Two St. James kickers, Huff and Berrey, sign with Faulkner
Jake Huff and Braxton Berrey each signed a scholarship with Faulkner University at a ceremony at St. James on Monday. (Staff Photo)
By TIM GAYLE
There aren’t a lot of scholarship offers for kickers and punters.
And while Jake Huff and Braxton Berrey had turned heads with their performance at national kicking events, there were some anxious moments wondering whether anyone was willing to offer the pair of St. James’ specialists.
“I didn’t get my first offer until the beginning of my senior year, so I was kind of nervous at first,” Berrey said. “But once the first one came in, they all started coming in. I had a lot of choices, but I knew Faulkner was the one.”
Huff had a similar feeling after receiving an offer from the local NAIA program.
“Faulkner was the one that stood out because they really made an impact on trying to call in person and talk to us,” he said. “I fell in love with Faulkner. That’s where I knew I wanted to go.”
Berrey and Huff both held a signing ceremony at the school on Monday to announce their decision to sign with the Eagles, with Berrey accepting an offer to punt while Huff will serve as the placekicker.
“There’s not many people that can say they went to play collegiate football with their best friend,” Huff said. “That means a lot to me and I’m sure it means a lot to him.”
“I’m really glad I get to stay at home,” Berrey said. “I really want to stay near my family, especially going there with my best friend. It’s very hard to go to college for football, much less with your best friend. For both of us to go is amazing. I’m really excited.”
Both participated in a national kicking competition in Austin, Texas, a national qualifier that selected only the top 50 participants, with Huff placing fourth in placekicking and Berrey placing first in punting. Berrey’s score was the second highest in the history of the event.
Huff holds the single-season school record for extra points in a season (67) and touchbacks, while Berrey, the grandson of former Alabama punter Bucky Berrey, holds the school record for longest punt.
Huff also had five touchdown receptions as a receiver, giving him an opportunity to contribute to the Trojans in other ways in addition to kicking.
“I’ve played soccer since I was little and that love for kicking kept going through high school as well,” he said. “When I started playing in the 10th grade, they put me on the scout team at receiver and I just started scoring touchdowns, so they moved me up to varsity and it kept progressing from there.”
And while he relishes the opportunity to continue his career as a kicker for Faulkner, he admits there is a part of him that will miss his time at receiver.
“On Friday night, probably the scoring touchdowns meant more to me,” he said. “Having the student section there cheering for you, there’s nothing like that. Scoring a touchdown in front of your friends and family, there’s nothing like that.”
While the Monday morning event highlighted the talents of Berrey and Huff, St. James athletic director Katie Barton took a moment to reflect on a signing day that would have included Carter Carroll. The St. James pitcher, who died in a tragic hunting accident in mid-January, would have signed with Chattahoochie Valley State Community College on Monday.