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The Miami Hurricanes’ all-time leader in points will try to bring both his leg and his mullet to the NFL this season in the hopes he can find a home somewhere in the league.
Michael Badgley earned his way into a scholarship after starting his career as a walk-on, and ever since, has been a rock for the Canes as a 4 year starter with one of the most reliable legs of any kicker in the country. Badgley went 17-for-23 with a long of 50 yards in 2017, knocking home a game-winner in the pouring rain against Georgia Tech as well. For his efforts last season, Jersey Mike was named a First Team All-ACC member and actually finished as a part of the All-ACC team in each of his final three seasons at UM. In an era where you’re never quite sure what you’ll get out of the average college kicker, the consistency he brought to the kicking game will be sorely missed.
Finishing with 77 made field goals in his career, Badgley surpassed Carlos Huerta’s school record of 73 made field goals. After scoring six points in the Orange Bowl against Wisconsin, Badgley became the all-time leader in points in UM history.
Pre-Draft Measurables
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 183 pounds
Arms: 29”
Hands: 8 ¾”
Strengths
Consistency on Intermediate Kicks
Badgley was Mr. Consistent and showed elite career accuracy from 40-49 yards, nailing 24-26 career attempts (92.3%) in that range. It was the success in this area of the field that really allowed him to take over UM’s school record for field goals made, as just not that many college kickers can boast that type of percentage.
Mental Fortitude
Badgley was a four year starter at Miami and has had tough misses in the past, including the blocked XP against FSU that would have tied the game late in the 4th quarter in 2016. Mentally and emotionally tough enough to deal with the strain of a bad miss, Badgley is known for his confidence and bravado in the locker room, and shows the resiliency to not let one miss snowball into multiple misses. Badgley also converted his only FG attempt with the game on the line, hitting a 24 yarder in a downpour to defeat Georgia Tech in 2017. You’re getting a guy that has the experience of being in those moments and taking those tough kicks.
Weaknesses
Consistency on Long Kicks
For all his success from 49 yards and in, Badgley was a completely different kicker from over 50 yards. The kicker from Summit, NJ made just 3-of-11 attempts from 50-plus yards in his career and a lot of those kicks weren’t even close to being converted. That’s troubling to say the least and a kicker without elite leg strength must have pinpoint accuracy to make it in the NFL.
Hangtime/Touchbacks
Badgley had the seventh highest touchback percentage of any ACC kicker in 2017 at 42.6%, not exactly the best number for a special teamer trying to convince a team he’s worth a draft pick. Throughout his career at Miami, it was rare to see Badgley really hammer a kickoff through the endzone, and his hangtimes were below average as well.
Draft Projection: 7th Round-UDFA
Badgley was reliable most of the time, but simply reliable isn’t quite good enough to hold down a job in the NFL and he will need to become even more automatic. According to WalterFootball.com, he is the #3 overall kicker available in the draft, although the site only projects two kickers to for sure be drafted. Badgley should become a priority free agent signing after the draft and get a shot to compete for a job somewhere this preseason; he even has an outside chance of sneaking into the last round if a team falls in love with him, something that’s very possible due to his top-notch interview skills.
Michael Badgley earned his way into a scholarship after starting his career as a walk-on, and ever since, has been a rock for the Canes as a 4 year starter with one of the most reliable legs of any kicker in the country. Badgley went 17-for-23 with a long of 50 yards in 2017, knocking home a game-winner in the pouring rain against Georgia Tech as well. For his efforts last season, Jersey Mike was named a First Team All-ACC member and actually finished as a part of the All-ACC team in each of his final three seasons at UM. In an era where you’re never quite sure what you’ll get out of the average college kicker, the consistency he brought to the kicking game will be sorely missed.
Finishing with 77 made field goals in his career, Badgley surpassed Carlos Huerta’s school record of 73 made field goals. After scoring six points in the Orange Bowl against Wisconsin, Badgley became the all-time leader in points in UM history.
Pre-Draft Measurables
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 183 pounds
Arms: 29”
Hands: 8 ¾”
Strengths
Consistency on Intermediate Kicks
Badgley was Mr. Consistent and showed elite career accuracy from 40-49 yards, nailing 24-26 career attempts (92.3%) in that range. It was the success in this area of the field that really allowed him to take over UM’s school record for field goals made, as just not that many college kickers can boast that type of percentage.
Mental Fortitude
Badgley was a four year starter at Miami and has had tough misses in the past, including the blocked XP against FSU that would have tied the game late in the 4th quarter in 2016. Mentally and emotionally tough enough to deal with the strain of a bad miss, Badgley is known for his confidence and bravado in the locker room, and shows the resiliency to not let one miss snowball into multiple misses. Badgley also converted his only FG attempt with the game on the line, hitting a 24 yarder in a downpour to defeat Georgia Tech in 2017. You’re getting a guy that has the experience of being in those moments and taking those tough kicks.
Weaknesses
Consistency on Long Kicks
For all his success from 49 yards and in, Badgley was a completely different kicker from over 50 yards. The kicker from Summit, NJ made just 3-of-11 attempts from 50-plus yards in his career and a lot of those kicks weren’t even close to being converted. That’s troubling to say the least and a kicker without elite leg strength must have pinpoint accuracy to make it in the NFL.
Hangtime/Touchbacks
Badgley had the seventh highest touchback percentage of any ACC kicker in 2017 at 42.6%, not exactly the best number for a special teamer trying to convince a team he’s worth a draft pick. Throughout his career at Miami, it was rare to see Badgley really hammer a kickoff through the endzone, and his hangtimes were below average as well.
Draft Projection: 7th Round-UDFA
Badgley was reliable most of the time, but simply reliable isn’t quite good enough to hold down a job in the NFL and he will need to become even more automatic. According to WalterFootball.com, he is the #3 overall kicker available in the draft, although the site only projects two kickers to for sure be drafted. Badgley should become a priority free agent signing after the draft and get a shot to compete for a job somewhere this preseason; he even has an outside chance of sneaking into the last round if a team falls in love with him, something that’s very possible due to his top-notch interview skills.
