NEEDHAM — Strength training, seven on sevens and captains’ practices have run their course.
Area high school football players are ready for the season to start in the worst way.
Recruiting Board founder Alex Agrella unofficially kicked off the year in the Bay State with his second annual Media Day on Friday evening. Agrella’s brainchild is his latest effort to promote high school football around the state.
“There is really good high school football being played every year in Massachusetts, and it’s real simple. I want to continue to give Massachusetts football the exposure it deserves,” said Agrella, who spends his fall weekends roaming sidelines from Andover to Springfield, and basically everywhere in between, creating video content from all over the state.
“Some of these kids might not play a down of college football. But overall I just want to make sure they get seen.”
Players and coaches from Andover, Central Catholic and Methuen High were among the 20 teams who took part in the media day.
The athletes were pretty pumped to be there, knowing that the official opening of practice is now just one week away.
“This is a great event,” said Central Catholic QB Caden Smith, who along with meeting many members of the media swapped stories with friends and future opponents from Andover, Methuen, Saint John’s Prep and Xaverian. “I’m just ready to get the season going. We’ve been working so hard all summer, and we’re excited about getting started.”
There is plenty of promise in the air, and there was some serious talent in the room.
Salem, N.H.’s, Chris Vargas, who recently committed to Ohio State, headed up the Saint John’s Prep contingent along with D-1 recruit Riley Selvais.
Central Catholic’s Brian Waller-Reitano, a Navy commit and potentially the top lineman in the state, repped the Raiders, while Xaverian’s top pair of Will Wood (Penn State) and Michael Harden (BC) were in the house.
“People don’t realize how much football talent we have across the state,” said Agrella. “I actually think New England is a hub of talent for football at all levels. There are more Division 3 programs in New England than any region in the country.
We may not be producing the huge number of FBS kids, but we produce more college players from top to bottom than anywhere in the country.”
Andover was represented by coach Jay Fielding and players Kyle Olson, Ryan Moriarty, Rodrigo Siqueira, Braden Sullivan and Joe Shirley.
“We all know as coaches that anything you can do to promote your kids is a good thing,” said Fielding. “And this event is a good thing for them.”
All of the state’s heavy hitter programs took up the offer, and Methuen’s presence with coach Ryan Dugan and top returners Caiden Hartley-Didio and Cole Smith tell the story of just where, year in and year out, the Rangers’ program reside – among the Bay State’s elite.
“Division 1 is so tough,” said Dugan. “Look around here. You see the talent that is out here.”
One newcomer to the event was first-year Central Catholic head coach John Dubzinski.
Dubzinski walks into a talented group with one of the most lethal schedules on the planet.
The Raiders run a Catholic Conference gauntlet, opening the year with BC High and then Saint John’s Prep, following that up with trips to Bishop Hendricken in Rhode Island and then Xaverian.
“Central has high standards, and I do my best every day,” said Dubzinski. “That’s the best way I can do it. I try to be energetic and positive, establish good relationships with the kids, and just create a culture where the kids feel valued, where they want to come play a role in the success of the program.
“That’s what they have done (at Central). We just want to keep it going.”
There was talk of success from all, players and coaches, as well as the changing dynamic in Mass. high school football today.
Who is good this fall? Will the Super 8 become a reality? Who is in favor of it? Who opposes it?
It was great to be talking football again. And yes, opening weekend is now less than four weeks away.