kicks as a senior in his only season of football, missing both.
The Texas State transfer earned an invitation from the Texans to their local prospect day after leading the SEC and ranking fourth nationally with a 64.47 yards per kickoff average and 64 touchbacks to rank fourth nationally.
After hitting a 67-yard field goal at the Arkansas Pro Day that would have easily been good from 70 yards and going 14 for 14 inside 55 yards, Bates worked out twice for the AFC South franchise.
Bates led all Football Championship schools with a 85.3 touchback percentage with 64 of his 75 kickoffs resulting in a touchback. He also had an onside kick against Alabama that was recovered by the Razorbacks.
Because both Arkansas and Texas State had strong kickers, Bates was a kickoff specialist at both schools.
He averaged 62.76 yards per kickoff in his final season at Texas State and had 35 touchbacks on 53 kickoffs.
Bates was an all-district and offensive Most Valuable Player for the Tomball soccer team.
“What’s really important to me is staying true to who I am and not listening to the outside noise,” Bates said. “Eventually, that will get the best of you. I try to be really smart and know who to listen to I have such a good inner circle of friends and family. They’re proud, but they don’t treat me any differently. I have an amazing support group that has really helped me.”
Deeply spiritual, Bates spends a lot of time working on journaling and praying.
“It really does help,” Bates said. “I’ve gotten really into journaling in the morning and reading my Bible before practice, putting everything into perspective. Having faith and confidence brings a real calming presence. I have a verse I recite to myself: Hebrews 12:1. It talks about throwing off every sin and let us run with perseverance. That really stuck with me: throwing off the outside noise and running my race.”
Bates, who’s represented by veteran Philadelphia-based agent Marty Magid, has drawn NFL interest from multiple teams. They can’t contact him, under the rules, until after the season. Bates is focused on living in the moment. There’s expected to be significant NFL interest once he’s eligible to be signed.
There’s expected to be significant NFL interest once he’s eligible to be signed.
“I think it’s super important to keep the main thing the main thing,” Bates said. “The main thing is being a Michigan Panther. Luckily, the NFL teams aren’t allowed to talk to me. It’s a blessing in disguise and not what I need to be worried about at all. Obviously, that’s the end goal for everybody. The big goal is to win a championship with the Panthers. The team is clicking right and do my small job.”
From a soccer background to a reserve role in college football to a short stint with the Texans, Bates has been steadily building.
“I’ve always been an internally confident person,” Bates said. “I’ve always known what I think I was capable of and that’s something that’s come more to light lately. I’m more confident in who I am and that’s what’s good.
“I kick, but I’m not just a kicker. My purpose is so much bigger than that. If the best thing I do in life is make kicks in life, then I’ve failed my purpose. It’s definitely bean a fun ride.”
Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com