Devin Bale excited for opportunity to punt

FAYETTEVILLE — Scott Fountain, Arkansas special team’s coordinator, met with the media following Friday’s third preseason practice.

Fountain was asked if he was surprised Max Fletcher opted to enter the transfer portal after last season and if he was concerned with what he had left?

“Yeah, you know, I don’t talk really a lot about kids that leave,” Fountain said. “I’m sure y’all hear it all the time, but I think it’s part of the game. He’s a great kid. I think an opportunity to play with his brother had something to do with it, but when he left I had great peace. I really did because [(Devin) Bale and (Sam) Dubwig], man, they’re both good punters and they have really competed, and I didn’t feel like there’d be drop off. I really felt like we had a great, great punter in Devin Bale.  My biggest concern now is just getting Dubwig ready.”

Bale is a redshirt junior who transferred to Arkansas from Northern Colorado while Dubwig is a freshman from Cabot. Both had some very good punts in the spring game. Fountain was asked to describe the biggest changes with Bale since Fletcher left.

“Yeah, I think the biggest thing with Devin, he probably feels like the world has been lifted off his shoulders, not having a complete with Max anymore,” Fountain said. “Those are two really good punters. And Devin’s always been a very energetic kid, but he just, he’s become a real leader for us and I just hope that kind of carries into the season. And he started off with a really good camp so far. Been pleased with him.”

Bale reflected back on redshirting last season after playing a big role both punting and kicking off at Northern Colorado previously.

“It was hard,” Bale said. “It was also a really good learning experience. I got to compete with Max, who is a great punter and one of my really good friends. We competed hard. We learned from each other. I learned a lot from him. It was really awesome to sit back and take in the whole environment and learn from it. 

“It’s very different going from Northern Colorado to here, so I think there’s positives to both. … I redshirted last year, so I think it’s all working out. I took a lot from it and am very happy with it.”

While it was difficult in many ways to redshirt and not play, Bale admitted he tried to turn it into a positive.

“Repping,” Bale said of what he learned. “It’s a different style of punting. We do offset, so I ever offset punt when I was at Northern Colorado. It’s definitely different, and just taking in the environment. Feeling the crowd. Feeling the noise, and it’s different level of ball, so really just taking in the noise and the fans and all that. Just getting to see it live and mentally prepare as well. So, kind of that stuff.”

Is it strange or even weird not having Fletcher here to compete again and push you?

“For sure,” Bale said. “It was a little surprise. Definitely a little different, but I learned a lot from him and I’ve taken that, and I’ve just been waiting for my chance. I’m really excited to get it rolling. Still got to earn that job and beat Sam. There are a lot of good things from Max leaving, and I mean I miss him and I hope he’s doing well and all that, but it gives me an opportunity, so I’m really blessed. A lot of good things come from it for me, as well.”

The scholarship he was awarded is certainly something that pleased Bale.

“It’s just a blessing,” Bale said. “I’ve been working for it for three years. Since freshman year. Just, time’s paying off. Very happy and very blessed, and couldn’t be more thankful for Coach Fountain and Coach (Sam) Pittman for them giving me the opportunity. It’s unbelievable. It’s a great feeling. Great feeling.”

Bale said he got the scholarship soon after Fletcher left.

“I was in class, actually, when they called me,” Bale said. “I came in right after class, about an hour after, and the coaches sat me down and broke me the news and called my parents and let them know. It was a great feeling.

“Yeah, it was last spring, end of school year. Right after… It was like the day when Max left and he brought me in and let me know.”

Bale, who was a preferred walk-on at Northern Colorado despite excelling in two areas, talked about what went into his decision to transfer to Arkansas.

“Well, our head coach got fired after our sophomore year and I always had dreams to play in the SEC,” Bale said. “I didn’t know if I would make it there, or whatnot. I kind of just had dreams and aspirations to go to a bigger school. After my head coach got fired, I just knew it was time. I took my chances. I was talking to San Diego State. I was talking to Arkansas. A few other schools, and then Coach Fountain wanted me to come out and visit. I came out and visited and fell in love with it here. I love it.”

Long snapper Eli Stein certainly gives Bale high marks as a punter.

“Oh man, he’s a great punter,” Stein said. “I always knew, in the spring and last year, it was just knowing we had plenty of guys who could go out there and play, like Devin. Luckily he stuck around and got his opportunity. Great competitor, both of them. We’ve always had a great specialist room.”

Arkansas will hold its fourth practice of the preseason on Saturday night starting at 7:30 p.m.