On national signing day, the University of Louisiana-Monroe took a chance, and they think that chance will pay off. They offered Brandon Savone a football scholarship even though he didn't play his senior season, and he's our VooDoo Athlete of the Week.
Brandon Savone looks the part. He's 200 pounds with good hands and he can run. The Warhawks of ULM liked what they saw from Savone in his junior season when he has 1200 all-purpose yards.
Savone transferred to Thomas Jefferson High School in Gretna from Word of Life Academy. When all his credits were not accepted, he had to repeat the 9th grade, so Savone had to sit his senior season. Even though he couldn't play, he did practice.
"I never gave up," says Savone. "I always went to practice. I didn't have to. Some people look at that, and they say, 'That is one of the great qualities. He even went to practice when he was able to play, so he is very dedicated.'"
Savone is fully qualified academically, and he's itching to play. He looks chiseled after spending time with trainer Wyatt Harris at Sonic Boom.
Head coach Kevin Kelly said in a tough district his team didn't always excel, but Brandon did.
"I think he can play on the next level," Kelly says. "He's going to put some weight on and fill out. He's was a great high school player. He played his tail off in a really strong district. Curtis, Newman, Riverside, he played and he played well. Even though we were getting our butts kicked, he played well and did a good job."
Brandon Savone will play outside linebacker at ULM. He's the picture of persistence, and our New Orleans VooDoo Athlete of the Week.
