By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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Georgia Southern has a remarkable football tradition. That history, in recent years, has taken on a special meaning.

A pair of former Eagles, Younghoe Koo and Tyler Bass, have emerged as two of the premier kickers in the NFL, combining to convert 65-of-73 field goals this regular season, with Koo leading the league with 37 total conversions. His remarkable stretch has come with Pro Bowl honors. Bass was just true on four field goals in the AFC Championship Game, with his 54-yarder standing as the longest kick by a rookie in the postseason ever. Impressively, Koo and Bass finished tied for first and fourth, respectively, in total points scored this year.

Koo was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s premier kicker, in 2016. He made 19-of-20 field goals that fall, with his lone miss coming on a 54-yarder as a first half expired. In fishing second in the nation in conversion percentage, Koo became Georgia Southern’s first-ever FBS All-American. For his career, Koo set a new program record for accuracy with a 88.6% make-rate.

The fourth Korean-American to play in the NFL, Koo has emerged as a star for Atlanta. He has connected on 65-of-70 field goals overall in two seasons for the Falcons, including a stunning 9-of-9 on attempts of 50 yards or more. Koo was arguably the best kicker in college football in 2106; he was arguably the best kicker in the NFL in 2020.

“Younghoe has done an awesome job. In the beginning, getting into the NFL, but really having a great comeback this year with the Falcons. I just can’t say enough about him,” explained Georgia Southern head coach Chad Lunsford.

A three-time All-Sun Belt honoree, Bass made 54 carer field goals for the Eagles, the second-most in school history, including proving true on 19-of-21 as a junior. His 20 made kicks the following season are a program record. Bass also led the nation in touchback percentage as a sophomore. Now a highlight to remember, his walk-off 40-yard game-winner in the 2018 Camellia Bowl was a signature moment.

Bass, selected in the 6th round of the most-recent NFL Draft, was near-perfect down the stretch for a Buffalo team that advanced to the AFC Championship Game. He finished the regular season making 16-of-17 field goal tries, drilling the aforementioned 54-yarder in a three-point win over Indianapolis in the Wild Card round of the playoffs and going 4-of-4 with another boot over 50 yards against Kansas City.

“I think with Tyler, I know it’s hard to say sometimes for a specialist to really get consideration, but, man, he definitely deserves a look as far as Rookie of the Year goes because he was very valuable to that Buffalo Bills team,” Lunsford shared. “He did all he could to help them get to the Super Bowl last week.”

Back at Georgia Southern, Koo, a senior, and Bass, a freshman, were teammates in 2016. Once one all-time great left, another stepped right in. The NFL has come with more of the same. Bass, literally and figuratively, is following in Koo’s footsteps.

“It is something special to see the way Younghoe Koo and Tyler Bass are really excelling in the NFL right now,” Lunsford beamed.

Bass and Koo are the second and third Georgia Southern kickers to play in the NFL as the late Rob Bironas was a Pro Bowler and first team All-Pro in 2007 and holds the record for most field goals in a game with eight.

Yet another specialist is poised for an NFL career for the Eagles as long-snapper Ryan Langan is fresh off a senior season where he earned All-American honors and was named a finalist for the Patrick Mannely Award, given to the game’s best at his position. He is currently working out for professional scouts at the Senior Bowl.

“We’re looking to have another specialist in the NFL and really lay claim to ‘Specialist U’ at Georgia Southern,” Lunsford added.

College to the pros, these Eagles have been true blue.