Photo by Stephen M. Layne Malvern Prep place-kicker Joe Buckley will take his strong leg to the Naval Academy where he hopes to fly jets.

Kickoffs sailed deep, extra points and field goals flew through uprights, and punts soared high above high school gridirons when Joe Buckley made contact with the football.

Soon enough, the Malvern Prep senior himself will sail, fly and soar as a plebe at the U.S. Naval Academy.

On Saturday, shortly after having lunch in the distinguished Officers Club on the Annapolis campus, Buckley verbally committed to play football for the Midshipmen. The kicker’s future includes a five-year term of military service after graduation.

“I’m looking to study something like aviation or aerospace engineering,” the National Honor Society member and president of Malvern’s student council said Tuesday. “Basically, I’ve always had a fascination with planes and I’ve always wanted to fly. It’s just been a dream of mine.”

The admission process for Buckley, a Downingtown resident, included a nomination by U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach, R-6th, of West Pikeland, in late November and a successful scholastic qualification. Obligated to pass a physical fitness test, Buckley plans to ink a letter of assurance on Feb. 7, the first day of the NCAA’s initial signing period for football.

“It says that if all these things -- scholastically, medically and physically -- happen, I’ll get in,” he said. “And I already have a lot of them done, so basically I’m in.”

Buckley, a 5-foot-10, 170-pounder, visited the institution along the Chesapeake Bay for three days last week. During his stay, he roomed with starting kicker Matt Harmon, a sophomore from South Carolina.

“I loved it down there. I really liked the atmosphere. Even in January, it was awesome,” Buckley said, adding, “I think there’s a lot of room for improve

ment for me. ... But it does look like I’ll be waiting until sophomore year, or even junior year, to get a starting spot.”

Buckley started for the Friars in each of the past three years, becoming one of the top kickers in the region. He drilled six consecutive touchbacks in a game last season against Chester, and later nailed a 45-yarder in a victory over West Chester Henderson. In 2006, he converted 36 of 38 extra point tries, posted a total of 19 touchbacks and earned his second consecutive selection as the Daily Local News first-team All-Area kicker.

As a punter, Buckley averaged 40.05 yards a kick in his senior year and a hang time of 3.61 seconds.

“He’s a great kid,” said Malvern Prep head coach Gamp Pellegrini, who learned of Buckley’s decision Sunday during the Friars’ team banquet in Drexel Hill. “I’ve seen him do some great things kicking the football. ... He has a very strong leg, and he’s an excellent punter.”

Excellence is the name of Buckley’s all-around game.

A three-sport athlete, he owns seven varsity letters -- three in football, two in indoor track and two in baseball. He belongs to Malvern’s World Affairs and Mathletes clubs and carries a 4.0 cumulative GPA. He served as class president in his sophomore and junior years and earned a Wendy’s High School Heisman nomination last fall.

“He’s been a leader at Malvern, and he’ll be a leader at the Naval Academy, and he’ll come out of there and go on to lead others,” Pellegrini said. “He’ll be a naval officer.”

Here’s the kicker: Buckley’s aspirations fly higher than his punts.

“I’d love to ascend the ranks and become an admiral one day,” he said. “That’s obviously the dream if you go down there. ... I think I want to make a career out of naval service.”

Guided by head coach Paul Johnson, Navy went 9-4 in 2006, beating Army for the fifth straight year before capping its campaign with a 25-24 loss to Boston College in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. The Midshipmen, who own a 51-49-7 edge in the series with the Black Knights, have won eight of the last 10 meetings.

“I’m really looking forward to playing at Notre Dame and walking out of that tunnel,” Buckley said. “And the Army-Navy game, I can’t wait to be a part of that tradition. It’s one of the biggest traditions and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

And yet, whether by land or sea, air or ground, Buckley intends to do more than just kick footballs high in the sky.

“I would love to defend my country,” he said. “That’s one of the main reasons I’m going there. Also, the brotherhood down there with the football team is wonderful. It’s like a family.”

To contact sports editor Joe Whalen, send an e-mail to jwhalen@dailylocal.com.