SMU bolsters special teams with Edmonton recruit (VIDEO)

Edmonton kicker joins AUS team’s 2015 class.

Saint Mary’s Huskies have announced the addition of Ideen Samadi to their football program.

The 5’11, 190 pound kicker from Edmonton, Alberta will join the Huskies for the 2015 AUS season.

“We are extremely happy to have Ideen join our football family,” commented Huskies Head Coach Perry Marchese.

Recently, Samadi completed a three year stint with the Edmonton Wildcats in the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) of the Canadian Junior Football League (CJFL). This past season, he compiled an 80 percent field goal rate.

Previous to the Wildcats, the kicker suited up for Paul Kane Blues of the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA).  He was selected to participate in the Senior Bowl as a member of Team North’s squad and that experience alone was a special moment in his career.

“I actually tied an all-time record for most field goals hit in a Senior Bowl game without missing and was just two yards shy from beating former CFL player Hugh O’Neill’s record in longest field goal hit in a Senior Bowl game,” recalled Samadi.

Additionally, Samadi attended a camp in Chicago where he was ranked in the Top 50 kickers in North America.

Ideen Samadi 1

Overall, there were several factors that tipped the scale towards the Halifax, Nova Scotia campus.

“I made the commitment to Saint Mary’s because of the feedback I got on the staff from people that have graduated from there in the past,” explained the kicker of his decision.  “Not only that but I wanted to get out of Edmonton and play somewhere different and experience something new that not a lot of people can.”
“Everyone there just seemed like a huge family and I liked school when I went down and the campus as well. Really excited for this upcoming season and I know this team will be a good team.”

Furthermore, academics weighed heavily on the decision to choose the Huskies.

“School wise, I picked Saint Mary’s because the program I’m going Into I heard that it’s really good there too compared to a lot of other schools and just from what I have seen and what I have heard I know I made the right decision,” added Samadi.

Finally, Marchese made a favourable impression on the Alberta kicker.

“Meeting Perry for the very first time, I could just tell that he’s a great guy and he cares about the academics and for players too and to me, that’s important,” expressed Samadi.  “I can tell right off the bat from a first impression, what kind of person people are and Coach Perry is a great guy and I am excited to work with him and the rest of that staff.”

(twitter: http://twitter.com/vohra_ameeta)

 

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