Ben Sauls replaces Sam Scarton as Pitt's starting kicker

Pat Narduzzi usually is not a risk-taking coach. But he believes it’s no gamble changing kickers from Sam Scarton to Ben Sauls.

After Scarton hit 17 of 21 field-goal attempts last season, Narduzzi on Friday said Sauls, a redshirt sophomore who handled the kickoff duties in 2021, also will kick all placements. He never has attempted a field goal in two previous seasons at Pitt

Sauls, who has been on scholarship since 2020, has attempted five extra points at Pitt, hitting three. He hit field goals from 55 and 49 yards at Tippecanoe (Ohio) High School.

“Sauls has been most consistent (in training camp),” Narduzzi said. “He’s hit 82% of his field goals this summer.”

Narduzzi said 82% is “pretty high, probably (Alex) Kessman-style.”

Kessman holds the school record with 69 field goals from 2017-2020.

“It’s been a battle,” the coach said. “Both of them have done an outstanding job.”

Narduzzi added there’s a chance he might change kickers at some point.

“Things change. There’s a lot of pressure in that position. I have faith and trust in both of those guys,” he said.

He added Scarton, a former walk-on from Hickory High School, was awarded a scholarship in the spring.

Narduzzi also awarded a scholarship to former walk-on wide receiver Gavin Thomson, a Central Catholic graduate.

“He had a great spring, great fall, been consistent, stayed healthy,” he said.

Thomson received the good news in novel fashion, a congratulatory video from another Central Catholic graduate, Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino.

Congrats to @GavinThomson12 for EARNING his scholarship ???????? #H2P #WEnotME #WPIAL

Special thanks to @DanMarino for the assist! pic.twitter.com/gvpg0MFEkp

— Pat Narduzzi (@CoachDuzzPittFB) August 26, 2022