Capozzoli kicks his way into 2013

Monday March 4, 2013

JACKSONVILLE - The 2012 South Division Champion Jacksonville Sharks announced Sunday that kicker Marco Capozzoli has been assigned to the Jacksonville roster on a one-year contract. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 25-year-old Capozzoli (6'1", 200) enters his third season with the Sharks and fourth AFL season overall. Last time he appeared on Sea Best Field, Capozzoli delivered the most memorable kick in franchise history, drilling a 51-yarder as time expired to propel Jacksonville to a 58-56 win over the Georgia Force in the first round of the 2012 playoffs.

That kick capped a season in which Capozzoli connected on 10 of his 12 field goal attempts, establishing new franchise records in both field goals made and field goals attempted. He was one of just three kickers to make 10 field goals in 2012, and finished the season with the second-best field goal percentage among kickers with at least 10 attempts. Thanks in part to Capozzoli's directional kicking, the Sharks finished the season third in the league in onside kick recovery percentage (4-of-13).

Capozzoli first came to Jacksonville in 2011, his second season in the AFL. Fittingly, Capozzoli also delivered a clutch kick against the Force that season, as his 36-yard boot with less than a minute remaining helped gave the Sharks a two-score lead in what was ultimately a 64-55 Jacksonville win in the American Conference Championship. Capozzoli also made 7 of his 11 field goal attempts during the 2011 season.

Before becoming a Shark, Capozzoli broke into the AFL in 2010 with the Tulsa Talons, where he was a teammate of Shark receiver Jeff Hughley. He appeared in six games with Tulsa that season, making all three of his field goal attempts and knocking in 83% of his point-after attempts. For his career, Capozzoli has made 20 of 26 regular-season field goal attempts (77%).

A native of Bloomfield, New Jersey, Capozzoli spent his collegiate career at Montclair State University.

About the Jacksonville Sharks

The Jacksonville Sharks are members of the Arena Football League (AFL). The ArenaBowl XXIV and back-to-back-to-back South Division Champions are presented by Sea Best Seafood and play all home games on Sea Best Field at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. Season Tickets for the 2013 season are now available, two tickets as low as $185. To reserve your season tickets or for more information, please call (904) 621-0700. Follow the Sharks on facebook at facebook.com/jaxsharks and on Twitter @jaxsharks, as well as the Attack Dance Team at facebook.com/sharkattackdance and Chum at facebook.com/chumsharks.