Latest news with #Mevis
USA Today
08-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Who is going to win the Jets' kicking competition?
The New York Jets will promote competition at kicker when they report to training camp in late July. General manager Darren Mougey signed Caden Davis as an undrafted free agent following the 2025 NFL draft. In mid June, fellow placekicker Harrison Mevis was signed after Anders Carlson was released from his contract. Mevis most recently kicked for the UFL's Birmingham Stallions. He was outstanding on that developmental stage, connecting on 95.2 percent of his field-goal attempts during the 2025 season (20 of 21). Mevis originally broke into the NFL by signing with the Carolina Panthers a UDFA last year, but was waived during final cuts. Davis was initially considered the in-house favorite. The former Texas A&M and Ole Miss standout was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (best kicker in college football) this past season. He was invited to the 2025 Senior Bowl. Davis went 24-of-29 this past season, posting a career-best make percentage of 82.8%. In his five-year college career, he went 109-of-111 on extra points. It's difficult to identify the favorite to make the Jets' roster. Davis joined the team first as Mougey aggressively pursued his signature following the draft, giving him the upper hand. Mevis joined later, but his fantastic season in the UFL (and one year of NFL training camp experience) could give him an advantage. Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo will help make the decision at final cuts. Expect Mevis and Davis to consistently compete throughout training camp and the preseason, with the decision going down to the wire. Mevis' performance during the UFL season may give him the upper hand heading into camp.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Thiccer Kicker' Harrison Mevis returns to the NFL, joins 2 Missouri football teammates
Harrison Mevis has earned a second shot in the NFL. The Missouri football standout, nicknamed the 'Thiccer Kicker' during his time in Columbia, signed with the New York Jets on Wednesday, according to a news release from the team. The Jets also waived Auburn grad and kicker Anders Carlson, which means Mevis, who most recently played for the Birmingham Stallions in the UFL, is in a two-horse race for starting duties. Advertisement Mevis looks set to compete for a spot on the Jets' 53-man roster with Ole Miss grad Caden Davis, who signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent in May. With Mevis on board, there are currently two kickers on the Jets' roster. The Mizzou grad also joins the roster with Armand Membou and Brady Cook, two of his former teammates. Membou was the No. 7-overall pick in this year's NFL Draft by the Jets, and Cook signed with the team as an undrafted free agent shortly after the draft. Mevis was 20-of-21 on field-goal attempts in the regular season for the Stallions, which was the second-best conversion percentage (95.2%) in the UFL behind just former Indianapolis Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, who went 21-of-22 (95.4%). Advertisement The former Tiger, who hails from Warsaw, Indiana, longest field goal this season came from 56 yards out, and his only miss came from 63 yards. Mevis' 20 total field goals this year were the third-most in the UFL. The Stallions topped the UFL Conference in the regular season with a 7-3 record. Mevis was named the UFL Special Teams Player of the Week on May 15 after a 3-of-3 performance that included a 52-yard make. While at Missouri, Mevis broke the SEC record with a 61-yard field goal as time expired to knock off Kansas State in September 2023. He is the all-time points leader in Mizzou's history with 405 career points, as he passed previous record-holder Jeff Wolfert in his senior season. Mevis was 86-of-103 (83.5%) on field goals in his MU career and holds another program record with 12 makes from more than 50 yards. Nov 20, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers place kicker Harrison Mevis (92) kicks a field goal against the Florida Gators during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports He earned the nickname 'Thiccer Kicker' early in his Mizzou career due to his unusual size for his position: 5 foot 11, 243 pounds. The name earned him several NIL deals over the course of his career, including a burger named after his famous moniker at Campus Bar and Grill in downtown Columbia. Advertisement More: Missouri AD Laird Veatch discusses NIL, house settlement: What we do, don't know about MU's future More: Missouri football post-spring preview: Why you shouldn't underestimate Vanderbilt this year After graduating from Missouri, Mevis went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft but was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers. He was eventually waived after incumbent kicker Eddy Pineiro won the starting job. Now, Mevis is back in the league. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Former Missouri football kicker Harrison Mevis returns to NFL
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jets training camp: Should lack of experience on special teams be a concern?
The New York Jets made changes on special teams last week. General manager Darren Mougey signed kicker Harrison Mevis and released Anders Carlson. As currently constructed, the Jets are slated to enter training camp without a kicker or punter that has played in a regular season game. That's certainly a risk. Mevis most recently played for the UFL's Birmingham Stallions. He was outstanding in the developmental league, connecting on 95.2 percent of his field-goal attempts during the 2025 season (20 of 21). Mevis showcased terrific leg strength by connecting on a 56-yard attempt and was also accurate enough to convert every kick within 50 yards. He signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent last year, but was waived during final cuts. Mevis will now compete at training camp with Caden Davis. The Jets signed Davis as an undrafted free agent in April. The former Texas A&M and Ole Miss placekicker was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award (best kicker in college football) and was invited to the 2025 Senior Bowl. The situation is similar at punter. It's ironic considering the Jets began last season with two of the oldest (Thomas Morstead and Greg Zuerlein) kickers and punters in the league. Austin McNamara and Kai Kroeger are battling for the punting job. McNamara signed with the Jets in March after competing for the Cincinnati Bengals' gig in training camp last year. Kroeger is a rookie undrafted free agent who punted at South Carolina for five seasons (2020-24). Furthermore, the Jets have an inexperienced special teams coach. Aaron Glenn appointed 35-year-old former NFL safety Chris Banjo. Coach Banjo enters the spotlight after spending just two seasons (2023-24) as an assistant special teams coach with the Denver Broncos. He'll be tasked with preparing inexperienced kickers and punters this offseason.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jets Fans React to 'Thiccer Kicker'
Jets Fans React to 'Thiccer Kicker' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Often times, special teams additions go under the radar, especially at this point in the offseason. Tuesday saw an exception to that rule, when the New York Jets signed kicker Harrison Mevis, colloquially known as "The Thiccer Kicker." Advertisement Mevis is an absolute unit of a kicker, standing at 5-foot-11, weighing 242 pounds. The average NFL kicker stands at 6-0, 195 pounds. Mevis weighs more than most players on the Jets' roster, including linebackers Quincy Williams and Jamin Davis and tight end Stone Smartt. Mevis is encroaching on EDGE Will McDonald's playing weight last year (245 pounds) and long snapper Thomas Hennessy (246 pounds). Mevis is within 10 pounds of 6-8 tight end Zack Kuntz. Mevis has been a fan favorite dating back to college, where he was a First-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC selection as a sophomore in 2021. A four-year player for the Missouri Tigers, in his college career, Mevis knocked down 84 percent of his field goals, including an SEC-record 61-yarder, and he converted 148 of his 149 extra points. Mevis was initially signed as an undrafted free agent by the Carolina Panthers in 2024, but was waived in August. Mevis spent last season with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League, where he converted 20 of 21 field goals. Advertisement Fans had a combination of hopeful and hilarious reactions to the new Jets kicker. "31 other teams wish they had a kicker with this much aura," one fan posted on X. "Thiccer Kicker is an elite nickname… he will be drafted in my kicker fantasy leagues," another posted. "Jets just going for lols I respect it," joked another. "This is what peak male fitness looks like you may not like it but it's true. Go be Great Thiccer Kicker," a Mizzou fan wrote. Mevis now becomes the third Jet added from the University of Missouri this offseason. New York selected tackle Armand Membou in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft and signed his college quarterback, Brady Cook, as an undrafted free agent. The Tigers trio can now challenge the Ohio State Buckeyes quartet of Garrett Wilson, Justin Fields, Jeremy Ruckert and Josh Myers. Advertisement Related: Jets Sign UFL 'Thiccer Kicker' For Training Camp Competition Related: Jets' Aaron Glenn/Justin Fields Tandem Labeled 'Ideal Match' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Post
17-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Jets sign ‘Thiccer Kicker' Harrison Mevis after impressive UFL stint
The 'Thiccer Kicker' is a New York Jet. The Jets signed former undrafted free agent Harrison Mevis, a 5-foot-11, 243-pound kicker, to their roster on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. Mevis went 20-for-21 for the UFL's Birmingham Stallions last season, his only miss an attempt from 63 yards out. The 23-year-old has yet to see any regular-season NFL reps — he signed with the Panthers in May 2024, but got waived in August and joined the Stallions from there. Harrison Mevis kicking a field goal with the UFL's Birmingham Stallions on May 17, 2025. Getty Images He enjoyed an outstanding career at Missouri, where he was a four-year starter and earned All-American honors after his sophomore year. He made 89 of the 109 field goals he attempted with the Tigers. His 'Thiccer Kicker' nickname was given to him by former Mizzou punter Grant McKinniss. While there, Mevis also kicked the SEC's longest-ever field goal, a 61-yarder that gave Mizzou a buzzer-beating 30-27 win over Kansas State in 2023. The Warsaw, Ind., native put that range on display in Birmingham last season, going 5-for-6 from 50-plus yards with an average of 64.9 yards on kickoff attempts. The move comes shortly after the Jets released veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein, who was with the team from 2022-24. Mevis will battle for playing time with rookie Caden Davis and Anders Carlson, who kicked in five games with the Jets last year. Newly signed Jets kicker Harrison Mevis spent the spring season with the UFL's Birmingham Stallions. Getty Images Mevis will look to continue the recent pipeline of UFL kickers who have built themselves a career in the NFL. The Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey, who also kicked for the Stallions before he was picked up by Dallas, has made the Pro Bowl in his first two NFL seasons. Jake Bates, who was with the UFL's Michigan Panthers before becoming the Lions' starting kicker in 2024, is another example. Mevis will have his first chance to make an impression on the Jets' coaching staff at training camp in July.
