Day 1 of the #SBCSwimChamps is complete. Men's Leaders - 1. DU; 1. WKU; 3. FAU - Women's - 1. NT; 2. DU, 3. WKU, 4. FIU, 5. FAU, 6. UALR

The_Sun_Belt The_Sun_Belt

FAU;s Smith hits a pair of free throws with 11.7 seconds remaining and Reynolds shot at the buzzer bounces off.

USAJaguarSports USAJaguarSports

17
Jan

Heralded Kicker Pledges to USA

Written by AtlantaJag. Posted in Football Recruiting

A great ending to 2011 promises to make 2012 and beyond even better for South Alabama football. In late December the Jags received a commitment from kicker Aleem Sunanon of Orlando, one of the South's most heralded kicking prospects.

Sunanon, an honors student who has aspirations towards medical school, was selected All-State, All-Metro and a Central Florida All-Star as a senior. He is projected as a placekicker and kickoff specialist for USA as he hit on 8 of 10 field goal attempts (including game winners of 41 and 48 yards) and 24 of 29 extra point attempts. The five misses on extra points came via four blocks and one bad snap that led to a failed two point attempt. Sunanon also excelled as a punter, averaging 43.7 yards per kick, and is willing to fulfill all three roles at South Alabama, if needed. As a junior he was 10 of 14 on field goals (long of 46), 19 of 19 on extra points and  averaged 41.3 yards per punt.

Selecting USA over walk-on offers from several other schools, Aleem had this to say about his choice:

"It's a brand new program and I want to be a part of that history that they're going to create. And looking at the kind of school they have, they support my major (biology) and I know they have a top medical school so I thought 'This is perfect.' As far as football, they're just going to keep getting better and better and I want to be a part of that rising as a program at South Alabama."

Like many kickers, Sulanon started out as a soccer player until encouraged by a coach from the University of Georgia to try kicking the oblong ball. In just a few years he has managed to transform himself into an accomplished football player. USA coach Tommy Perry has requested that he enroll in classes at South Alabama beginning in late May so that he can take part in summer workouts, so expect to see him on the field early as the Jags foray into FBS territory in 2012.