Belfonte trying to generate new interest

Kansas City (Mo.) Rockhurst safety Sal Belfonte is taking care of his business on the field this fall; now he hopes college teams start to recognize his talents and come through with scholarship offers.

The 5-11, 200-pound Belfonte was hearing from the likes of Iowa, Wisconsin and Kansas State early in the process, but interest from those teams has fallen off due in part to already receiving commitments from prospects at his position.

Kansas still maintains contact with Belfonte's coach and has been out to one of Rockhurst's games this fall, but Belfonte feels he may need to generate new interest in order to earn a scholarship offer.

"I am going to send a couple films to Nebraska, but not many teams are looking at me,' Belfonte said. "I have gotten my tape out there and they all tell me I'm a great player, but there is just something holding them back. The say it's my height and some comment on my speed, but I ran a 4.39 so I don't see what that is and I see kids on their team with my height. Maybe I'm just missing something, I'm not sure.

"The only team that really talks to me very much is Air Force. They've offered me and really like me, but as far as me wanting to go down there, I'm really not sure. The military aspect of it and having to serve after college, I'm not sure I'm a big fan of that."

Belfonte's brother plays baseball at Nebraska and he hopes to generate new interest from the Cornhuskers once they review his film.

"I just like them, like their players and like everything about them," Belfonte said of the Cornhuskers. "Their head coach is a defensive and they said they want me to send some stuff up there, so I am definitely going to."

Most schools that have communicated with Belfonte project him as a safety prospect in college. He plays running back, fullback, middle linebacker and returns punts for a Rockhurst team that just finished district play and is 8-2 on the season. On offense, Belfonte is averaging 9.6 yards per carry and has scored 13 touchdowns. He has recorded 50 tackles on defense.