By Kim J. Harmon

 

What would it be like to prepare for your senior year of high school football without worrying about where you are going to go to college and without being distracted by a parade of collegiate coaches and their assistants?

Dan Cascone is going to find out.

Last week, the lumbering lineman committed himself to the University of Wisconsin, a major program in the Big Ten, which includes the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa, Minnesota, Purdue and Ohio State.

The official signing period is in February.

“I was putting a lot of thought into college,” said Cascone, 17, who recorded 54 solo tackles as a junior, assisted in 29 tackles, and made six sacks, “but it all happened so fast.”

Last year, the Newtown and Sheehan High School football programs got together for a one-day pre-season scrimmage/practice. Cascone played so well that the Shelton High head coach – who has a contact at Wisconsin – dropped Cascone’s name when he was asked about Connecticut talent.

“It’s always been one of those dreams in the back of my head,” said Cascone, who tips the scales at 305 pounds – average by collegiate standards. “My dad said as long as I had the heart, I could do anywhere I wanted.”

And anywhere is the University of Wisconsin, which finished 7-6 overall last year under head coach Barry Alvarez.

“He is a soft-spoken man,” said Cascone, the son of John and Cindy Cascone. “He wasn’t so high on me because I tested poorly (in the workout), but coach (John) Palermo likes the way I play and convinced him.”

Penn State, the University of Massachusetts, Central Connecticut, the University of Connecticut, and Iowa – all Division I programs – gave Cascone a look.

A couple weeks ago, Cascone went out to Wisconsin to participate in drills with other recruits. He had to bench press a bunch of weight, showcase his vertical leap, run the 40, and knock helmets with offensive lineman Andy Kemp of Menasha, Wisconsin (all 6-foot-6 and 317 pounds of him). Cascone’s 40 on turf might have been a little slow, but the collision with Kemp went pretty well.

And when the Badgers offered him the scholarship, there was no question about accepting.

“When they first started recruiting me,” said Cascone, “I went down there and was blown away. It was great.”

Although the questions about when and if he can play in college have been answered, Cascone still has a lot of work to do. While he may be a mountain compared to many other lineman in the South-West Conference, he will be just one of many, many 300-pound linemen in the Big Ten.

“It’s a whole new game up there,” said Cascone, who purchased a workout regimen from the university (NCAA rules prohibit the program from giving away anything free to new recruits). “It’s strange – I’m going to be medium-sized. But I think it will make me work hard and go after it.”

He will go after it this fall, too, in the hopes of leading the Nighthawks to an SWC championship.

“I can really look forward to the year now,” said Cascone. “We still have business to settle in this town. It’s not even the talent. This team is more bonded than ever and we’re going to really play as a team.”