Track helps expedite football recruiting for Norwin’s Rizzo

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 31, 2018 | 3:45 PM

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Multisport athletes sometimes can catch college coaches' attention — and possibly help their case in getting recruited — by shining in sports opposite their primary ones.

Take the reigning Tribune-Review Westmoreland Athletes of the Year.

Austin Butler was slinging footballs and launching javelins for Latrobe knowing full well he was headed for a Division I basketball career. His coaches at Holy Cross, though, were impressed by his overall athleticism.

Greensburg Central Catholic grad Mikayla Bisignani, meantime, excelled in volleyball, swimming and track and field. All looked good on college applications and drew praise from coaches who appreciated her versatility. She went on to swim at Johns Hopkins.

And think about all of the college football coaches who show up to watch top prospects play basketball.

Norwin's Gianni Rizzo could be the next area athlete to follow that path. He has managed to cross-pollinate football with track and make it work to his benefit.

The Norwin junior has seen a spike in his football recruiting, which has plenty to do with a productive highlight film from last season, but also could be connected to his success in track.

Speed kills in any sport.

Rizzo ran the anchor leg of Norwin's PIAA Class AAA champion 1,600-meter relay team. A Division I scholarship once seemed much farther than a mile away for Rizzo, but his closing speed has helped expedite the process as one sport passed the baton to the next.

Since March 16, Rizzo has picked up football offers from Fordham, Bucknell, Yale and Robert Morris.

The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder plays wide receiver and linebacker for the Knights.

“I've been working hard towards this since last football season,” said Rizzo, who also plays basketball for the Knights. “Things on the track definitely went well for me last year, and now I've just been blessed that things have been taking off lately.”

Rizzo last season caught 30 passes for 506 yards and three touchdowns. On defense, he registered 49 tackles, 29 solo, and had five sacks, two caused fumbles and an interception.

“Gianni's film from his junior season showed his ability to make plays, specifically on the defensive side of the ball,” Norwin football coach Dave Brozeski said. “He earned second-team all-conference at outside linebacker and showed his ability to make plays around the line of scrimmage as well as in space. Also, the fact that he had success with track and field last year definitely has helped him in the recruiting.”

Also as a sophomore, Rizzo also finished second in the WPIAL 200 dash. Another track season looms, and Rizzo knows football coaches will be watching for him at the finish line.

“I've always believed that I could play at the top level,” Rizzo said. “I just needed to work to get to the spot I'm in now.”

Said Brozeski: “It will be interesting to see what the future has in store for Gianni.”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Norwin