Paul Bretl | 8/21/2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers made a pair of roster moves on Wednesday, announcing that they designated kicker Alex Hale as the team’s International Pathway Player. Previously, it was defensive end Kenneth Odumegwu from Nigeria who held that designation but as the corresponding roster move, he was released.
Hale was signed about two weeks ago as the Packers–at the time–new third kicker. Up to this point, Hale has made 14 of his 21 attempts in practice, but still a ball of clay when it comes to experience as a kicker, the Packers like what they’ve seen up to this point and want to take a swing on Hale’s potential.
Before being signed by the Packers, Hale was living in San Diego and working out with kick coach John Carney–just waiting on any sort of opportunity. The workout that the had with the Packers was his first.
Hale came to the United States the year after he graduated high school and walked on to the football team at Oklahoma State. Before beginning his football career in the states, Hale was an accomplished wakeskater back in Australia, and he also grew up playing soccer.
And if you’re wondering what wakeskating is, Hale described it was “wakeboarding without the bindings” and doing skateboard-like tricks.
“I stopped wakeskating and I wanted to go to college and wanted to pursue a sport at the same time,” said Hale at his locker recently. “So, I began looking at kicking and I started from scratch. Went to see John (Carney) and he told me as much as he could and sent me on my way.”
Hale went undrafted this past April after spending four seasons at Oklahoma State. During that span, he would make 71 of his 74 extra point attempts and 45-of-54 field goals. From 40-49 yards he was 9-for-16 and 3-for-4 from 50-plus yards.
You wouldn’t necessarily know it by looking at Hale’s production, but his first ever live field goal attempt came in an actual game, and the first time he ever put on pads and a helmet was during his first collegiate practice.
Throughout that time at Oklahoma State, Hale was routinely challenged for that starting role. So although the competition with Anders Carlson and Greg Joseph is certainly elevated, it’s also not new for Hale either.
“Every year there is always competition,” said Hale of his time at Oklahoma State. “They always bring someone in. No spot is ever given to you so you always have to prove your spot.”
Players who are a part of the International Pathway Program (IPP) do not count towards the 90-man roster. So the Packers should now have an open roster spot following this move with Hale originally counting towards the 90-man.
In season, as an IPP, Hale will not count towards the practice squad, allowing the Packers to have 17 players on that unit just as they did in 2023 with Odumegwu. The IPP exemption, however, does not count towards the 53-man roster.
Hale won’t be in the mix for the Packers kicking job this season–that title will belong to either Anders Carlson or Greg Joseph, unless another addition is made during roster cutdowns. He will, however, have a full year with the organization to work on his craft and ultimately see where that takes him.
“It definitely gives you confidence and some reassurance that, hey, some people are interested in the way you’re performing,” Hale said after being signed. “I’m sure my journey’s got a lot more left than whatever happens over the next few weeks. So, yeah, just take it as it comes and try to do my best.”