TWO FORMER LITTLE VIKINGS COLLEGE COMMITMENTS
Quarterback Greg DePugh and wide receiver Chris Brazicki spent much of the 2009 football season putting together an aerial show at Parsippany Hills High School.
College coaches took notice.
Both Vikings — first-team All-Daily Record performers — signed with FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) schools Wednesday, which was National Letter of Intent Day.
DePugh signed on with Monmouth. Brazicki signed with Wagner.
DePugh and Brazicki were only two in a group of Morris County athletes who signed letters of intent. Butler's Andrew Turzilli honored an early verbal commitment and signed on to play in the Big 12 with Kansas. Mountain Lakes' Donovan Allieri signed with FCS champion Villanova, Rob Wallace of Roxbury chose Bryant (Rhode Island), Parsippany's Abraham Sanchez opted for Rhode Island, and Long Valley resident Brandon Sacco of Don Bosco signed with Big East powerhouse Pittsburgh.
Daily Record Player of the Year Michael Burton was given offers by Monmouth and Lehigh. Sacco, his lifelong friend, is urging Burton to join him and walk on at Pitt. Through it all, Burton remains undecided.
DePugh and Brazicki were anything but undecided on their college choices.
Vikings coach Dave Albano contacted Monmouth concerning the 6-foot-4 DePugh, who was 161-for-247 passing for 1,789 yards and 22 TDs. Once the Northeast Conference school showed interest, DePugh was sold. Wagner and Stony Brook were also interested.
Monmouth watched DePugh play well against Jefferson this past fall and then requested another tape. Albano sent the school DePugh's Morristown film. All he did that afternoon was roll up 288 yards passing while exhibiting some of the subtle features college coaches love.
"That game, we sprinted out, had Greg do some three-step and five-step drops," Albano said. "They really liked all of that. After that, they kind of gave him the red carpet treatment. He was their No. 1 guy. They needed a quarterback. Once their coach came to his home, we knew he'd get an offer. The coach is the closer."
Like DePugh, Brazicki's size (6-2) came in handy. So did his school-record 70 receptions for 814 yards and 10 TDs despite double-teaming by defenders.
"Their coaches liked his size," Albano said. "Plus, 70 catches is a lot of catches. Once their coach showed some interest, Chris was real excited. Once Wagner came in, it was over."
Wagner offensive coordinator Jim Gibbons watched film of Brazicki and liked the receiver more and more. But it was only when head coach Walt Hameline came by that Brazicki was offered.
"You could look great on film, but you need to pass the eye test," Albano said. "When the coach saw Chris' size, he was sold."
Allieri passed the eye test as well, despite a brief on-again, off-again career at Mountain Lakes due to injuries. He transferred from Parsippany High after his sophomore year after moving to Boonton Twp. He did play in the state championship game victory over Butler in December, but was plagued with various injuries over the last two seasons.
"He was out the week before the Butler game with a shoulder injury," coach Doug Wilkins said. "He started the season off with torn ligaments in his thumb. Then he played with a cast on. He got sick after that. It was just so hard for him to get rolling."
Nevertheless, Allieri is a physical specimen who can move, which is why Villanova came along.
"They see him as a 300-pounder," Wilkins said. "He can move and he's a natural. To watch him is very impressive. He has also had a limited amount of weightlifting, but he is incredibly strong. If he can put some time together on the field, the sky is the limit because of all the gifts he has."
Turzilli (48 for 888 receiving, 11 TDs) is another player who looked impressive on the field. The 6-5, 180-pounder has good hands and athletic ability that makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field. He committed to Kansas during the season and stayed with the Jayhawks even after coach Mark Mangino resigned. Turner Gill, formerly of Buffalo, is the new head man.
Butler coach Jim Matsakis said this weekend that UConn contacted Turzill and offered him to come to Storrs, Conn. for a visit, but Turzilli declined. His mind is set on becoming a Jayhawk.
Wallace was a first-team All-Daily Record lineman and arguably Morris County's most impressive defender as a senior. He was in on 96 tackles and had eight sacks but seemed to spend as much time in the backfield as quarterbacks and running backs.
Parsippany's Sanchez impressed despite a difficult senior season for the winless Red Hawks.
Delbarton had a busy singing period, with three players going Ivy League. Linebacker Joe Petrucci is headed to Harvard for both football and lacrosse. Lineman Pat Hand will attend Brown and receiver Peter Calvanelli chose Dartmouth. Quarterback E.J. Schneider and linebacker J.R. Recchia will attend Franklin and Marshall.