SLIPPERY ROCK — When Dan Jeon was 7, his father sent him and the rest of his family to the United States from South Korea.

"My family wanted a better life," Jeon said. "It was through an exchange program through a university. Academically, it's very competitive over there."

Jeon's father is still in South Korea as a professor at a university. He comes back to visit his family, but Dan Jeon has returned to South Korea only once.

"I was young, but it was still strange," Jeon said. "I really have no urge to go back. I like it here."

When Jeon, now a senior at Slippery Rock High, came to this country, he didn't know English. He had to take a crash course in everything.

"I eventually adjusted," Jeon said. "Sports helped me. Meeting friends and interacting with them through sports really helped."

His older brother, Euna, played soccer for the Rockets.

As it turns out, Jeon is a dual threat athletically.

He has scored 10 goals this season for the Slippery Rock High soccer team. On the football team, he is the Rockets' kicker and routinely boots kickoffs into the end zone.

Jeon was on the football team last season, but he was used sparingly behind all-state kicker Mike Ramirez.

"I don't think I could have done this well so far this year if I hadn't learned last year under Mike Ramirez," Jeon said. "Learning all of that gave me a whole lot more confidence."

There is no doubt Jeon has a whole lot of leg.

A left-footed kicker, Jeon has added considerable distance on his kickoffs and field goals.

Also a punter, Jeon has boomed those as well.

No one really knows Jeon's range during a game.

"We're not saying," said Slippery Rock coach Glenn Hazlet, smiling.

Jeon doesn't know for sure, either. He has booted field goals in excess of 50 yards in practice, though Jeon admits kicking in practice is a whole lot different from kicking in a game.

"In a game, I'd be comfortable with anything 50 or under," Jeon said. "I'm not lobbying to give me a chance or anything. Whatever."

While Jeon hasn't had a chance to kick many field goals this season — he has booted only one from 19-yards out — he is getting the job done in the field position game.

He had three kickoffs against Reynolds soar into the end zone for touchbacks.

"He's tremendous," Hazlet said.

To Jeon, that's just his job.

"That's the biggest thing I can do for the team," Jeon said. "That's my biggest goal."

He plays a larger role on the soccer team.

Jeon started to play soccer when he moved to this country. Last year, he scored three goals and had eight assists.

This season he has become a dangerous scorer.

Several colleges have expressed interest in Jeon as a soccer player, but Jeon has his eyes set on bigger things: He intends to walk on at Michigan.

"That's my goal," Jeon said. "Michigan is a really good athletically and academically. I'd love to be able to play there."