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06
Feb
Signee Spotlight: Joseph Scelfo
In a class widely considered the best ever for South Alabama in terms of talent and fulfilling needs, Joseph Scelfo stands out as the most high-profile member of the newest group of Jaguars. Despite the recognizability of his name due to his father, Chris, a former head coach at Tulane and current tight end coach for the Atlanta Falcons, and his uncle, Frank, who was recently the quarterback coach at the University of Arizona, Joseph has earned notoriety in his own right by earning accolades like being named the twelfth-best center prospect in the nation by ESPN.
Scelfo definitely caught some people by surprise when he announced his decision to join USA, the newest FBS program in the NCAA. He took a few minutes with JagsJungle.com to talk about his choice and his expectations for the future.
JJ - First and foremost, congratulations on a successful Signing Day. Was it a stressful process?
JS - It was pretty stressful for about six months. At first it was fun but then it got serious as I realized that I needed to pick a school and that it couldn't just keep going on.
JJ - Coach Jones stated after your signing that you had been committed to South Alabama for a couple of weeks. Once you had committed, were there any doubts?
JS - I was solid. I gave my commitment to Coach Jones and it's not me to break my commitment. Once I committed I was all in. There were some teams that came in after I committed but I turned them down and told them I was going to South.
JJ - Who were some of the notable schools that were after you late in the recruiting period?
JS - North Carolina came in late. Florida State was in it for a while. They wanted me to grayshirt after they filled up (their recruiting class). Southern Miss and Syracuse also were there.
JJ - What made you decide on South Alabama over these and other schools?
JS - I just fell in love with it. It just fits me good. I don't care about a big name, I just want a place where I can be happy and I think South Alabama gives me the best opportunity to be happy. I love the campus, love the people, love the program, so why not go there? I like being comfortable and the name stuff isn't important. People have criticized me and asked why I'd want to go the South, but they don't have to live in my shoes and walk to class everyday. It's where I felt right.
JJ - Are you expecting a redshirt year?
JS - I'm coming in expecting to start. The center there now is really good, Trey Clark, and I've spent some time with him and I'm excited to learn from him. I'm going in there with the attitude that I'm going to be ready to start, that I'm going to work hard every day, and that I'm going to push myself to the limit expecting to start. If I get redshirted then I'll spend that time getting bigger, stronger and smarter.
JJ - Have you had a chance to meet the other offensive line signees?
JS - Oh sure. I met Daniel Aust and Clay (Machen). Me and Clay are probably going to be roommates. We hit it of pretty good this past weekend. And then there's big Steven (Foster) from Demopolis. That's my buddy, there. We all just clicked good. Steve McKenzie, he and I are both Georgia boys. We're a good group. It'll be fun.
JJ- You guys all seem to be a pretty good bunch of guys. I guess that similarity will help you guys get along.
JS - Exactly. There's no individual in the group, which I like a lot. There's no one in the offensive line group that thinks they're better than anybody else or is going to be trouble. There all really good kids and the kind of people I want to surround myself with. That's another reason I was sold on South.
JJ - How much input did your father or your uncle have in the recruiting process?
JS - Honestly, my Dad said 'this is your decision, I'm not going to say anything. Go where you want to go.' That's exactly what he told me when this whole thing first started. He would tell some things about a school that he didn't think that I would like but for the majority of the process he said 'go where you want to go.'
JJ- Did he have a good perspective for you in terms of honoring a commitment, things like that?
JS - Yes, sir. He made it perfectly clear that this is the coaches' livelihood and that when you decide to give a commitment, you don't break a promise. I grew up being taught that. I wouldn't do that to somebody, especially someone I've had a relationship with for a year and a half.
JJ - Tell us who was your primary recruiter and your thoughts about him.
JS - Coach John Turner. He was the only one (from USA) who recruited me. He seems like he really cares about his players. He's a high-energy guy. I could tell that he was full of energy and excitement and he made it clear that he wanted me really bad. I want to play for a guy like that, so it worked out perfect. I hope he's my coach the whole time. i know how the coaching world works but I hope he doesn't go anywhere.
Joseph Scelfo was a great interview. Polite, well-spoken and intelligent. In short, everything that we want a representative of South Alabama to be. Welcome aboard.
Scelfo definitely caught some people by surprise when he announced his decision to join USA, the newest FBS program in the NCAA. He took a few minutes with JagsJungle.com to talk about his choice and his expectations for the future.
JJ - First and foremost, congratulations on a successful Signing Day. Was it a stressful process?
JS - It was pretty stressful for about six months. At first it was fun but then it got serious as I realized that I needed to pick a school and that it couldn't just keep going on.
JJ - Coach Jones stated after your signing that you had been committed to South Alabama for a couple of weeks. Once you had committed, were there any doubts?
JS - I was solid. I gave my commitment to Coach Jones and it's not me to break my commitment. Once I committed I was all in. There were some teams that came in after I committed but I turned them down and told them I was going to South.
JJ - Who were some of the notable schools that were after you late in the recruiting period?
JS - North Carolina came in late. Florida State was in it for a while. They wanted me to grayshirt after they filled up (their recruiting class). Southern Miss and Syracuse also were there.
JJ - What made you decide on South Alabama over these and other schools?
JS - I just fell in love with it. It just fits me good. I don't care about a big name, I just want a place where I can be happy and I think South Alabama gives me the best opportunity to be happy. I love the campus, love the people, love the program, so why not go there? I like being comfortable and the name stuff isn't important. People have criticized me and asked why I'd want to go the South, but they don't have to live in my shoes and walk to class everyday. It's where I felt right.
JJ - Are you expecting a redshirt year?
JS - I'm coming in expecting to start. The center there now is really good, Trey Clark, and I've spent some time with him and I'm excited to learn from him. I'm going in there with the attitude that I'm going to be ready to start, that I'm going to work hard every day, and that I'm going to push myself to the limit expecting to start. If I get redshirted then I'll spend that time getting bigger, stronger and smarter.
JJ - Have you had a chance to meet the other offensive line signees?
JS - Oh sure. I met Daniel Aust and Clay (Machen). Me and Clay are probably going to be roommates. We hit it of pretty good this past weekend. And then there's big Steven (Foster) from Demopolis. That's my buddy, there. We all just clicked good. Steve McKenzie, he and I are both Georgia boys. We're a good group. It'll be fun.
JJ- You guys all seem to be a pretty good bunch of guys. I guess that similarity will help you guys get along.
JS - Exactly. There's no individual in the group, which I like a lot. There's no one in the offensive line group that thinks they're better than anybody else or is going to be trouble. There all really good kids and the kind of people I want to surround myself with. That's another reason I was sold on South.
JJ - How much input did your father or your uncle have in the recruiting process?
JS - Honestly, my Dad said 'this is your decision, I'm not going to say anything. Go where you want to go.' That's exactly what he told me when this whole thing first started. He would tell some things about a school that he didn't think that I would like but for the majority of the process he said 'go where you want to go.'
JJ- Did he have a good perspective for you in terms of honoring a commitment, things like that?
JS - Yes, sir. He made it perfectly clear that this is the coaches' livelihood and that when you decide to give a commitment, you don't break a promise. I grew up being taught that. I wouldn't do that to somebody, especially someone I've had a relationship with for a year and a half.
JJ - Tell us who was your primary recruiter and your thoughts about him.
JS - Coach John Turner. He was the only one (from USA) who recruited me. He seems like he really cares about his players. He's a high-energy guy. I could tell that he was full of energy and excitement and he made it clear that he wanted me really bad. I want to play for a guy like that, so it worked out perfect. I hope he's my coach the whole time. i know how the coaching world works but I hope he doesn't go anywhere.
Joseph Scelfo was a great interview. Polite, well-spoken and intelligent. In short, everything that we want a representative of South Alabama to be. Welcome aboard.
