Never Satisfied: Dylan Classi

By Craig Sachson
PrincetonTigersFootball.com

Dylan Classi was leaving the practice field following a Princeton football camp in June of 2017 when then-offensive coordinator Sean Gleeson stopped him to ask a simple question.

"I had already been offered," Classi remembers. "He asked me what I was waiting for. Let's make this happen."

Classi did make it happen then, and he hasn't stopped.

• • •

In front of a nationally televised audience last Friday night, Classi broke into the Princeton record book by recording his 100th career reception (and then some) in a 35-19 home win over Brown that kept the 23rd-ranked Tigers undefeated on the season. The Englewood Cliffs, NJ, native has had plenty of strong days in Orange and Black, but none as spectacular as that.

Classi caught nine passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns in the win, good enough to earn him Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week honors. He had third-quarter touchdown receptions of 34 and 22 yards to give Princeton full control in a game that had been tight throughout the first half.

He left the field with 106 career catches, 14th most in program history, and 1,702 receiving yards, eighth most for any Princeton player. He could break into the Top 5 in receiving yards by the end of the upcoming Harvard game, and he has a good chance to end his career in Princeton's top ten for receptions.

He has improved his numbers each season, though the most dramatic jump of all is likely to come this year. While experience certainly helps, Classi has a basic life philosophy that keeps him grounded and looking ahead.

"This could be a blessing and a curse, but I'm never satisfied," he said. "There is always something I wish I could have done better. I'm never complacent."

Head coach Bob Surace has seen plenty of top wideouts at Princeton. He coached eight of the 16 receivers who have caught at least 100 passes here, and he believes Classi belongs in the conversation with any of this elite group.

"Dylan has been one of the best and most complete wide receivers in Princeton history," he said. "He is an outstanding blocker, precise route runner, excellent with the ball in space, and flies under the radar as a deep threat because he is so reliable."

It might be odd for the head coach to mention blocking before catching passes for somebody with 106 (and counting) career receptions, but when Classi talked about his biggest improvements this season, his first focus was blocking as well.

"There hasn't been a specific area I have tried to hone in on, it's been everything," Classi said. "I take a lot of pride in the run game, and blocking. I hang my hat on that. I know if I'm blocking hard on run plays and we spring a run for an extra 10-15 yards, I've done my job. Making big plays down the field, being better with the ball in my hands, I have pretty much worked on every aspect of my game."

It has showed this season. Classi averaged 34.5 catches per game as a starter each of the last two seasons, and he already has 30 at the midway point this year. He has helped Princeton put together the second-ranked passing offense and third-ranked scoring offense in the league, and he has the Tigers undefeated as they head into the most dangerous part of their schedule, starting this Friday night at Harvard (7 pm, ESPNU).

Being in this position — in championship competition – is all he's known at Princeton. He learned it early on, and now he's leading that drive in 2022.

• • •

When Classi accepted his offer following that June camp, he became the first member of (what was then) the Princeton Class of 2021. He became something of a recruiter on his own, reaching out to other undecided peers to get them to join the Princeton program. The Tigers were coming off a 2016 title, and when they were freshmen in 2018, they were part of one of the program's most historic seasons. Classi, who caught seven passes during his first Ivy title season, soaked it all in.

"It becomes what you know," he said. "My biggest takeaway from that year was how to approach each day, each game, everything you do with a certain mentality. The leaders of that team are like superheroes to me. I was an 18-year-old who didn't know my left from my right, so I just wanted to take after them. If Jesper [Hortsed] and Steve [Carlson] did something, I did it too."

For example, both caught more than 100 passes and won multiple Ivy League titles in their careers. Classi, ever the student, did both as well.

Classi's path to 100 has included catches from four different starting quarterbacks, each of whom he worked hard with to build chemistry. The connection with current starter Blake Stenstrom was formed during this past summer, when they worked out together as often as possible. That drive to improve isn't just in that duo, though. It's in the DNA of the whole team, and it is a key reason they stand atop the Ivy League through five games.

"I think we're right where we need to be," Classi said. "There is always room for improvement, but that shouldn't take away from the good things we've done. It's easy to be excited when you have a team of guys excited about going to practice and getting better. We have guys who will wake up Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and will come to practice excited to getting better."

Daily improvements, both small and large, have brought both Classi and Princeton to where they currently stand. It's a good place, but by no means is it the end of the road for either. Classi, a sociology major who will consider his post-Princeton football options when the season ends, knows that his focus has to remain on the here and now.

After all, that's how he has gotten to this point.

"If you told me 4-5 years ago I would [catch 100 passes], I wouldn't have believed you," Classi said. "It's an honor to have my name with some of the great football players who come before me, but I'm never content with where I am. I'm always trying to get better."

Trying, and succeeding.

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