Sal Conaboy to MARYLAND
BY JOBY FAWCETT, Staff Writer
Abington Heights guard Sal Conaboy is the latest area football player to receive recruiting attention and scholarship offers from major Division I programs. And after a lengthy recruiting process, the senior has settled on the school that offered him first -- Maryland.
In getting to know Sal during this offseason and really talking with him, I could tell that he was taking the process very seriously and put his entire heart into selecting a school. He did all of the right things taking all of the visits and really appreciating this opportunity.
Maryland seems like a good fit for him, and in talking with him he really enjoyed his visits.
Now he'll join a group of recent high school standouts from the LFC who are Division I players. This fall, there will be many local standouts playing FBS football, including West Scranton's Hubie Graham at Illinois, Eric Shrive and Matt McGloin at Penn State, Lakeland's Joe Tuzze at Akron, Lackawanna Trail's Richard Fricke and Lakeland's Vince Tuzze at Temple and others.
Here are the schools that offered Conaboy.
Sal Conaboy
Abington Heights High School
6-5, 255 pounds
Note: 2008 Times-Tribune All-Region Guard; Lackawanna Football Conference Division I First-Team Guard; Has received a grade of 78 by ESPN's Scouts, Inc.
VERBAL COMMITMENT TO:
Maryland Terrapins
Atlantic Coast Conference
2008 Overall: 8-5. Conference: 4-4
Noteworthy: Defeated Nevada in Humanitarian Bowl, 42-35.
Written offers from:
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Big Ten Conference
2008 Overall: 7-6. Conference: 3-5
Noteworthy: Lost to Kansas, 42-21 in Insight Bowl
Temple Owls
Mid-American Conference
2008 Overall: 5-7. Conference: 4-4
Noteworthy: Scranton graduate Phil Bartocci and Lackawanna Trail's Richard Fricke are on the roster.
West Virginia Mountaineers
Big East Conference
2008 Overall: 9-4. Conference: 5-2
Noteworthy: Scranton Prep graduate Glen Gress is a defensive tackle for the Mountaineers.
Pittsburgh Panthers
Big East Conference
2008 Overall: 9-4. Conference: 5-2
Noteworthy: Lakeland graduate Justin Virbitsky is a tight end with the Panthers.
Syracuse Orange
Big East
2008 Overall: 3-9. Conference: 1-6
Noteworthy: Former Mid Valley defensive lineman Dave Rebar started at Syracuse.
Vanderbilt Commodores
Southeastern Conference
2008 Overall: 7-6. Conference: 4-4
Noteworthy: Defeated Boston College, 16-14, in Music City Bowl.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Big East Conference
2008 Overall: 8-5. Conference: 5-2.
Noteworthy: Already have a verbal commitment from Betim Buiari, a 6-3, 285-pounder from Secaucus, N.J.
New Mexico State Aggies
Western Athletic Conference
2008 Overall: 3-9. Conference: 1-7
Noteworthy: Jason Lenzmeier is beginning his first season as the team's offensive line coach.
Illinois Fighting Illini
Big Ten
2008 Overall: 5-7. Conference: 3-5.
Noteworthy: West Scranton graduate Hubie Graham is a tight end for the Illini.
Akron Zips
Mid-America Conference
2008 Overall: 5-7. Conference: 3-5.
Noteworthy: Lakeland's Joe Tuzze will be in his final season with the Zips in the fall.
Connecticut Huskies
Big East Conference
2008 Overall: 8-5. Conference: 3-4
Noteworthy: Won the International Bowl over the University of Buffalo.
Michigan State Spartans
Big Ten Conference
2008 Overall: 9-4. Conference: 6-2
Noteworthy: Already has five verbal commitments for the recruiting class of 2010.
Marshall Thundering Herd
Conference USA
2008 Overall: 4-8. Conference: 3-5
Noteworthy: Former school of NFL players, Chad Penninton, Byron Leftwich and Randy Moss.
Oregon Ducks
PAC 10
2008 Overall: 10-3. Conference: 7-2
Noteworthy: Has four verbal commitments from top players in the country.
Verbal offer from:
Buffalo Bulls
Mid-American Conference
2008 Overall: 8-6. Conference: 5-3
Noteworthy: Dunmore graduate Thomas Drewes is a defensive lineman for the MAC champions.
Eastern Michigan Eagles
Mid-American Conference
2008 Overall: 3-9. Conference: 2-6
Noteworthy: Eagles are scheduled to play Michigan on Sept. 19 this fall.