For such a big guy, Jason Bromley has become rather adept at being overlooked. It almost happened again when PSAL coaches were looking at film in preparation selecting their all-city team.
Flushing coach Jim DeSantis said he had to step in on behalf of his star defensive lineman. Eventually, the coaches relented and the rest was history.
His spot on the all-city team beget his spot on the New York City roster for the Outback Steakhouse Empire Challenge, where Bromley won the MVP award with a magnificent performance Tuesday night in NYC’s 15-10 win against Long Island at Hofstra. Bromley had two sacks and seven tackles, including three for a loss, as well as two passes batted down. He was nary unstoppable.
“That’s how he was all year,” DeSantis said of Bromley, who didn’t play football before coming to Flushing. … “It’s a tribute to him. He’s just worked his ass off from Day One.”
Somehow, Bromley didn’t have any firm scholarships offers after a senior season that saw him lead Flushing to the playoffs at the highest classification and named to The Post’s All-City first team. Stony Brook showed interest, but Bromley said he never got the feeling that the Seawolves coaches really wanted him. Instead of playing Division I football next year, he’ll compete at New Hampton prep school in New Hampshire.
“I did what [the Stony Brook coaches] told me to do, but it seemed like they didn’t want me at the time,” said Bromley, who is a qualifier. “Hopefully they see this game and think again.”
Rutgers, Syracuse and UConn flirted, but never offered. All of it made DeSantis’ head spin – and he knew why. This was just the Red Devils’ third year competing on the varsity level after the former Bayside assistant resurrected the once-proud program.
“My problem is, I sent film all over the place,” DeSantis said. “I sent it to Division I schools. He went to Division I camps. He went to the Big Man Camp at Rutgers. A lot of those guys recruit, because other guys are recruiting him.”
It would be shocking if the phone calls didn’t come rolling in now. Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, whose foundation for cystic fibrosis gets the proceeds from the Empire Challenge, was befuddled when told Bromley qualified yet didn’t have any Division I scholarships offers.
“Maybe this game does something for him,” Esiason said. “Hopefully that’s the case, because that kid was unstoppable. He has a great attitude and it seemed like the motor never stopped. I think he sensed – and I can’t speak for him – as the game wore on, the impact he was having was apparent.”
Bromley had a huge sack of Syracuse-bound quarterback John Kinder to help stop Long Island’s final drive. His pressure of Kinder led to a first-half interception by Mario Tull. He lived in the offensive backfield all game.
“Bromley did an unbelievable job in there, man,” NYC defensive coordinator and Tottenville head coach Jim Munson said. “He gave them hell. He knocked down two passes. They couldn’t block him when we had an inside rush.”
The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder wanted to make sure he gave Flushing HS and South Jamaica, his home, a shoutout when he was called up on stage to accept the MVP award. But later, when asked about his future home, he got quiet. Bromley said it wasn’t up to him to decide if college coaches had made a mistake. He’s focused right now on New Hampton.
“After that,” Bromley said, “the sky’s the limit.”