The Shocking High School Story: 5 Things Jake Bates Did Before Becoming An NFL Kicking Hero

The incredible journey of Jake Bates from an obscure high school athlete to the Detroit Lions' sensational kicker is one of the most compelling narratives in professional sports today, especially as of December 17, 2025. His story is a powerful reminder that the road to the NFL is rarely a straight line, particularly when you consider his unique background at Tomball High School in Texas.

The kicker who has captured national attention for his clutch performances and powerful leg was, for most of his high school career, not even a football player. Bates's path to gridiron glory began on the soccer pitch, making his senior-year switch to football a last-minute decision that changed the trajectory of his entire life, leading him from a kickoff specialist to a UFL star, and finally, a household name in the NFL. This deep dive uncovers the surprising details of his time as a Tomball Cougar.

Jake Bates: High School & Early Career Biography

Jake Bates’s origin story is rooted in the Houston suburb of Tomball, Texas, where he established himself as a dominant multi-sport athlete before finding his true calling as a professional kicker. His foundational years were crucial in developing the leg strength that would eventually make him an NFL standout.

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• Full Name: Jake Bates
• Hometown: Tomball, Texas
• High School: Tomball High School (THS)
• Graduation Year: 2017
• Primary High School Sport: Soccer (Played club soccer his whole life)
• High School Football Role: Kickoff Specialist (Senior Year Only)
• Key High School Soccer Honors: All-District First Team, District 20-5A Offensive MVP
• Key High School Football Stat (2016): 1,077 Kickoff Yards
• Initial College Commitment: University of Central Arkansas (UCA) for Soccer
• Current Team: Detroit Lions (NFL)

1. He Never Attempted a Single Field Goal in High School

Perhaps the most shocking revelation about Jake Bates’s high school career is the complete absence of field goal attempts. Bates was a pure kickoff specialist for the Tomball Cougars during his senior year in 2016.

His primary sport was soccer, a passion he pursued through club teams and the high school varsity squad. When he joined the football team, the intention was simply to leverage his powerful soccer leg to help with kickoffs, ensuring the opposing team started deep in their own territory. The idea of him becoming a clutch, game-winning NFL field goal kicker was simply not on the radar for anyone, including Bates himself.

This lack of experience makes his current success even more improbable. He essentially transitioned from a lifelong soccer player to a professional football kicker with no high school field goal statistics to his name. The raw power was always there, but the precision and pressure of a high-stakes field goal were skills he had to develop entirely at the collegiate and professional level.

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2. He Was an All-District Offensive MVP on the Soccer Team

Before his brief stint as a football kickoff specialist, Bates was a legitimate soccer star for Tomball High School. His dedication to soccer was significant, earning him the prestigious title of District 20-5A Offensive MVP.

He was recognized as an All-District First Team selection, showcasing his skill and impact on the pitch. This background is critical to understanding his current NFL success. The repeated motion and explosive power required for a powerful soccer shot translated directly into the leg strength needed to boom long kickoffs and, eventually, record-setting field goals.

He played club soccer throughout his youth, and his initial athletic dream was to play college soccer. This dream came true when he committed to the University of Central Arkansas (UCA) to play men's soccer, where he was a starter in all 18 matches during his 2017 freshman season.

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3. His Only Football Stat Was 1,077 Kickoff Yards

The statistical record of Jake Bates's senior football season is remarkably simple, yet telling. In 2016, his entire contribution to the Tomball Cougars' football stat sheet was 1,077 yards—all of them coming from kickoffs.

This single statistic highlights his specialized role. He wasn't involved in passing, rushing, or receiving; he was a pure weapon for special teams. The total yardage indicates the volume of his powerful leg, which consistently drove the ball deep, minimizing the opponent's starting field position. This ability to generate distance and touchbacks was the first sign of his elite kicking potential.

The focus on kickoffs meant he didn't have the opportunity to develop the timing and technique required for field goals until much later in his career. The 1,077 yards represent the foundation of his eventual transition, proving he possessed the raw, unrefined power that coaches would later mold into an NFL-caliber kicker.

4. The Soccer Coach Was Instrumental in His Switch to Football

The pivotal moment in Bates’s career—the switch to football—was heavily influenced by his high school environment and the coaches who recognized his unique talent. The transition was not a calculated long-term plan but a spontaneous opportunity.

His soccer coach, who had witnessed his powerful leg on the pitch for years, likely encouraged or supported the idea of him trying out for the football team as a specialist. In Texas high school football, finding a reliable kicker with a strong leg is a significant advantage, and Bates's power was undeniable.

This decision to play football in his final year of high school was a crucial fork in the road. It exposed him to the football environment, allowed him to gain a minimal level of experience with the ball, and ultimately put him on the radar of college football programs looking for kickoff specialists, even if his immediate path was still through college soccer.

5. His High School Story Epitomizes the "Late Bloomer" NFL Kicker

Jake Bates's path from Tomball High School is the quintessential "late bloomer" story that is surprisingly common among NFL kickers. Many professional kickers and punters have a background primarily in soccer, as the mechanics of striking a football are remarkably similar to kicking a soccer ball.

Bates’s story provides a fresh, modern example of this phenomenon. He spent his formative years dedicated to soccer, which provided him with the necessary muscle memory, flexibility, and raw leg strength. Unlike quarterbacks or linemen who are often groomed for their position from a young age, kickers can transition to the sport much later, relying on a pre-existing athletic skill.

His high school journey—a brief, field goal-less season of football followed by a college soccer career, a transfer to a college football program, a stint in the UFL, and finally, a breakthrough with the Detroit Lions—is a unique and inspiring testament to the power of specialized athletic talent. It proves that for a kicker, having the most powerful leg, regardless of the sport it was trained for, can be the ultimate ticket to the NFL.

The legacy of Jake Bates at Tomball High School is now forever changed. He is no longer just the All-District soccer MVP; he is the small-town soccer star who became an NFL sensation, a fact that will undoubtedly inspire future multi-sport athletes in the Tomball community and across the nation.