J.T. Bale

Wyoming

Sep 20 (Sat)

8:15 p.m.

Photo by: Dan Madden

Photo by: Tony Harman

Position:
Long Snapper
Height:
6-2
Weight:
210
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
La Mirada, Calif.
High School:
La Mirada

Updated Nov. 30, 2019

AT COLORADO:
Career

Played in 49 career games including the 2016 Alamo Bowl … Has 488 plays as the short snapper (242 on field goals/PATs) and long snapper (246 punts).
His 488 plays are the most by a specialist in CU history.
An All-Pac-12 snapper, he earned postseason conference honors last season and has been a preseason pick on the conference team each of the last three seasons.
Has helped both James Stefanou and Alex Kinney on preseason watch lists and all-conference teams for the last two seasons.
Stefanou made 78 straight PATs to start his career, a CU record, and Kinney is second in CU history with most punts inside-the-20 with 89.
Has 15 career special teams points with five tackles, including one inside the 20, seven forced fair catches, one blocked kick, and one time he was first down field.

This Season (Sr.)

Starting long snapper, has seen action on 96 snaps this season, 45 on FG/PATs and 43 on punts.
Named a game captain against Stanford.
Twice named special teams player of the game, against Air Force and UCLA.
On two preseason watch lists, for the Burlsworth Trophy, given to the nation's top one-time walk-on performer, and the new Patrick Mannelly Award, given to the nation's top long snapper.

2018 (Jr.)—Named third-team All-Pac-12 from Phil Steele's College Football, which also named him second-team All-America and first team All-Pac-12 on his preseason teams … Played in all 12 games and handled every short and long snap throughout the season … The Buffs attempted 16 field goals, 40 PATs and 64 punts for a total of 120 plays … Helped both James Stefanou and Alex Kinney earn mention on preseason watch lists for their respective awards … A CU record four place kickers attempted kicks and in all, hit on 11-of-16 field goals and 40-of-40 PATs … Two punters saw action and between Kinney and Davis Price, averaged 39.25 yards per punt with a net average of 37.9 … Had three special teams points with two tackles, including one inside the 20, on punt returns … Selected as the winner of the Bill McCartney Award for being the most improved special teams player at the conclusion of spring football … Was awarded a scholarship during August camp.

2017 (Soph.)—He played in all 12 games and recorded one special teams point on the season, coming on an unassisted tackle on punt coverage in the Arizona State game (his play allowed for just a three-yard return) … Serving as the teams long and short snapper, he handled every snap on the punt team (58) and field goal/PAT unit (59) for a total of 117 plays … Helped kicker James Stefanou become a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award … Stefanou made nine consecutive field goal attempts from Sept. 1-30, which tied for the second-longest streak of consecutive fields goals made in school history; he finished the year 17-for-22 on field goal tries and 35-for-35 on point after attempts thanks to his consistent snaps … Punter Alex Kinney averaged 43.7 yards per punt while setting a school single-season record for the most punts downed inside the 20-yard line … Athlon Sports selected him as a preseason fourth-team All-Pac-12 performer.

2016 (Fr.-RS)—He played in all 13 games plus the Alamo Bowl as the long and short snapper; he handled every snap on the punt team (68) and field goal/PAT unit (78) for a total of 146 plays ... Earned nine special team points on the strength of six forced fair catches, two assisted tackles and a first downfield credit ... He replaced two-year veteran Wyatt Tucker Smith, who graduated at the long- and short-snapper positions.

2015 (Fr.)—Redshirted; he practiced as a long snapper on special teams the entire year (was third on the depth chart) ... Joined the team as a recruited walk-on just prior to the start of August camp.

HIGH SCHOOL—As a senior, he was a first-team All-Suburban League performer at defensive end, when he was in on 35 tackles (14 solo), with four for losses including two quarterback sacks ... Had five tackles in four different games and also forced two fumbles … Lettered three times (sophomore through senior years), also playing tight end on offense and as the long snapper on special teams ... Under coach Mike Moschetti, the former CU quarterback (1998-99), La Mirada was 9-2 his sophomore and senior seasons, 4-7 his junior year and 8-5 his freshman year; LMHS won the Suburban League title his freshman, sophomore and senior seasons (going 20-3 in league during his four years as a member of the team) … He also was on the baseball team.

ACADEMICS—He is majoring in Economics at Colorado.

PERSONAL—He was born December 18, 1996 in Long Beach, Calif. … Hobbies include fishing and wakeboarding ... Two cousins played college football at smaller schools in California; Matt Griffin at the University of La Verne and Jack Rulon at Redlands University.