MACOMB, Ill.  -  Western Illinois University head football coach Don Patterson today announced the signing of PARADE All-American Brian Egan (Prattville, Ala.), the nation's top high school placekicker, who submitted a National Letter of Intent today to play for the Leathernecks.

Of the 58 players named to the 2009 PARADE Magazine All-America Football Team, Egan is the only one to commit to a Football Championship Subdivision school. He is not only the top-rated high school kicker in the country by PARADE Magazine, but also the nation's number one kicker on Scout.com, MaxPreps.com and Rivals.com. The 6-foot, 205-pound left-footer joins a Leatherneck program that has seen its last four kickers earn all-America recognition.

The Alabama Player of the Year set a state record for points in a single season by a kicker (116) and connected on 20-of-24 field goals, the second most in state history. His senior season included one field goal from 51 yards and another from a school-record 52 yards while his three-year varsity career ended with 31 field goals, 144 extra points and a school-record 244 points. Egan also made 56 of his 57 extra-point attempts and recorded 62 touchbacks in 2008. Kicking three field goals to help Prattville to its third consecutive state title in Alabama largest class, the 6-foot, 205-pound left-footer became the first kicker in state history to be named MVP of the championship game.

"With the addition of Brian to our signing class, we have been able to replace talent with talent in all three aspects of the game," said Western Illinois head coach Don Patterson. "We graduated all-Americans on offense, defense and special teams, and we are thrilled with what Brian brings to the program. I am confident he will continue the strong tradition of Leatherneck kickers."

According to Prattville head coach Jamey DuBose, the Lions signed 14 players to collegiate scholarships this month. "Of all our players who signed with college teams, Brian is the one who can start as a true freshman. He expects to be on the field this fall. Brian had a tough decision but he made the right choice. He chose Western because it gives him an opportunity to kick early on and Western's history has shown that it is going to give him the best opportunity to further his career at another level.

"People at Western are going to love him right away," said DuBose. "He can keep you loose like most kickers but he has the mentality and work ethic of a middle linebacker. He loves pressure and loves to compete. He is a tremendous weapon to have since any time you get past the 50-yard line you are going to have a chance to score. I am looking forward to seeing him do big things the next four years."

Egan, the first PARADE all-American signed by Western Illinois, is tutored by Mike McCabe, founder of One on One Kicking and special teams coach of Prattville High School. McCabe has also coached Leatherneck all-American kicker Taylor Rowan (2005-08) and all-American punter Mike Krause (1986-89).

Brian Egan, PK, 6-0, 205 (Prattville, Ala./Prattville)
Recognized as the top kicker on the PARADE All-America Team... scored a state-record 116 total points, converting 56 of 57 PAT tries and 20 of 24 field goal attempts in 2008... kicked off 85 times, sending 62 into the end zone for touchbacks... rated the nation's most accurate kicker by Rivals.com and Scout.com... rated the country number one kicker by MaxPreps.com... named one of 12 offensive players to the list of Reebok Alabama Football Phenoms in 2008... set a school record of 20 field goals, the second-most in the state record book, and kicked the longest field goal (52 yards) in school history... named the MVP of the state title game after field goals of 41, 39 and 33 yards, the last with 2:39 left to take a 16-13 lead... named the Prattville Progress Player of the Year... earned all-conference, all-area and all-state recognition... totaled 31 field goals, 144 PATs and a school-record 244 points during his three-year varsity career... helped Prattville to three state titles in Alabama's largest class and a three-year record of 41-1.