Try as he did, Cameron Stapleton couldn’t decide what position he wanted to play in college, tight end or defensive end. Some schools wanted him on offense, others defense.
Connecticut isn’t forcing him to decide.
“It’s a great message [they’re sending me],” the rising Poly Prep senior said.
And one of the reasons Stapleton verbally committed to the Huskies on Friday, picking the Big East school over Syracuse and Temple.
UConn has told Stapleton he can workout at each spot and it will leave it up to him which he likes better. He plans to see where they like better. Regardless, Stapleton took it as a sign.
“I felt like, ‘wow, people don’t really get this [chance]. I can get this opportunity,’” the Staten Island native recalled. “It was a great feeling. I can’t believe this happened to me.”
Stapleton added: “They were talking to me every day. They really wanted me and made me feel not that they needed me, but they really wanted me part of their program.”
Stapleton is a rare local loss for Syracuse, which has cleaned up in New York City since local product Doug Marrone took over the program. He liked Syracuse, but nothing like UConn.
Stapleton felt at home on the Storrs, Conn. campus and was in awe of the facilities, which he described as “beautiful.” One coach, who he didn’t name, said it was superior to many of the NFL franchises the coach has worked with.
“UConn has it right now,” Stapleton said.
Stapleton also developed a bond with head coach Paul Pasqualoni during his visit this week, credited the work put in by lead recruiter Jon Wholley and cited the Huskies recent winning track record, such as sharing the Big East title in 2010 and playing in the Fiesta Bowl.
Poly Prep coach Dino Mangiero thinks Stapelton can make an impact at UConn, probably more so at defensive end. Though just 6-foot-3 and 215 now, Mangiero expects him to grow taller and stronger, since his father is 6-foot-6.
Mangiero said Paul Pasqualoni made it clear Stapleton would be closely monitored off the field as much as on it, that he would get his degree and be prepared to be successful after college.
“I think that was the overriding deal,” Mangiero said. “I think it’s a great fit for him.”
The full scholarship completes a life-long goal of Stapleton’s. When he played with the renowned Staten Island Hurricanes Pop Warner program, the team’s goal motto was “Division I for everyone.”
“That was our dream and to be able to fulfill that dream shows the younger kids its possible,” he said. “You just have to work hard and study, stay in school and play football, and you can go Division I. I can give back to the program that gave so much to me.”