Jake Suder now has a college scholarship after making a 53-yard field goal at Bowling Green football practice.
Aug. 18 (UPI) — Jake Suder now has a college scholarship after making a 53-yard field goal at Bowling Green football practice.
Falcons coach Mike Jinks noticed Suder was having a great practice and decided to challenge the kicker to make the long shot in exchange for a scholarship.
“Coach had two scholarships still available for kids this year and Jake was one of the few kids who they had on their short list as a possibility for those two, ” Bowling Green spokesman Jason Knavel told Yahoo Sports .
“There had been no final determination on exactly how those scholarships would be given out, ” Knavel told Yahoo Sports via email. “So, at practice, they were kicking and Jake was nailing them. So when they got to the long one [53 yards out] , Coach Jinks out of the blue told him, ‘Knock this one down for a full scholarship.’ It really was organic and out of the blue.”
The big kick occurred on Tuesday. Sunder was a former walk-on with the team. He was on scholarship for a one-year agreement during the 2016 season.
“I was already in that practice mode…game mode and no matter what kick I have, I enter it with a clear mind each and every time so… I heard him say it in the background but I didn’t really process it through my brain so I could stay focused for that kick, ” Suder told TMZ Sports.
Suder told TMZ Sports that he can hit a field goal from 60 yards if the conditions are right.
“Jake had just made one from 57 yards before [in a previous practice] but I wanted to see him push his limit, ” Jinks told the Toledo Blade . “And the kick was spotted on the right hash, where he has struggled a little bit, so I thought if he made that kick, that would answer my questions.”
Bowling Green opens its season on September 2 against Michigan State in East Lansing. Sunder hit 9-of-12 field goal attempts and made 35-of-38 extra point attempts last season.
The Central Catholic High School product is from Toledo, Ohio. Bowling Green has an out of state tuition of nearly $27,000.
