Michael Campanaro said it was his easiest homework assignment.
His classroom: His family?s living room, where he sat on a big, plush sofa.
His text book: A 64-inch television.
His supplies: Four large pizzas and 10 large fries.
His study partners: Ten of his friends.
His task: Spend every Saturday watching college football games from across the country to see how he envisions himself playing on each team.
“My dad bought us the [cable television] package where I can watch pretty much every game in the country,” Campanaro said. “It?s fun to sit back and hang out with my friends and try to imagine where I would fit in with each team.”
But the reality for Campanaro, a star junior cornerback, receiver and running back at River Hill, is one day he?ll likely suit up for one of the teams he watches this season.
The 5-foot-10, 177-pound Campanaro watched Illinois against Missouri because he met with Ilinois coach Ron Zook this summer and became enamored with the team?s prolific, pass-oriented offense. He watched Notre Dame lose to Georgia Tech because he wanted to see how many of the Fighting Irish?s freshmen and sophomores played.
During eight hours in front of the television, Campanaro also watched portions of games featuring UCLA, Stanford, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Wisconsin, Washington State and Oregon?just to see if he?d be a good fit on each team.
“I see recruiting like a football game: The first half of it is about finding the right school for me,” Campanaro said. “The second half of it is going to the school and earning a spot on the field. I don?t know where I?m going to go yet, but I?ll decide before my senior year.”
Campanaro is one of the nation?s most talented juniors ? so good he joins Dunbar?s Tavon Austin and 22 other athletes nationwide asNike Underclassmen All-Americans. The do-it-all Campanaro can run 40 yards in 4.35 seconds, bench press 275 pounds and squat close to 500 pounds.
But what he did on the field last year to lead the Howard County champion Hawks (13-1) to their first Maryland 3A final was more impressive. As a cornerback, he made 66 tackles and three interceptions, and on offense, he posted 1,044 yards and 7 touchdowns on 120 carries and caught 26 passes for 601 yards and 8 touchdowns.
“This year, we need to find ways to make sure we get the ball in his hands,” said River Hill coach Brian Van Deusen said. “Because when we do, he makes huge plays.”
But Campanaro didn?t consider last year a success because the season ended terribly?with a 37-18 loss to Friendly of Prince George?s County in the Maryland 3A final at M&T Bank Stadium.
“That?s all we?ve thought about since it happened, and this year we want to get back there and win the state championship because we know we?ve got the talent it takes,” Campanaro said. “This needs to be our year.”
River Hill, which was reclassified by the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association as a 2A school for the next two years because its enrollment did not increase as quickly as many of the state?s other schools. Still, the Hawks return many key players from last year?s team, making them the favorite to win the Clarksville school?s first state football title.
“A lot of what River Hill does starts with Campanaro,” said Mount Hebron coach Larry Luthe, whose team opens the season against the Hawks on Friday. “When we play them, we are going to put nine guys near the line of scrimmage and see if they can still run the ball. We?re going to find out if their quarterback can throw the ball. Michael Campanaro is just too smooth and too fast to try to cover one-on-one. He?s legit.”
