We may be closer to the end of last football season than we are to the kickoff to the next campaign, but preparations for the upcoming campaign are about to get back into full swing for some gridders, including Springfield College’s Max Nacewicz.

A former Newtown High School defensive standout, Nacewicz and his teammates, beginning next week, will participate in a month’s worth of spring drills and practices before a layoff of sorts leading into the August preseason.

By layoff, we’re talking no coaches or set on-field times, but plenty of hard work and strength-building is part of any serious athlete’s routine.

In the case of Nacewicz, a 6-foot-2, 255-pound linebacker, the work he puts in between games and during the offseason is substantial, according to both his Springfield coach, Mike DeLong, and his former coach, at Newtown High, Steve George.

“It’s like night and day,” Nacewicz said of comparing the level of commitment to the game he’s had to/been able to make in college as compared to high school.

For starters, the speed of the players on the field was a quick reminder to Nacewicz that he’s moved up a level after graduating from NHS in 2011. Then there’s his personal sacrifice and team requirements. During a typical day in the fall, the sport chews up eight hours of the schedule, Nacewicz said, for time watching film, meetings, practice, and workouts in the gym.

“It takes up a huge part of your day,” he notes.

But all of it is worth it for Nacewicz. After all, he loves football and his skill and desire to succeed have led to several significant honors.

Nacewicz was named to the 2014 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division III Coaches’ All-America Team. The applied exercise major was one of only 11 defensive players selected, including one of three linebackers from the entire nation to be honored.

Nacewicz became the 14th Springfield College football player to receive All-America recognition from the AFCA, which has selected an All-America team every year since 1945. Nacewicz is the first Springfield linebacker to earn AFCA All-America accolades since 1985.

The postseason honors have continued to roll in for Nacewicz, who put together one of the top seasons for a Springfield College defensive football player in program history this past season. In addition to garnering Liberty League All-Conference First-Team honors, he was chosen to the New England Football Writers Division II/III All-New England team and the D3football.com All-East Region Second Team, and was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, which is given to the top small college defensive player.

“He’s a gifted athlete. He brings great strength and speed to the field. He’s very athletic. You combine that with the fact he loves to play football, and that is what makes him such a good player,” DeLong said. “He plays the entire down hard.”

Nacewicz says his favorite parts of the game are “probably the competitiveness — the physicality. And it’s been part of my life since I was a little kid.” Nacewicz has played football since he was in second grade, starting out as a center.

He’s reached the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoffs twice with the Springfield, after getting a taste of the postseason at Newtown High, in the South-West Conference championship game.

Hard Work Pays Off

The path to success hasn’t been without some bumps (and bruises — actually a break) along the way.

After missing his junior season with a foot fracture, Nacewicz returned to the field this past fall and made a huge impact on the defensive side of the ball for the Pride. He logged 104 tackles, the seventh-highest single season total in program history. Additionally, Nacewicz posted 10.5 tackles-for-loss, including seven quarterback sacks.

Nacewicz received a medical hardship waiver, allowing for him to play another year at Springfield College, so he’ll have one more chance to tack onto his statistics this coming September.

“I feel like I haven’t even hit my potential yet as a football player,” Nacewicz said.

To date, Nacewicz is the Springfield football program’s all-time leader in sacks (27), tackles-for-loss (41), yards from tackles from loss (251), and yards from sacks (208).

“He’s dominant. He really is,” George said of his thoughts on Nacewicz after seeing some recent game action film of his former player.

“Max is as good a defensive player as we have seen,” DeLong adds. And that’s saying something given that DeLong has coached at Springfield since 1981, first as a defensive coordinator before taking over head coaching duties in 1984.

Nacewicz and his coach are hopeful that he’ll garner some attention from NFL scouts.

DeLong adds that Nacewicz’s work ethic and effort set a tremendous example and tempo for teammates.

“Max was one of the best players to come through Newtown,” said George, who is still in regular contact with his former player.

“He still works with our football players,” said the NHS coach, adding that Nacewicz runs the high school’s summer strength training program.

All of the hard work that goes into preparing for the regular season may be just that — hard work — but for Nacewicz, it’s just part of participating in a sport he enjoys.

“That’s what he loves. He loves football,” George said.