‘Crazy leg’ and super grandma: How Dutch Fork’s Tyler Bass emerged as top NFL prospect
Update: Tyler Bass was drafted Saturday in the sixth round by the Buffalo Bills
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A few days before one of the biggest moments of his life, Tyler Bass was back where it all started.
Bass stood on Dutch Fork High School’s Fox Field booming kicks to stay sharp ahead of the NFL Draft, which began Thursday and runs through Saturday. The former Dutch Fork standout is regarded as one of the top kickers in this year’s draft — maybe even the best.
ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper has him as the No. 1 kicker on his big board.
“It is pretty cool to look back where I was five years ago until now,” Bass told The State this week. “I didn’t get here alone, that is for sure. I had a lot of help along the way to get me where I am today.”
One of those Bass credited in his journey was his grandma — or “meemaw” — Rebecca Lusk. She encouraged her grandson, who played soccer, to go out for the football team. Lusk also took him to practice when needed, brought him snacks and even retrieved balls that Bass kicked.
Bass said Lusk never missed one of his games at Georgia Southern despite battling breast cancer.
“Seeing her battle through that cancer and those obstacles really gave me strength. She still pushes me,” Bass said. “Seeing her in stands at my games really drives me to be successful and make her proud.”
Bass was far from an overnight sensation with football. Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts remembers Bass’ early days as a freshman. Knotts said there were times Bass could barely get the ball over the goalpost on extra points, a memory the kicker jokingly disputed.
Bass’ progression was steady and he ended up being the benchmark for future Silver Foxes kickers, Knotts said. Bass holds the school’s all-time records in field goals (28) and PATs (238), and he was part of Dutch Fork’s first state title team in 2013.
“To his credit, he played a lot of soccer and had a good, strong leg. And he worked his butt off,” Knotts said this week. “Kickers are usually off to the side in practice and they kind of coach themselves. I knew he was a hard worker, and hard work has paid off for Tyler. He set the tone for all the kickers we had. Everyone wants to be like Tyler Bass.”
Despite the strong high school career, Bass didn’t generate much college interest. He decided to walk on at Georgia Southern, where he played behind Younghoe Koo — now with the Atlanta Falcons — before earning the job his sophomore season.
Bass earned a scholarship after his second season and was a first-team All-Sun Belt Conference kicker and Lou Groza Award semifinalist, given to the nation’s top kicker, during his junior season.
Bass made 79.4% of his field goals during his college career and missed just two of 116 extra points, none after his sophomore year. In 2018, he hit a game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired to give Georgia Southern a 23-21 win over Eastern Michigan in the Camellia Bowl — the school’s second bowl victory. Bass calls that his favorite college moment.
Bass’ kicking caught the eye of Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy, who invited him to play in the annual showcase in Mobile, Alabama and caught the attention of NFL scouts in attendance. He shined in practices, booting a 55-yarder that would have been good from 60 yards-plus. In the game, he kicked field goals of 41 and 50 yards and was 4-of-4 on extra points.
“The dude has a crazy leg. So I think he’ll be the first kicker drafted this year,” Nagy told The State. “My time in the NFL, the special teams coaches I worked with, they want the leg. They feel like they can hone a guy’s technique and get him more accurate. But their thing is, it’s hard for us to make a stronger leg. Tyler can absolutely boom the football. That’s why we brought him in. He really showed up well out here.”
At least one kicker has been taken in nine of the last 10 NFL drafts. Last year, Matt Gay (Buccaneers) and Austin Seibert (Browns) were drafted.
“He’s got himself in the position where he could be one of those only couple kickers to get picked this year,” Nagy said.
Bass backed up his showing in Alabama with solid performances at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and his pro day in March. He ended the pro day with a 63-yard field goal.
Bass said he’s been in touch with several NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions.
Most mock drafts have Bass or Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship as the first kicker off the board. The two struck up a friendship at the Senior Bowl and look to have long NFL careers.
“He’s one of best kickers to come through college and we really pushed ourselves,” Bass said.
Bass will learn his fate soon enough.
“Kicking at the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine was a dream come true and humbling experience. I really had fun kicking in an NFL atmosphere. It was priceless and I made the most of the opportunity and grew as a player.
“I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Midlands draft hopefuls
A list of some of the potential players from the Midlands high schools who might be drafted on sign with NFL team this weekend:
▪ Tyler Bass, Dutch Fork (Georgia Southern)
▪ TJ Brunson, Richland Northeast (South Carolina)
▪ Joseph Charlton, AC Flora (South Carolina)
▪ Rion Davis, AC Flora (Liberty)
▪ Tyrell Goodwin, AC Flora (Benedict College)
▪ Chauncey Haney, Keenan (North Greenville)
▪ Denzel Johnson, AC Flora (Clemson)
▪ Nasir Player, Ridge View (East Tennessee State)
▪ Brandon Tillmon, River Bluff (Liberty)
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
