Straughn senior Brooks Rabren made a verbal commitment to play golf at the University of South Alabama late last week.

Rabren said he made his decision to play golf for the Jaguars prior to USA head golf coach Ben Hannan’s visit to his Rose Hill home.

“It’s a great school, just from an academic stand point,” Rabren said. “They’ve got a ton to offer. They’ve got a great practice facility on campus and another great facility off campus at the Robert Trent Jones (Golf) Trail. They have a lot of things moving in the right direction.”

Rabren said he’s really enjoyed getting to know Hannan, who is entering his 12th season at USA.

“I really love my coach, coach Hannan,” he said. “I’m just really excited to go down next fall and compete. I feel like we’ve got a great chance to compete for a national championship.”

The Jaguars earned their first-ever at-large invitational to an NCAA Regional and last season came within two strokes of advancing to the NCAA Championships. USA plays in the Sun Belt Conference.

Rabren has also had a pretty good year. He enters his senior season at SHS after notching a runner-up finish at the Future Masters Tournament in Dothan, finishing in the top five of the Alabama Golf Association’s 69th annual Boys’ State Junior Championship, finished tied for sixth at the Southern Junior Championship and finished tied for second place at the Class 3A state golf championships in May.

Other than USA, Rabren fielded offers from Southern Miss and Troy.

But, he said, USA felt like the right place, and added that he’s looking forward to getting down to Mobile (where USA is located).

Before he gets the chance to suit up in Jaguars gear, Rabren will be playing his senior year at SHS this coming spring.

The senior said he still has goals he wants to accomplish, noting that he’s going to give it his “best.”

“I’m going to give it my best shot,” Rabren said. “I’d love to win a 4A championship, but mainly now, it’s all about just getting better and getting ready for my first tournament as a collegiate athlete.”

Rabren is the son of Doug and Kim Rabren of Rose Hill.