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Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Talented Freshman Football Duo Honored, Watched And Breaking Records
October 18, 2011 | Football
It hasn't taken long for freshman football players Matt Costello and Chuck Dibilio to make an impact at Princeton. Both have already broken Princeton freshman records, and both were recognized in different ways Tuesday.
Dibilio, a running back from Nazareth, Pa., holds the single-game and single-season freshman rushing records, despite the fact that the season is only at the midway point. He set the single-game rushing record when he gained 147 yards at Hampton two weeks ago, and his current total of 401 rushing yards moves him past the former record of 348, set by Cameron Atkinson in 1999.
For his efforts in the first five games, Dibilio was named to the watch list for The Jerry Rice Award. This is the inaugural year for the award, which honors the outstanding freshman in the Football Championship Subdivision. The award is presented by The Sports Network and sponsored by Fathead.com.
"Chuck has worked hard to become an important part of our offense," head coach Bob Surace said. "As he continues to improve all aspects of the position, I think he can become a truly special player in the Ivy League for years to come."
Costello, a wide receiver from Everett, Mass., holds the freshman single-season record for total receptions with 18; the previous record was 17, set by Blair Morrison during the 2000 season. Morrison holds the single-season record for most receiving yards with 223, though Costello is only 11 yards behind that with five games remaining.
Costello is also one of five winners of the 2011 NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Award, given by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF).
"It is always rewarding to see one of our players be honored for their work both on and off the field," Surace said. "Like Chuck, Costello has worked hard and is deserving of this honor. He is a tough, hard-nosed player who is already an important part of the offense."
Costello is the second Princeton football player to win this award in as many years. Offensive lineman Max Coale earned the honor in 2010.
"With the NFF National High School Scholar-Athlete Awards, we annually strive to honor the absolute finest from the gridiron at the high school level," said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. "The accomplishments of this year's five honorees make us all proud, and their contributions both on and off the field set the standard for their peers to follow."
Below is Costello's bio from The National Football Foundation:
A remarkably focused student-athlete, Matt Costello excelled in all aspects of high school, producing a resume that won universal admiration from his peers, teachers and coaches at Everett High School and throughout Eastern Massachusetts.
"I have had the pleasure of coaching Matt for the past four years," said Everett head coach John DiBiaso. "During this period, Matt has excelled as a player, a student and most of all, as a person. Matt is genuinely a great kid and makes for a perfect recipient of this fine award."
Costello started three years at wide receiver and defensive back, and he was selected to the Boston Globe All-Division Team and All-Scholastic Team. The two time all-league honoree broke a state single-season record with 23 touchdown grabs, and he was named to the Massachusetts State Football Coaches All-State and the Boston Herald All-Scholastic teams as a senior. The most prolific receiver in Everett history, he holds school records for receptions and touchdown grabs. He earned honors as the Massachusetts' Gatorade Player of the Year while helping Everett to three consecutive league titles. A Mr. Football nominee by ESPN Boston, Costello played in the Shriners Football Classic, a high school all-star game for players hailing from Eastern Massachusetts.
Claiming a 4.52 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale, Costello graduated sixth out of 385 students at Everett. He was a member of the National Honor Society, Students Initiating Change and the Italian Club. He worked as a peer tutor and spent his summers coaching younger kids at the Everett Recreation Center. He was also an ambassador with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Association. A versatile athlete, Costello also excelled in basketball and baseball, earning all-star honors in both sports and playing on multiple league championships teams.
"Matt's football credentials speak for themselves," said NFF Jack Grinold/Eastern Massachusetts Chapter board member Ed Schluntz. "Being an All-Scholastic honoree in both Boston papers and also a member of the coaches' all-state team is an incredible achievement."
The son of Lenny Parsons and Rachelle Costello, he is enrolled at Princeton and plays wide receiver for the Tigers.