2014 DE closing in on offers
2014 defensive end Joe Vitiello of Somerville (N.J.) Immaculata has played opposite four-star Tashawn Bower during the 2012 season, and along the way he has begun to make a name for himself. Interest continues to mount for the junior as he may be closing in on a few offers.
"North Carolina is contacting me a lot now and Penn State also," said Vitiello. "North Carolina wants me to take a visit soon, as well as Rutgers, Maryland, Northwestern and Boston College."
Advertisement
While he hopes to take a few more visits after his season is complete, to this point he has already been to Rutgers a few times this fall.
"I like the atmosphere at RU," he said. "And the coaches like me a lot. I feel they're very interested in me."
Vitiello, 6-foot-5 and 248 pounds, was asked if the recent announcement of the move to the Big Ten by Rutgers makes him look at them any differently.
"It makes me more interested, because they are playing better teams," he said. "Rutgers is taking big steps in their program."
The next likely visit for Vitiello will be to North Carolina.
"I hope to see a nice campus and I know I would get a great education there," he said. "I want to see the people there and how that college works."
Vitiello will have to wait for further visits until his junior season is complete.
"My team is in the semifinals and we play this Friday against Montclair-Kimberly," he said. "I've been playing very well. I missed a few games earlier in the season, but I feel 100% now and every game I've been improving in stats, as well as intensity."
To this point, Vitiello has totaled six sacks, while adding eight receptions and two touchdowns at tight end.
"My pass rush and take-off have improved this season," he said. "My vision of where the ball is improved, and also my strength and my speed."