Before his senior season kicks off, this Memorial standout commits to powerhouse Alabama
San Joaquin Memorial punter/kicker Alex Asparuhov recently made a trip to Tusacaloosa to visit the University of Alabama.
It was a trip that he couldn’t wait to take and he instantly felt a connection with the Crimson Tide, leading to his commitment to the school.
“I just felt like it was the right decision,” Asparuhov said. “I was ready to make the decision. I didn’t feel like there was really any time or any reason to wait. It was just kind of always my dream school. I didn’t really feel like there was a reason to wait. ... Just kind of go into the season with a free mind and just have a good senior season.”
Asparuhov said he also didn’t commit because of former Fresno State coach Kalen DeBoer, now the head coach of Alabama after taking over for Nick Saban, who retired after leading the school to seven national championships.
Asparuhov said it was at Oklahoma, where he met Jay Nunez, who is now a special assistant coach on DeBoer’s Crimson Tide staff.
“We continued to talk, and then everything kind of ended the way it did,” he said. “I really like him a lot. I look forward to playing with him or playing for him. It was pretty cool to kind of see how everything lined up.
Heading into the season, Asparuhov is rated No. 2 in the country among top kickers, according to various publications.
It’s no surprise Asparuhov is successful at Memorial. He’s learned a lot from his dad, Asen Asparuhov: a former Fresno State kicker who was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist in 2002.
Last season, he made 15 of 17 extra points and had a 42-yard field goal. Asparuhov also punted 32 times for 1,392 yards, averaging 43.5 yards. He had 14 punts that were inside the 20-yard line.
“I give a lot of credit to my dad and the coaching staff,” Asparuhov said. “My trainers and the Clovis Athletic Performance. I’ve been actually working out there since like fifth or sixth grade. They’ve been really good to me.”
This story was originally published August 5, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
