POUGHKEEPSIE, New York – Former Marist football player Jason Myers loves going to work every day. That's what comes with fulfilling a dream.
On March 3, Myers signed a free-agent contract with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. He has participated with the Jaguars in organized team activities and mini-camp.
“It's been an awesome experience,” Myers said. “I'm living my dream out here. I'm excited to go in every day. I'm taking advantage of everything out here.”
Myers, who held both the kicking and punting duties at Marist, is working with the Jaguars exclusively as a kicker. At the time of his signing, he was one of three kickers under contract to Jacksonville. That number now stands at two, as Myers is solely competing with Josh Scobee, who has had the Jaguars' kicking job since 2004.
In the months leading up to his signing, the Chula Vista, California native worked out with former NFL kicker Michael Husted as well as Kenny Spencer, kicker for the Arena Football League's LA KISS.
“Jason is a very talented kicker who has matured in his skill and technique over the last year,” Husted said.
Husted, who enjoyed a nine-year NFL career, held an invitation-only combine in Mobile, Alabama the week of the Senior Bowl in late January. He said he originally planned on inviting specialists who had been in an NFL training camp, or had received a private workout with an NFL team.
Although Myers had not received either opportunity at that juncture, Husted believed he was ready to hold his own. Myers had the chance to kick in front of 25 teams, which is where he was first spotted by the Jaguars. He flew to Jacksonville on March 2 for a workout the following day, and signed his contract later that day.
“Jason is a hard worker and certainly has what it takes to kick in the NFL,” Husted said. “I always try to explain to specialists that they shouldn't get focused on the 'so called' big-time football programs. They should find a college or university that can provide them with strong academics and opportunity to play 3-4 years, just like Marist did for Jason.
“At the end of the day, the field and the uprights are the same. As a specialist, you aren't competing with someone on the other side of the ball, but with yourself.”
Myers is the third former Marist football player to sign a contract with an NFL team, following Michael Rios (Arizona Cardinals, free agent, 2013 and Miami Dolphins, free agent, 2014) and Terrence Fede (Miami Dolphins, seventh round draft choice, 2014).
Myers played for the Red Foxes from 2009-12. He served as the team's primary kicker for the majority of his career. He was a three-time Pioneer Football League (PFL) Honorable Mention selection, and led the league in touchbacks in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Myers still holds school records for longest field goal in (49 yards) and most career points by a kicker (159).
From afar, Myers is impressed with the growth of the Marist football program.
“When I look at the kids they're recruiting, the talent they're getting is amazing,” Myers said. “I keep close tabs with everything going on over there. Year by year, everything is growing.”
In 2015, Marist will be in its seventh season as a member of the PFL. The Red Foxes open their season on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Bucknell. They will play their first of five games at Tenney Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19 against Sacred Heart.
