Stallions’ Mevis Kickstarting Pro Career In UFL
MAY 24, 2025 - BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
By Steve Irvine
Harrison Mevis’ professional career is getting a kickstart with the Birmingham Stallions. If his first pro season is any indication, which is probably the case, Mevis is headed toward a long and productive career.
In the first season with the Stallions, the former University of Missouri All-American is 18-for-19 on field goals with his lone miss coming from 63 yards in the loss to Memphis earlier the season. That miss turned into a 108-yard Kick Six return by Memphis’ Isiah Hennie. Stallions head coach Skip Holtz has accepted blame for attempting the kick, which is just outside Mevis’ range. Overall, though, Mevis leads the UFL in made field goals and field goal percentage (94.7).
For those you didn’t know already, those numbers show that Mevis is much more than just a kicker with a clever nickname.
Mevis, who is listed on the Stallions roster at 6-foot and 258 pounds, received the nickname as the “Thiccer Kicker” during his true freshman season at Missouri.
“I just started making kicks and it was said in the locker room,” said Mevis, who added that former Missouri punter Grant McKinniss coined the nickname. “Everyone on the team caught on to it and it started to get catch fire. Everyone started to use it and the fans started to use it.”
Mevis ended up with a merchandise deal out of the nickname.
“It was good for business and good for football,” Mevis said. “I kind of just used it to our advantage and we had a lot of fun with it.”
Sure it was a catchy nickname, which got him national attention. But it wouldn’t have been nearly as popular if success on the field didn’t follow. Mevis not only was Missouri’s best kicker but he was also one of the best in the country. He was 89-for-106 on field goals and missed just one of his 149 extra point attempts in four seasons. He also was comfortable game-winning situations with perhaps the most memorable coming on a 61-yard field goal to beat 15th-ranked Kansas State during his senior season. He also hit a game-winning 30-yard field goal to beat Florida on Missouri’s Senior Night in 2023.
“I definitely played in a lot of big games, being in the SEC,” Mevis said. “Every game is a big game and every game matters. I think it just goes back to my roots of kicking with a chip on my shoulder. It’s not getting too caught up in (the situation), just blocking out all the noise and focusing on one kick. It’s kind of like going back to practice. It's nothing at all, just a practice kick. That's always my thought process.”
The 23-year-old Mevis signed with the Carolina Panthers after not being picked in the 2024 NFL Draft. He was cut by the Panthers in August and searched for a new opportunity. The Stallions were looking for a kicker that could perhaps bring back the success that Brandon Aubrey had in his two USFL seasons in Birmingham.
“The standard was pretty high,” Holtz said earlier this season. “We had a two time Pro Bowl kicker that was with us for two years. And when we lose him back to the NFL, we just didn't feel like we were kicking at the same level we needed to. I thought (Stallions special teams coordinator) Chris Boniol did a really nice job, kind of scouring who all was out there and looking at all the film.”
Boniol’s search landed on Mevis.
“I think he's a great addition,” said Holtz, whose team has a chance to return to the top of the USFL Conference standings on Saturday at 2 p.m. against the Michigan Panthers at Protective Stadium. “He's played in the NFL, he's kicked in the NFL, he gets it because a big part of kicking is the mental side of the game. That's where I think he's really done a great job. Yeah, he's talented, but you got to play with confidence at that position. And it goes away in a hurry. I'm really proud of what we're doing in the kicking game.”
Mevis has certainly seized his opportunity and is using Aubrey’s path has motivation.
“I have the opportunity to continue my career,” Mevis said. “I’m definitely still a young guy, being only 23. I'm one of the youngest in the league, so I really just have a growth mindset. I'm trying to get better and it's a huge opportunity to do that. (Finding an NFL spot), that's the end goal. I think you come to this league for an opportunity to get reps. Obviously, the goal is to get better, move on and play at the next level. This is another opportunity to do that and the Stallions have been great.”