This weekend, as the NFL playoffs commence, Jake Bates is recuperating and saving his precious right leg. He has the distinction of being one of the seven individuals from the former Arkansas Razorbacks team, who have made it into teams competing in the post-season playoffs, a contest involving 14 squads. As an impressive rookie kicker for the Detroit Lions, Bates has a record of successful 26 shots out of 29 attempts in the current season, despite only being a kickoff player for the Razorbacks in his sole season in Fayetteville back in 2022.
Bates’ path to becoming a pivotal member of the Lions has been anything but ordinary. As the leading NFC seed, the Detroit Lions have scored a bye this weekend, bringing the playoff action to twelve out of fourteen teams. They are also the favorites for the Super Bowl, edging out the Kansas City Chiefs, two-time reigning champions who have secured the AFC bye.
Looking back, Bates had an interesting college sports career, playing two seasons of soccer for Central Arkansas during the years of 2017 and 2018. He briefly transitioned to football at Texas State in 2020 but was restricted to kickoff duties. His progression continued in 2022 with a transfer to Arkansas, where he backed up prolific field-goal kicker Cam Little, currently with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
When the NFL draft passed him by, Bates filed away his aspirations of a professional football career in favor of a sales job at a brick company in Houston, his hometown located in the suburbs of Texas’ largest city. However, the allure of football didn’t elude him completely and he decided to give it one more shot when faced with an NFL trial opportunity with the Houston Texans.
The stint with the Texans, however, concluded after just ten days of training camp and a subsequent dismissal in August of 2023. Nonetheless, his football journey attained a new momentum when he joined the UFL’s Michigan Panthers in the spring season, scoring on 17 out of 22 attempts, including three above 60 yards and another four over 50.
His performance didn’t go unnoticed and he found himself competing against Michael Badgley for the Lions’ kicker position. An unfortunate season-ending injury for Badgley left Bates with the position. Bates excelled with a perfect 13 out of 13 attempts from within the 40-yard line, 7 successful ones out of 8 in the 40-49 yard range, and similarly 6 scored out of 7 attempts between the 50 and 59-yard range. His sole attempt from beyond the 60 yards, however, did not find the mark.
Further underscoring his role on the team, Bates’ home turf performance is commendable with a 13 out of 15 success rate at Ford Field in Detroit. It is expected that the Lions’ next match will be against either the fourth-seeded Los Angeles Rams or the Minnesota Vikings – the fifth seed, the victor of the Monday night’s game moved from Los Angeles to Phoenix due to the wildfires wreaking havoc in L.A.
Highlighting some former fellow Razorbacks on his team, Bates is joined by two others in the Lions who too had their football education at Arkansas. Frank Ragnow, a massive player standing at 6-foot-5 and weighing 311 pounds, has been the dependable starting center for the Lions for the past seven seasons, with unbroken participation in all 93 matches, as long as he was fit.
Ragnow plays an instrumental role by shielding quarterback Jared Goff and is a critical player in the running game, laying down blocks that facilitate star running back Jahmyr Gibbs. Another former Razorback succeeding in his rookie year, Beaux Limmer, has taken the center position for the Rams, delivering notable performances over 14 games out of a total of 16.
Safety Kam Curl is into his fifth season, and for the first time, he finds himself with the Rams, after four seasons with Washington. Standing tall at 6-foot-2 and weighing 205 pounds, Curl has started 16 games with the Rams, making 79 tackles, including 49 solo tackles, a sack, and forcing two fumbles while recovering one.
Dwight McGlothren, a newbie cornerback with the Vikings, while standing at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, presents another alumni connection from Arkansas. Furthermore, Drew Sanders, in his second season and holding the position of a linebacker with the Broncos, adds another Razorback name in the list of NFL players.
Sanders has a vital role to play in bolstering the Broncos’ notorious defense, which constantly hounds Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. Boasting the ability to sprint, dodge swiftly, and a superior knack for rushing the passer, it’s no surprise that Sanders won All-American honors at Arkansas after his transfer from Alabama.
A twist to the tale occurred when Sanders was out of action due to an Achilles injury he suffered in the previous off-season. Notwithstanding the setback, he bounced back to join the Broncos’ last four games, where he made an impact by recording eight tackles and one quarterback sack.
Bates’ pro football journey, along with his fellow former Razorbacks, is a testament to their resilience and determination. From college football to professional ranks, they have successfully carved their niches. Yet, the playoffs are a different stage altogether, and everyone will be awaiting the performance of these Arkansan athletes.
Certainly, the initiation of the playoffs will unleash the talent, tenacity, and teamwork that these players honed at their common launchpad at Arkansas. As fans and analysts closely watch their moves, their performances could determine their careers’ trajectory. The road to the Super Bowl is challenging, and these former Razorbacks are ready to meet it head-on.
In closing, despite the hurdles they’ve faced, these athletes have proven their worth. The upcoming games pose yet another challenge for each of them, including Bates, and will likely be a new chapter in their respective careers. The exhilarating journey of these players into the NFL playoffs illuminates the transformative power of dedication, preparedness, and teamwork.