What about Jake Bellizzi from Maine West HS. Played both ways as RB/MLB. All State 7A team, All Area Captain of NW suburbs, CSL offensive player of the year, CSL defensive player of the year 2017. Helped bring MW to the playoffs back to back years. Rushed for an area best of 1,538 yards with 26 TDs. On defense he had 64 tackles, 11 for losses, 4 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, one that led to a TD and an interception that was returned for a TD. His game against Deerfield earned him the Chicago Bears All Star award for 312 yards rushing and 4TDs! He is a very passionate and physical player and loves the game with all of his heart! Any school/coach would be lucky to get him'
Jake Bellizzi
- Thread starter SheilaBellizzi
- Start date
Way to go Mom ! Impressive numbers both on offense and defense. Also great accomplishments. What year is in and what's his height and weight? Is he being actively recruited? Keep us posted as a lot of kids who are really good athletes sometime don't get the recognition they deserve. Has his high school football coaches reached out to any schools for him?
Thank you! Learning a lot about the recruiting process...wish I knew earlier! He's 6'1" 225 lbs. Several coaches talking to him from D3, some from D2. His coach sent out his highlight tape but I feel he is under the radar and I'm trying to help him get his name out there.
Good to see that you are doing what good mom's do which is tout your son and getting his name out for others to see. This site is a good place to start. Is he a senior? Your son has good size measurements and given his statistical data he obviously is a good athlete. What is his time in the 40 yard dash? Is his academics okay? Has he been going to any of the scouting programs that edgy puts on his twitter site? Those programs often offer kids a scholarship on the spot after seeing them in person.
If he isn't offered , check with Junior Colleges like DuPage and let your son get some experience there that will get him recognition.
Best of luck to you !
Is this 40 time correct?
https://247sports.com/Player/Jake-Bellizzi-46056185/
If so, he needs to shave a few tenths of a second off of his time.
https://247sports.com/Player/Jake-Bellizzi-46056185/
If so, he needs to shave a few tenths of a second off of his time.
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Watched his games on films he is a beast.Go to a college and walk on.If he has it they will offer him the remaining yrs.More and more Hs players are walking on and playing.
IMHO and with all due respect, kindly consider basing post-secondary education choice most strongly on academic factors as opposed to extra-curricular ones.
Mom-
I’ve been coaching HS Football for 25 years. Here is the best advice as a coach I can give you. Your son being 5-11 and running a 4.8 (this is why most if not all HS coaches I know hate combines) honestly has hurt his chances to get a scholarship BUT that’s OK. He is a very good football player. Find a good program that offers him the opportunity to get a great education and continue to play 4 more years of a sport I assume he loves. Who cares what division it is, they won’t post that on his trasnscript and remember is about the next 40 years not the next 4.
Good luck
I’ve been coaching HS Football for 25 years. Here is the best advice as a coach I can give you. Your son being 5-11 and running a 4.8 (this is why most if not all HS coaches I know hate combines) honestly has hurt his chances to get a scholarship BUT that’s OK. He is a very good football player. Find a good program that offers him the opportunity to get a great education and continue to play 4 more years of a sport I assume he loves. Who cares what division it is, they won’t post that on his trasnscript and remember is about the next 40 years not the next 4.
Good luck
I know...he attended the Nike camp in Canton,OH when he was kind of out of shape and heavier than he normally was. He is in wrestling now and in much better shape and should re-do the 40 somewhere. He is also a 2 time state qualifier in wrestling. As far as his height, well we can't do anything about that. He never did that great in those combines but put him on the football field and he's an amazing player. He is definitely missing out on scholarships to kids that look good at camps but don't necessarily play better on the field. We are just looking for a school that's a good fit and where he can play the games he loves and has played since he was 4 years old! Thanks!
“He is definitely missing out on scholarships to kids that look good at camps but don't necessarily play better on the field.“
Oh boy, someone should tell you ... it does not work that way. Nor does it when pros select.
Facts of life.
Sometimes, the answer is No.
Oh boy, someone should tell you ... it does not work that way. Nor does it when pros select.
Facts of life.
Sometimes, the answer is No.
NAIA is a great option...they can give full-rides (often the next best option if no D-1 offers and a scholarship is the goal).
Haha! Thanks for telling me! But the answer isn't no yet. He has lots of coaches talking to him. I'm not talking Pros anyways, just trying to get my son an education that doesn't put him in debt for most of his life. And you're right...I'm learning a lot of lessons in the way recruiting works! Thanks for your comment
Here's my story on Jake. Great kid. Wish him the best.
https://football.dailyherald.com/sp...-physical-style-brings-success-for-maine-west
https://football.dailyherald.com/sp...-physical-style-brings-success-for-maine-west
In my opinion he truly represents what a player of the year is.A rb and lb also carried his team to a great season.Thats old school tough man footballer.
McKendree's roster is filled with Illinois kids. They take "ball players" - might be a fit.
https://mckbearcats.com/roster.aspx?path=football&
A lot going on here and traditionally I don't allow these type of postings for various reasons....but I'll let this one stay.
I noticed no one has mentioned grades at all?
As far as testing and 40 times? Now you know why I refuse to test at any of my camps and I haven't for years now....
Jake is a terrific player and I also voted for him for the Bears Player of the Week along with Quags and his tape is solid...I've passed his name and video along to several schools this AM...best of luck and now back to my staycation lol
I noticed no one has mentioned grades at all?
As far as testing and 40 times? Now you know why I refuse to test at any of my camps and I haven't for years now....
Jake is a terrific player and I also voted for him for the Bears Player of the Week along with Quags and his tape is solid...I've passed his name and video along to several schools this AM...best of luck and now back to my staycation lol
Thanks Edgy for passing on this young man's video to some schools. Shows me that you are a thoughtful man with integrity. I also believe that good academics take precedent over athletic prowess in the big scheme of things as that is what your future will normally be based on.
Comes from a great Family as well. I've reached out to my contacts, but unfortunately a lot of schools have filled their allotments for players already.
I wanted to thank everyone for all the support and advice. I sincerely appreciate it, especially EdgyTim for voting for Jake for the Bears All Star athlete and for sending his senior film out. I really had no idea how much was involved in recruiting and unfortunately hope it's not too late. I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and many blessings for 2019!!
Same back to you. Congrats on raising a really good football player and hope he finds an indirect route to playing some college football on a scholarship somewhere. There are some good suggestions on here and while it might be an uphill battle for his freshman year, there’s always 3 more years after that one that you can start preparing for now.
Same to you and you family. I agree with Mark that playing football at a junior college, if no good offers come in, would be a good start. Montini's star QB on their 2016 Championship team didn't have the grades but chose to play at a junior college in Iowa. Superb athletic talent. This year he won all kinds of accolades for his QB play there. He was one of the fastest kids I ever saw play at Montini and had a great accurate arm. Sometimes very good football players fall thru the cracks on the recruiting end but hit their stride after their senior year at junior colleges. Good luck to your son and if he is as tenacious as you are he will be fine regardless.
Iowa Central CC in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Where I started out after HS. The D coordinator was a student assistant when I was there and his brother was a teammate. The campus has grown and developed since then in ways you can’t imagine. Looks more like a 4 year college now than a typical juco. High end housing, dining, and other facilities. Also plays the top competition in the nation for Juco. I’ll send him a message with the kids Hudl link.
Update: it’s been sent
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I have a couple of questions.
Has your son seen this thread and/or is he aware of it?
His reaction?
Same question for hubby/dad if they know/have seen thread.
Has your son seen this thread and/or is he aware of it?
His reaction?
Same question for hubby/dad if they know/have seen thread.
Good luck to your son. You sound like a great Mom who only wants to see her son get an education and have fun in college. I think with you in his corner he will be just fine. Check out Staint Xavier University. This is a great small school with a really good coach. Coach Feminis has a really good program and he cares about his players.
Go Cougars!
Seems like a kid that a nearby, top notch D3 program would be all over. Check out UW-Whitewater, North Central, or IWU. Don't be scared off by the tuition $$$'s.
Look here as well - John Carroll U. Great school. Consistent top 25 D3 football program.
St. Thomas as well in Minnesota. Many Chicago kids.
Again - do not be scared of tuition list price. Plenty of merit scholarships as well as others
St. Thomas as well in Minnesota. Many Chicago kids.
Again - do not be scared of tuition list price. Plenty of merit scholarships as well as others
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Thanks again for all these great options! I think some of the sticker prices shocked us for the D3 schools, so good to know that maybe there is help with the tuition! Honestly, really appreciate all the advice I have gotten on this thread!
Be careful with the D3 tuition it’s usually academic and some other weird stuff. Some of the private guys on here know how to work around the tuition
constraints better than us public guys. NAIA can give full rides for the right player. If he is a stud and has good test scores he will get some nice offers to play.
If your son really likes one of the private D3's and the scholly offer doesn't knock your socks off, go to admissions and/or the coach and ask them to sweeten the pot. My son played at Wesleyan...it worked for us.
Good luck to your son. I'm a MW grad from the 70s, back when we used to beat Maine South. Its good to see the Warriors back on the map.
Nice to hear from a MW alumni! Was really a fun season and yes, WAY overdue! Go Warriors!
Saw Jake signed with ISU. Congrats and best of luck!
Thank you! We're very excited for Jake! The coaching staff is amazing at ISU and he felt right at home there. Such a great University and football program...we feel very blessed!
Thank you! So very proud of Jake. He worked so hard and never missed a single practice or game his entire 4 years of high school. Also wrestled and was a state qualifier soph and junior year and hopefully will make it to state this year too. He's a very humble kid and I'm extremely proud and happy he will be able to continue to play the game he loves so much!
Can you adopt me? Jake is very fortunate to have such a supportive parent. Good luck to Jake! I know everyone on this board will continue to follow his story.
Congrats to Jake on qualifying for the 3rd consecutive year for state wrestling.
I see Provi’s freshman phenom may get a crack at Mr. Bellizzi in round 2 of 220-lb class. Best of luck to both young men and all the other wrestlers this weekend.