Walpole High senior Ryan Izzo has the opportunity to become the most prolific running back in state history. With 4,499 rushing yards entering his final year, Izzo stands 2,189 yards shy of Cedric Washington’s mark of 6,688. He is also 174 points shy of breaking the career record of 682 currently held by Nathan Sherr of Austin Prep.
But on the gridiron was not the only place where Izzo has excelled as a Rebel. He was a key component in the midfield during the Rebels’ run to the Division 2 state title last spring.
While professing a love for both sports, Izzo chose recently to verbally commit to play lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts. Izzo had 58 goals and 15 assists as a junior and has 93 goals for his career.
“I see myself enjoying (lacrosse) more in the future, but the experiences I got in high school were tremendous in both football and lacrosse, to win a Super Bowl and state championship in one season gives a lot of drive, hope and fun to both sports,” said Izzo, who will be a captain in both sports this year. “It’s hard to get away from one, and that’s what my biggest decision was – which (sport) I wanted to pick.
“Obviously, a lot of people thinking football for me based on the stats and the past couple years, but in the end I just saw myself playing lacrosse as a better choice.”
The decision is one he is happy to have in the rearview mirror.
“It’s good to get it out of the way, it’s a big decision on my part,” said Izzo. “I felt relieved after.”
He said it was over the summer while in Maryland competing in lacrosse camps that he made the decision that lacrosse, and not football, was the right sport for him. It was also during this time at the Champ Camp in late July that Izzo separated his right shoulder while scooping up a ground ball that leaves his status for the Sept. 11 opener at Framingham in doubt. He said he expects to learn more later in the week following a doctor’s appointment in which he hopes to be cleared to practice with pads.
According to Izzo, the scholarship would cover about one-third of the cost of a year at UMass. He said Richmond had offered a full scholarship to play football and that he contacted the football programs at Boston College, Connecticut and New Hampshire to inform them of his decision.
Walpole High senior Ryan Izzo has the opportunity to become the most prolific running back in state history. With 4,499 rushing yards entering his final year, Izzo stands 2,189 yards shy of Cedric Washington’s mark of 6,688. He is also 174 points shy of breaking the career record of 682 currently held by Nathan Sherr of Austin Prep.
But on the gridiron was not the only place where Izzo has excelled as a Rebel. He was a key component in the midfield during the Rebels’ run to the Division 2 state title last spring.
While professing a love for both sports, Izzo chose recently to verbally commit to play lacrosse at the University of Massachusetts. Izzo had 58 goals and 15 assists as a junior and has 93 goals for his career.
“I see myself enjoying (lacrosse) more in the future, but the experiences I got in high school were tremendous in both football and lacrosse, to win a Super Bowl and state championship in one season gives a lot of drive, hope and fun to both sports,” said Izzo, who will be a captain in both sports this year. “It’s hard to get away from one, and that’s what my biggest decision was – which (sport) I wanted to pick.
“Obviously, a lot of people thinking football for me based on the stats and the past couple years, but in the end I just saw myself playing lacrosse as a better choice.”
The decision is one he is happy to have in the rearview mirror.
“It’s good to get it out of the way, it’s a big decision on my part,” said Izzo. “I felt relieved after.”
He said it was over the summer while in Maryland competing in lacrosse camps that he made the decision that lacrosse, and not football, was the right sport for him. It was also during this time at the Champ Camp in late July that Izzo separated his right shoulder while scooping up a ground ball that leaves his status for the Sept. 11 opener at Framingham in doubt. He said he expects to learn more later in the week following a doctor’s appointment in which he hopes to be cleared to practice with pads.
According to Izzo, the scholarship would cover about one-third of the cost of a year at UMass. He said Richmond had offered a full scholarship to play football and that he contacted the football programs at Boston College, Connecticut and New Hampshire to inform them of his decision.
He said he entertained the idea of playing both football and lacrosse, but both football coach Kevin Morris and lacrosse coach Greg Cannella were looking for a full commitment to their respective program.
This gives the Rebels lacrosse team a pair of Division I players for next year as Pete Bowes, who will also be this year’s starting quarterback for Walpole, committed to Loyola (Md.).
Lacrosse coach Jason Andalo said he was happy that Izzo chose the sport that he thought would make him happier. When it came to helping the star midfielder with the recruiting process, Andalo a hands-off approach, not broaching the subject of playing at the next level until after the title run.
“After I heard from some schools at the end of our season, I just told Ryan, ‘If you think you would like to play college lacrosse, I think you can do that too, just let me know and I’ll help you out,’” said Andalo. “I kind of left the decision to Ryan. The fact that he picked lacrosse doesn’t really surprise me because I think he really had a lot of fun playing lacrosse last year.”
While football coach Barry Greener will have Izzo’s services for most, if not all, of the year, he wishes his star had simply waited before making up his mind.
“I still think he’s going to get offers in football, and if he gets a full ride in football versus a third or a half in lacrosse, I think he might go football,” said Greener. “We haven’t really sat down and discussed it. My interest is not to sway him to either football or lacrosse, my interest is that he has a great senior year here and he gets the best deal he can get doing what he wants to do.
“I don’t think it’s important what sport he plays, but that he gets to right place, that’s all I’m interested in. I’m not pro-football, I’m not anti-lacrosse, I’m not pro-lacrosse either. My honest opinion is he should keep both windows wide open and I’ve told him that, but its his future and he’s gotta do what he’s gotta do.”
As of yesterday, however, Izzo appears to have thought the process through.
“No regrets, not right now,” he said of the decision. “I’m sure I’ll miss everything I’m putting behind, but ultimately I think I’ll enjoy it.”
(Keith Pearson is Staff Writer for the Daily News Transcript. He can be reached at (781) 433-8371 or kpearson@cnc.com.)
