by Lem Satterfield
(See videos highlights and interviews below)
River
Hill's eighth-year coach Brian Van Deusen, whose Hawks won their first
state title, called his 5-foot-10, 180-pound versatile player, Michael
Campanaro, "an all-around great player," and, "probably the best big
play threat we have ever had."
Campanaro's father, Attillio, an
assistant to Van Deusen whom the player said, "has coached me just
about my whole life," told Michael, "I knew very on that you were very
athletic, and that you had ability, that you had great coordination,
and that you had desire -- all of those things."
Michael
Campanaro's mother, Lisa, said of her youngest of three sons, "he
believes in himself, and he inspires that in his teammates to believe
in themselves and in their goals, and he's going to do something really
special."
Today, as of a few minutes ago, Wake Forest University is calling Michael Campanaro it newest scholarship football committment.
Campanaro,
who is 27-1 in a River Hill football uniform, and who helped to key the
Hawks' run at last year's Class 2A state championship with a 14-0
record after being Class 3A state runners-up the season before at 13-1,
has committed to a full scholarship to play for Wake Forest after he
graduates in the spring of 2009.
"After my senior year, I'm
going to be attending Wake Forest. I think it's going to be a fun
time. I think that it's the right fit for me," said Campanaro, who was
named The DigitalSports Overall Player of The Year for Howard County.
"With
their academics, it's a no-brainer. They're up there with some of the
Ivy League Schools. When I went down there, the feel was right, the
campus, and the coaching staff, definitely," Campanaro said.
"What
really attracted me was that Spread Offense, that's big for me. And
that slot, you know, running back. I talked to a lot of their coaches,
and they have a lot of big plans for me," Campanaro said. "I just feel
like this is the right fit for me, and the right school, and I can't
wait to start at that school."
And then, Campanaro added, "but I
still have one more year left at River Hill," which he want to help to
become a two-time state football champion.
The University of
North Carolina, Northwestern, Akron and Towson also had offered
scholarships, and Notre Dame, Syracuse, Connecticut, Maryland, Duke
also were high considerations for Campanaro.
In addition, Campanaro had received letters from Notre Dame, USC, Northwestern, Illinois, Rutgers and Oregon, among others.
"Each
school has been great. I'm definitely going to have a few tough phone
calls to make because I developed such great relationships with so many
different schools," said Michael Campanaro.
"I visited
probably have of these schools, and I've been to a lot of different
ones," Campanaro told DigitalSports on April 13, at his Clarkville home
as he sat at his dining room table covered with the many letters from
the variety of colleges and universities. "But obviously, I can only go
to one."
Wake Forest "offered him as a running back or a slot
back," said Campanaro's father, Attilio, in February, adding, "We have
visited twice, and it could be a great fit for Mike on and off of the
field."
Campanaro, who, earlier this year, became the first
Maryland player to be named to participate in next year's U.S. Army
All-American Bowl, said he "really had a special bond with Wake Forest
and their coaching staff."
"I have Wake Forest's letter, and
it's handwritten. I feel that that school's shown the most love for
me," Campanaro said. "I'd like to thank my family, my parents,
definitely, because they've been with me throughout the whole ride and
the recruiting process."
Campanaro's selection for that game
followed an excellent perform at a seven-hour-long combine one day
before being on hand at The Alamo Dome for a first-hand view of the
nationally-televised, U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 5.
Campanaro
was considered among the top 60 performers at the combine, based on the
reccomendations of US Army selection committee.
This past fall,
Campanaro led the Hawks to a 14-0 record that included a state
record-tying 11 shutouts and ended with a Class 2A state title-winning,
14-7 victory over Eastern Tech of Baltimore County.
Offensively,
Campanaro rushed for 1,820 yards and 22 touchdowns on 205 carries, and
caught 15 passes for 366 yards and six more scores for a Hawks' team
that outscored its opposition by a combined, 551-to-21.
Campanaro,
who also threw a touchdown pass, was part of a three-pronged backfield
that included Zach Martin and Malek Redd, and which generated 4,701
rushing yards and 57 touchdowns. The Hawks scored 551 points.
As a defensive back, Campanaro was part of a unit that did not allow a touchdown pass during the entire season.
Campanaro
intercepted four passes, recovered four fumbles and made 35 of his 51
tackles by himself as the Hawks allowed only 21 points.
Campanaro, who bench presses 290 pounds, clocked as low as a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at a number of camps last summer.
As
a sophomore, Campanaro racked up 2,022 all-purpose yards for 20
touchdowns, leading the Hawks to a 13-1 record on the way to a Class 3A
state runner-up finish to Friendly of Prince George's County.
Defensively, Campanaro made six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.
"I think my coach, Coach Van, letting me play as a sophomore, that really got me out there," said Campanaro.
"I
was able to go on recruiting trips and getting invited to things
because he gave me the chance to play, and I had a lot of film and
people saw what I could do as a sophomore. And that really helped me
out a lot."
Last summer, Campanaro attended a number of camps
and combines. He officially ran times that were below a 4.4-second
40-yard dash on four different occasions.
During a camp at the Unversity of Illinois, Campanaro clocked an all-time low of a 4.35-seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Those
efforts were the result of Campanaro's committment, since this past
January, to working with the Hawks' strength coach, Tom Gruneberg as
well as weight-training guru, Joseph Haden, whose sons, Josh, and Joe,
were members of Friendly's state title-winning squad.
On the way
toward winning their fifth straight Howard County League title, the
Hawks improved to 50-4 against the county since the start of the 2003
season, having won 27 of their past 28 games --including last year's
13-1 mark.
In addition, the Hawks raised their county league
winning streak to 25 games on the way toward earning their fifth
straight playoff berth.
Campanaro never has experienced a loss
at River Hill, where the Hawks have a 21-game winning streak. Their
last last loss in front of their home crowd was against league rival
Long Reach, 15-14 on Oct. 29, 2005.
Mike Campanaro's career statistics, at a glance:
2006
Sophomore Statistics
Nike Underclassmen 1st Team All American
Selected "All-State Honorable Mention" Defensive Back - Football
Writers
Selected "All-Metro 1st Team" Defensive Back - Baltimore Examiner
Selected "All-Metro 2nd Team" Defensive Back - Baltimore Sun
Selected "All-County 1st Team" Running Back - Washington Post
Selected "All-County 1st Team" Defensive Back - Baltimore Sun
Selected "All-County 1st Team" All Purpose Back - Howard County Times
Offensive Season Stats (Team MVP)
Rushing - 120 for 1,044 yds (8.7 yards per carry), 7 TDs
Receiving - 26 for 601 yds (23.1 yards per carry), 8 TDs
Defensive Season Stats : 66 Tackles, 2 Tackles for lost yardage, 3 INTs (2TDs), 11 passes broken up, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 for a TD
Kickoff/Punt Return Season Stats : Punt
Returns - 13 for 298 yds (22.9 per carry), 2TDs Kick Returns - 9 for
179 yds
Set School Record: 2,022 All-Purpose Yards in 1st varsity season
2007 Junior Year
Statistics
Offensive Season Stats :
Rushing - 203 carries for 1,820 yds, 22 TDs
Receiving - 16 receptions for 439 yds, 6 TDs
Passing - 2 for 2 for 97 yds, TD
Defensive Season Stats :
51 Tackles, 6 Tackles for lost yardage, 3 Sacks, 4 INT
*Special Teams:
Returns - 656 yards, 2 TDs
*2007 Junior Year Post
Season Honors*
1st Team All Consensus All State - DB
1st Team All Met Baltimore Sun - RB
1st Team All Met Washington Post - DB
Baltimore Examiner - Defensive Player of The Year
Howard County Coaches -- Overall Player of The Year
Digital
Sports -- Overall Howard County Player of Year
Gatorade -- Maryland Player of the Year (1 of 3 finalists)
*River Hill Records Set 14-0 (1st State
Championship)*
Rushing Yards -- 1, 820
Longest TD Run -- 87 yards
Most Rushing yards in a Game -- 253
Most Yards Total Offense -- 2310
Most Yards Career -- 3,955
Most All Purpose Yards -- 2,881
All Purpose Yards Game 300 (twice)
Most TD's season -- 30
Most TD's Career -- 50
Punt Returns for TD -- 4
Longest Punt Return -86 yards
Points
Scored
In a game, 2007 -- 30
For the year 2007
-- 180
Career - 294
Most
Fumble Recoveries in a game -- 2
