The Bills drafted kicker Tyler Bass of Georgia Southern in the sixth round with the 188th pick. Bass, 23, finished his four-year career with a 79 percent field goal percentage with a long of 50 yards.
Bass is 5-10 and 183 and is a native of Irmo, S.C.
1. 12TH KICKER DRAFTED IN BILLS HISTORY
The Bills don't draft a kicker often—nobody does. Tyler Bass is the 12th kicker selected in the draft in Bills history.
The last was current Washington kicker Dustin Hopkins, chosen also in the sixth round back in 2013. They've drafted some notable kickers: Gary Anderson in the 7th round in 1982, who went on to star with Pittsburgh; Neil O'Donoghue in 1977 who had six strong years with the Cardinals; and Pete Gogolak in the 12th round in 1964. Gogolak was an AFL All Star with Buffalo before jumping to the NFL New York Giants.
The Bills drafted two (!) kickers in the 1970 draft, when the draft was 13 rounds.
Tyler Bass is the second kicker chosen in the 2020 NFL draft. The Patriots chose Marshall University prospect Justin Rohrwasser in the fifth round, 29-picks before chose Bass.
Scroll through to view photos of Buffalo's selections in the 2020 NFL Draft to this point. Draft coverage is presented by ECMC.
ROUND 2 | 54 OVERALL
A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
ROUND 2 | 54 OVERALL
A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa runs before an NCAA college football game against Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
ROUND 2 | 54 OVERALL
A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Illinois, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Iowa City, Iowa. Iowa won 19-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
ROUND 2 | 54 OVERALL
A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa
Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa (94) strips the ball from Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) causing a fumble during the first half of the Outback Bowl NCAA college football game, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. Iowa recovered the fumble. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
ROUND 3 | 86 OVERALL
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
ROUND 3 | 86 OVERALL
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Utah running back Zack Moss (2) out runs UCLA defensive back Rayshad Williams (3) during the first half during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
ROUND 3 | 86 OVERALL
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
FILE - In this Sept. 14, 2019, file photo, Utah running back Zack Moss (2) carries the ball against Idaho State in the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Salt Lake City. Moss was selected to The Associated Press All-Pac 12 Conference team and tied for Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year with Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley and Oregon tackle Penei Sewell, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
ROUND 3 | 86 OVERALL
Zack Moss, RB, Utah
Utah running back Zack Moss (2) runs for a 91-yard touchdown during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Corvallis, Ore., Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
ROUND 4 | 128 OVERALL
Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
ROUND 4 | 128 OVERALL
Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
ROUND 4 | 128 OVERALL
Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
ROUND 4 | 128 OVERALL
Gabriel Davis, WR, UCF
ROUND 5 | 167 OVERALL
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
ROUND 5 | 167 OVERALL
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm (11) throws to a receiver during warmups before an NCAA college football game against Tennessee, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
ROUND 5 | 167 OVERALL
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Jake Fromm (11) during the game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Florida Gators on November 2, 2019 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Tom DiPace via AP)
ROUND 5 | 167 OVERALL
Jake Fromm, QB, Georgia
Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm shouts to players during an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019 in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Amis)
ROUND 6 | 188 OVERALL
Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
ROUND 6 | 188 OVERALL
Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern's Tyler Bass (16) celebrates after kicking a field goal to defeat South Alabama during the second overtime of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Oct. 3, 2019, in Mobile, Ala. Georgia Southern won 20-17. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
ROUND 6 | 188 OVERALL
Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern kicker Tyler Bass kicks during the second half of the Senior Bowl college football game Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Mobile, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
ROUND 6 | 188 OVERALL
Tyler Bass, K, Georgia Southern
Georgia Southern's Tyler Bass (16) celebrates his 49-yard field goal with Anthony Beck II (98) during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Appalachian State on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, in Boone, N.C. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco)
ROUND 6 | 207 OVERALL
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
ROUND 6 | 207 OVERALL
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
Oregon State wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins (17) catches a pass for a touchdown against UCLA during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
ROUND 6 | 207 OVERALL
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
Oregon State wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins (17) in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Arizona, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Tucson, Ariz. Oregon State defeated Arizona 56-38. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
ROUND 6 | 207 OVERALL
Isaiah Hodgins, WR, Oregon State
Oregon State wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins (17) warms up prior to the start of an NCAA college football game against Oregon in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019. Oregon won 24-10. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
ROUND 7 | 239 OVERALL
Dane Jackson, CB, Pitt
ROUND 7 | 239 OVERALL
Dane Jackson, CB, Pitt
Pittsburgh defensive back Dane Jackson (11) returns an interception for a touchdown during their annual NCAA football spring Blue Gold game, Saturday, April 14, 2018, in Pittsburgh. The Blue team won 10-3. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
#30 Dane Jackson, Cornerback
A rookie taken in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Jackson will likely have to make his mark on special teams early on to be in the mix for snaps. He could be a candidate to help out at nickel corner as well.
State College, PA - September 14, 2019: The Pitt Panthers football team faces the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Keystone Classic at Beaver Stadium in State College, PA - Credit: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics
ROUND 7 | 239 OVERALL
Dane Jackson, CB, Pitt
Pittsburgh defensive back Dane Jackson (11) celebrates with teammates following his interception returned for a touchdown against Syracuse during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016.(AP Photo/Jared Wickerham)
2. GRANDMOTHER PLAYED A ROLE
Bass credits his grandmother, or "meemaw" as he calls her, for supporting his kicking career. He says his grandmother, Rebecca Lusk, encouraged him to play football at home near Columbia, South Carolina and retrieved balls when he practiced.
She never missed a game while Bass played at Georgia Southern, even while she battled breast cancer.
"Seeing her battle through that cancer and those obstacles really gave me strength. She still pushes me," Bass told 'The State' in Columbia. "Seeing her in stands at my games really drives me to be successful and make her proud."
3. IMPROVED HIS STOCK IN POSTSEASON
Bass production dropped a bit in his senior season at George Southern, but he redeemed himself during his performance at the Senior Bowl and in the Combine.
His Senior Bowl week included going 2-2 on field goals in the game, with a 56-yarder. And he hit all four of his PATs.
Bass also gets involved in kickoff coverage. In 2019, he produced 11 tackles on kick coverage for George Southern.
