When Michael Palardy arrived at St. Thomas Aquinas three years ago from the Coral Springs Optimist Club, he came in as a highly-regarded soccer player, a quarterback, receiver and a kicker, who had the potential to follow in the long line of greats that coach Tim Conrad developed at the school.

As he finishes up his junior season at the school, things have changed for this gifted athlete. No longer does he play soccer. His days as a quarterback and receiver are over, and the 6-2, 180-pounder is not just a kicker with potential. What Palardy has become is the most coveted kicker/punter in the country, and while he got off to a slow start this past season with an injury, he heads into the spring with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee and the University of Miami.

''Things just started to take off,'' Palardy said. ``Hard work and the understanding that if you make sacrifices, things will fall into place.''

Things have certainly taken off for Palardy, who watched, learned and waited his turn to step into the spotlight at a school that has long been a blueprint for special teams.

SOME MORE ATTENTION

At St. Thomas, the kicking and punting game gets a lot more attention than at most high schools. While Palardy was regarded as a kicker with potential, his exposure in the playoffs, especially the state championship game against Lakeland, was when most really had the chance to focus on his left foot, which boomed every kickoff through the end zone.

While he only had five field goals for the high scoring Raiders last season, it was at his weekly workouts with Conrad and at exposure events that colleges had the chance to see his rocket leg that also included punts that were as impressive as anyone in the nation.

When Conrad bragged to college coaches about Palardy, he wasn't using a few kickers as reference. Over the past 10 years, the St. Thomas graduate has helped to develop kickers such as Mark Gent (University of Miami), Chris Balseiro (Arkansas), Scott Svarney (Toledo), Joe Surgan (Duke), Brett Swenson (Michigan State), Wes Byrum (Auburn) and Brandon Parker (Arkansas State).

He also was instrumental in the success of punters Jay Ottovegio (Stanford), Mickey Groody (FAU) and Ben Turk (Notre Dame). Add in long snapper Jordan Cowart (Notre Dame) and you have an impressive group at St. Thomas alone.

''I have had the pleasure of watching some great young men come in with potential and leave with the ability to be among the best in the country,'' said Conrad, who made the move to Archbishop McCarthy this past season. ``To me, Michael Palardy is as good as I have ever had. Never coached a young men who was equally as dominating as a kicker and as a punter. He is by far the best in the country.''

OTHER TALENTED PLAYERS

Through his Tim Conrad BIGFoot Kicking camps, he has also developed players away from St. Thomas -- such as punter Christian Koegel (Deerfield Beach), who was an All-American at UMass, and American Heritage kicker David Lopez (Wagner College) and West Palm Beach Cardinal Newman standout Brendan Gibbons, who will head to Michigan in the fall.

The camp, which is held every other week at Archbishop McCarthy during the offseason and every week during the season, attracts youngsters from Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach. While the emphasis is on kicking and punting, long snappers such as St. Thomas standout Danny Adams, are also groomed to attract college attention as well.

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