Crespi football's Fauria ready to make tall statement
BY LINDSAY CZARNECKI, Special to the Daily News
Article Last Updated: 08/26/2007 10:35:56 PM PDT
Joseph Fauria of Crespi of Encino stands a good head above the majority of his teammates.
At 6-foot-7 and 255 pounds, his frame is intimidating at the high school level. And the Celts' biggest kid is by far the loudest. Never short of words, he always has something to say.
"The biggest expectation for him is to come out and be a positive leader for this team. ... He's got a great energy about him and when he comes out and plays the way he can he brings a lot of great energy to this team, verbally and physically," coach Jeremiah Ross said.
The chatty football player is the area's top tight end for the upcoming season and is prepped to guide his team in every way possible. Last season he finished with 22 receptions for 329yards and fourtouchdowns while finishing as an All-Serra League selection.
"He's very vocal, very upbeat, and loves to play the game," Crespi quarterback Kevin Prince said. "He'll always catch it and he'll get as (as many yards afterward) as he can."
Fauria, pronounced FOUR-ee-ay, is ranked the 12thhigh school player in the nation at his position by the recruiting Web site Scout.com.
"I'm really trying to work on leading with my actions more so than my vocals so if people aren't listening they're seeing and if they're not seeing they're listening," Fauria said. "I'm really a vocal guy and everybody knows that. I like to have fun but I like to be serious so whenever you hear somebody screaming it's probably Joe."
In June he used the voice so well known to his teammates to verbally commit to Notre Dame. His leadership skills and his passion for football are qualities he has had the chance to share partially because of his family roots. His uncle Christian, who also was a standout at Crespi, is a 13-year NFL veteran and is always there to offer advice.
"Some people say it may give me a false hope, like I take advantage of it because I'm so close to it, but it gives me a realization that it's possible to get there," Fauria said. "But looking at my uncle, it takes a lot of hard work. He worked really hard to get where he is now and I want to be just like him, if not a little better."
The confidence he evokes is what has made him into the best tight end Ross said he has ever been around. Fauria has improved his strength, adding 25 pounds in the offseason, and has made improvements in his blocking and route running.
Opponents will attempt to disrupt him this season with extra coverage, but, "he's still 6-7, has tremendous hands and is pretty hard to guard," Ross said.