Pitt gets commitment from former Murray State kicker James London
Pitt filled a huge need through the transfer portal when kicker James London pledged to enroll next year. He could be the successor to Ben Sauls, who has been Pitt’s regular kicker the past three seasons.
1000 % COMMITTED ???????? pic.twitter.com/UZMOdwga65
— James London 5 ⭐️ Kicker (@JamesLondonJr29) December 20, 2024
Sauls’ eligibility will run out after Pitt’s appearance in the GameAbove Sports Bowl on Thursday.
London, a sophomore at Murray State this season, was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference first team. He hit 14 of 19 field-goal attempts and all 23 extra-point kicks, with touchbacks on 28 of 48 kickoffs. His total of 65 points led the team and represented the most at Murray State since 2018.
A near majority of his field-goal tries were 50 yards or longer, and he made 6 of 9. He was perfect (6 for 6) on field goals inside the 40-yard line.
He even tried one against Illinois State from 61 yards. London’s bio on the Murray State football website reported the kick was long enough, but missed wide left.
After Sauls departs, walk-on Sam Carpenter, a redshirt freshman, will be the only kicker on Pitt’s roster.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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