NEW PUNTER IS MADE TO FEEL WELCOME

REGINA — Louie Sakoda is feeling like a somebody again. CLICK HERE FOR THE INTERVIEW

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The former University of Utah Utes standout kicker made his debut on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ practice field Wednesday and was happy with the reception he got.

“It’s a lot different than when you go around to the NFL tryouts,” said Sakoda, who worked out for four NFL teams trying to be signed as a free agent. “It’s real impersonal (during NFL tryouts), you don’t feel like you belong. Out here, it feels like they’re excited to have me around, which gets me excited.”

After being passed over in the 2009 NFL draft, Sakoda worked out for the San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills before returning to the Utes to work as a student assistant special-teams coach.

As a four-year starter at Utah, Sakoda was a three-time Mountain West Conference special teams player-of-the-year. He hit 22 of 24 field-goal attempts as a senior in 2008, earning consensus all-American honours at placekicker. He also averaged 42.1 yards per punt in 2008, downing 24 of his 56 kicks inside the 20-yard line. After the season he was the second man ever to be a finalist for both the Lou Groza (as the NCAA’s top placekicker) and Ray Guy (top punter) awards.

“You have certain expectations, but I didn’t believe I would get drafted,” said Sakoda, 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds. “I just figured I would do the free-agent thing and even that was a little shaky. It didn’t really go the way we thought. It’s been kind of a whirlwind the last couple months going through this whole process. I’m open to all things and hopefully this works out.”

The 22-year-old was to work out for the Detroit Lions next week, but when an offer from the Roughriders came on Sunday, he thought it was the best chance to continue his playing career.

“There’s a certain point that if you’re not going around to these things, your name dies and your chances of getting on somewhere are just that much slimmer — this worked out,” said Sakoda, who is in the process of starting his own football apparel line.

Roughriders head coach Ken Miller said Sakoda is not likely to be activated this week while he gets acclimated to the Canadian game, but could be used “down the road.”
“The guy has a lot of pop off his leg,” said special-teams co-ordinator Kavis Reed. “We have to work with him on his get-off time, but I think he has a lot of explosiveness.”

During Wednesday’s practice, Sakoda had one punt that travelled clear across the width of the end zone (65 yards) and booted a few that travelled 40 yards into a steady wind. He also had a few go off the side of his foot during the session.

Saskatchewan added Sakoda and former Edmonton Wildcats kicker Ryan Elaschuk to its practice roster this week due to a neck injury that has sidelined punter Jamie Boreham. Luca Congi handled all the kicking duties in Saturday’s 32-22 victory over the Toronto Argonauts and likely will again Saturday afternoon when Saskatchewan visits the Calgary Stampeders.

“He did reasonably well,” Miller said of Congi’s work against the Argos, which included five punts for a 26.8-yard average. “His last two punts weren’t anything to write home about, but with a week of work, he’s going to be fine.”

Once Sakoda gets used to his new surroundings, he would like to fill any roll Saskatchewan has for him.

“Some of the rules, some of the strategy behind punting — you actually score points punting now — and having to punt on third down will be a little different,” he said.

“They explained their situation and what sort of things they need. Hopefully I can be the guy to help them out.”

tswitzer@leaderpost.canwest.com