Overlooked rookie Cam Little is ready to be a game-changer for the Jaguars

It's not often that teams expect sixth-round picks to make an impact right off the bat but that's where Cam Little finds himself ahead of the regular season. The rookie kicker came through for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the preseason, which has led analyst Bucky Brooks to think he'll be a game-changer in 2024.

Brooks drew up a list of 10 overlooked rookies and included Little, pointing out that he'll tip the scale in Jacksonville's favor in close games next season.

"Little crushed it for the Jaguars this preseason, exhibiting the consistency and range the team needed at the kicker position. He made six of his seven field-goal attempts (85.7%) -- with his lone miss a 62-yarder -- and all seven of his extra-point tries, suggesting he will give head coach Doug Pederson the sure points he expects when the offense reaches the opposition’s 35-yard line. In a league where games are routinely decided by eight points or fewer, Little’s efficiency and effectiveness could be a game-changer for the Jaguars. "

Little has been everything the Jags bargained for and then some. He set a record for completion rate at Arkansas and went 7-of-11 in field goals of 50+ yards. Both his accuracy and strength have carried over into the NFL.

Expected to compete with Riley Patterson for the kicker job, Little won the battle a few days into training camp. Ever since, he's proven the Jaguars right, going 6-of-7 in the preseason. On top of that, he nailed all four field goals from 40-49 yards out As Brooks pointed out, his only miss was a 62-yard attempt, but even that kick had the strength and would've been good under more favorable weather conditions.

Either way, Little has done enough to make you think that he'll be able to at last provide the consistency Jacksonville has been severely lacking at kicker the past four years.

Cam Little is ready to be a difference-maker for the Jaguars in 2024

Cam Little is already performing like a vested veteran. Special teams coach Heath Farwell met with the local media a couple days after the cutdown deadline and said the rookie kicker can do anything the Jacksonville Jaguars need him to.

"Great command for it, he has great control, the ability to go directionally in both directions, as well as sprinkling some of these other alternative kicks, as well as bomb it out the back of the end zone on command pretty well," Farwell said when asked if he feels good about Little's ability to perform kickoffs. "Talented leg strength, the ability to do all those different kicks. Very talented kicker that is a worker, that is willing to work at it and get better every day. Those are the things he does all the time and very confident where he's at."

Later in the exchange, Farwell said that he was looking forward to seeing Little make is first field goal in the regular season.

"Very excited. I think to see that first one go through for him will be great, be a good feeling for him. But the thing about Cam, nothing waivers. It hasn't since the moment we drafted him. The funny thing you look back at that preseason, the first kick we sent him out there is a 62-yarder, and we didn't even think twice about it," Farwell said.

"We just said, 'Yeah, go for it.' He wanted it. Let's see what it looks like. He unfortunately missed it, but he hadn't wavered since then. He hasn't seen we haven't seen any different from him. So confidence with him and himself is tremendous, and we have just as much or more in them. So again, nothing, but I'm excited to see him. I'm excited to see him out there."

Listening to Farwell talk about Little, you wouldn't know he's a rookie based on what the Jags expect from him next season.

The Jaguars made upgrades to both the offense and the defense in the offseason but don't be surprised if Little turns out to be the difference-maker in close wins. Both Heath Farwell and Bucky Brooks believe he will be.

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