2016 Combined

WEEK OF .......f,::r--_ ___.v.~- ____

Determined walk-on turning heads at Southern Miss

Jason Munz, Southern Miss Sports Writer

6:48 p. m. CDT August 22. 2016

Allen Fails loves football.

The quiet, mild-mannered Hattiesburg native eagerly lined up at whatever position his high school coaches at North Forrest asked him to play. Wide receiver, running back, safety, quarterback - even long snapper - Fails gladly did it all for the Eagles without batting an eye.

"At a (Class) 2Aschool, you play everywhere," he said.

(Photo: Susan Broadbridge!Hattiesburg American)

After graduating in 2014, he signed with East Central Community College where he played receiver as a freshman and made the move to linebacker in 2015. Fails played well in both seasons at junior college, but

the scholarship offers from Division I programs never materialized.

Undeterred, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound specimen decided he would recruit the recruiters. Early in the spring se_mester, Fails aggressively pursued the walk-on route at Southern Miss I http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/sports/college/southern-miss/blitz/2016/08/21 /usm-defense-takes-step forward-scrim mage/89074876/l, where he visited the football office even before registering for classes. His persistence has paid off- both for him and the Golden Eagles. Fails, who joined the team for spring camp, found a home at the hybrid linebacker/defensive lineman spot Southern Miss calls the "wolf' position. He has thrived there, becoming one of the feel-good stories of the Golden Eagles' fall camp lhttp://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/story/sports/college/southern-miss/blitz/2016/08/17/veteran-eagles-bates-collins-stepping up/88892766/l, which began earlier this month and ends Wednesday. Fails is currently working behind starter Darian Yancey and primary backup Ja'Boree Poole, but head coach Jay Hopson lhttp://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/storv/sports/college/southern-miss/blitz/2016/08/18/usms-hopson stressing-conditioning/88951978/} has already seen enough to know the soft-spoken athlete will contribute this season.

"He's making plays," Hopson said. "He's extremely athletic. He looks like a good athlete, and you get him on the field and he plays like a good athlete. He's got a (bright) future. He's going to play football this year, that's for sure."

Fails' game of positional musical chairs and lack of attention from Division I coaches made his dream of playing college football at the FBS level difficult. But there were more daunting obstacles still. Upon being granted a spot on the team at Southern Miss, Fails took a part-time job a Lowe's i Hattiesburg where he stocked shelves to help his mom.

Also, to meet eligibility requirements, he took four mini-session courses in the spring. Fails could not afford books for all his classes in the spring, bu he found a way to make it work.

·spending extra time in the library or asking a buddy in class, 'Hey, can I use your book or your notes?'" Fails said. "That's ow bad I an ed · And I didn't complain because this was something I wanted . At first, I was a little afraid (of taking on so much responsibility in esp · g) b so e es you've got to step out on faith."

That mentality and Fails' work ethic has not only endeared him to his coaches at Southern Miss but to his teammates as well.

"He's a special guy," junior defensive end Xavier Thigpen said of Fails. "Anything you ask him to do, he does it. He's shown us a lot. He's got speed, quickness, footwork, size and he's football smart. And energy - it seems like he doesn't get tired." NESRocnrTTI;;'iinrr-,,r-E1"1....-r-- - - - - - - - 1 NEWTON COUNTY APPEAL ----- SCOTT COUNTY TIMES ------- SPIRIT OF MORTON --------- WINSTON COUNTY JOURNAL ---- CLARION-LEDGER --------~