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Pat Narduzzi recently named a starting kicker for the Pitt football team with the 2025 season inching closer. The head coach also provided an update on the loser in the race.
Trey Butkowski won the job after an offseason of competition. James London has since left the Panthers program.
Narduzzi broke the news on the special teams situation Thursday ahead of the team’s Week 1 matchup against Duquesne. Butkowski outperformed his counterpart despite being viewed as the underdog.
Pitt football is replacing a legend.
Ben Sauls was a three-year starter for the Panthers at placekicker. He converted on 81.3% of his attempts with a career-high 21 made field goals in 2024.
Sauls earned national recognition for his efforts, being named to Pro Football Focus’s All-America team. He also landed All-ACC honors while leading the team in scoring.
The specialist connected on all 44 of his extra point tries last year and set a school record with 15 straight field goal makes. He also matched a program mark with a 58-yard boot against Cal.
Now, Sauls is gone after spending five years at the school. His replacement has been named.
Enter Trey Butkowski.
Butkowski was an unlikely winner in the placekicking battle. The freshman walk-on impressed the coaching staff in camp on his way to the starting role.
“Trey Butkowski is our starting kicker,” said Pat Narduzzi. “He’s had the best numbers coming through camp. He’s a young guy we brought in, a true freshman we’re excited about this year. So, he will be the starting kicker coming into the opener.”
The Pitt football coach then left the runner-up in the competition out to dry.
“James London is no longer with our football program, I’ll leave it at that.”
-Pat Narduzzi
London transferred into the program after an all-conference season at Murray State. He connected on 14-of-19 field goals with a long of 55 last year. Most believed he’d be ‘the guy’ when all was said and done.
London was a starter in the Pitt spring game alongside Sam Carpenter. Butkowski came out of nowhere to steal the title.
Narduzzi did not open up on the details of what transpired behind closed doors. He did not seem happy about London’s exit, though.
It will be interesting to see if anything else comes to light on the situation. For now, Butkowski and Carpenter will man the placekicking duties.