Fiammetta returns to his Old Stomping Grounds
Local NFL player works with youngsters on field where his football career began
Originally published June 22, 2010


By John Cannon
News-Post Staff

Tony Fiammetta, shown throwing a pass to a youth player Monday in Walkersville, played in 10 games — as a fullback and on special teams — for the Carolina Panthers last season, establishing himself in the NFL.

Walkersville -- Carolina Panthers fullback Tony Fiammetta stood on Walkersville High School's practice field on Monday.
The field wasn't nearly as prestigious as NFL stadiums Fiammetta has played in. Heck, it wasn't even as prestigious as the venues it was tucked between -- Walkersville 's stadium and baseball diamond.

But for Fiammetta, the practice field wasn't just some nondescript tract of grass -- it literally contained his football roots.

"I was 8 years old and I started playing right on this field right here," said Fiammetta, pointing to a lonely backstop in the back corner of the field. "The first time I played football was right over by that backstop, and it's pretty crazy being back here."

Fiammetta, a Walkersville graduate, showed up at his old stomping grounds Monday to visit the Walkersville Championship Youth Football Camp. He gave tips and inspiration to the players -- there were about 85 of them, ages 7 to 14.

With a calm, down-to-Earth demeanor, he didn't come off like some unapproachable pro athlete. He gladly posed for pictures with campers like Brendan Cassels and Nick Hawkins, a 5-foot-11, 13-year-old whom Fiammetta called a "man-child" as they had their picture snapped.

"When you come back and see people who are excited for you and people who are following you," Fiammetta said, "it's pretty humbling to realize how far I have come from when I was in high school and when I was playing in the junior leagues. Seeing my dream become a reality."

Once the dream becomes a reality, and an athlete reaches the highest rung on any sport's ladder, the next step is to progress at that elite level. And Fiammetta has just such an opportunity.

After getting just two official starts as a rookie last season, Fiammetta looks like the favorite for the No. 1 fullback spot following the departure of 10-year veteran Brad Hoover.

"Right now, I'm the starter," Fiammetta said. "I'm going to take that and run with it and establish myself as a big-time player."

At Carolina's offseason training activities, which concluded last Wednesday, Fiammetta apparently didn't hurt his chances of being the top option to clear paths this season for running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.

"I took all the reps with the No. 1s and I feel 10 times more comfortable than before," Fiammetta said. "I'm just happy that I could get out there and really show my skill set."

Fiammetta will have competition from rookie Rashawn Jackson, an undrafted free agent fullback from the University of Virginia. But Fiammetta's the kind of player who thinks competition makes him better.

One thing's for sure -- Fiammetta has the edge in experience over the rookie. Selected by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2009 Draft, Fiammetta spent last season getting used to the NFL. The speed was relentless, the playbook was complex. Fiammetta called it a "trial by error" process.

Playing in 10 games, he never got any carries or caught any passes. Still, he got a feel for what it was like to play with and against

the world's best football players. A highlight came Sept. 28, when Fiammetta started in place of the injured Hoover at Dallas on Monday Night Football.

"I looked around the huddle and I saw Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith and Jordan Gross, Pro Bowlers that I've been watching on TV for years, and was like, 'I can't believe I'm here,'" Fiammetta said. "It's gone from that to feeling more comfortable in that situation. So, I'm looking forward and I just feel better about everything."

He bonded with teammates like Hoover, tight ends Dante Rosario and Gary Barnidge and running backs Stewart and Williams.

Last season, Fiammetta established himself as a reliable player on specials teams -- something that looks good on any NFL player's r?sum?. But the ambitious Fiammetta wants to add to his repertoire.

"Looking into the future, I want to be a guy who can do anything," Fiammetta said.

No matter where he's playing, a strong mental approach is essential. His one year of service in the NFL should help in that department, too.

"That's the main thing I want to do -- play with the mind of a veteran, not a rookie," Fiammetta said.

Fiammetta, who resides in Charlotte, N.C., will be working diligently to prepare for training camp, which begins July 28, after spending this week in Frederick County. He'll work out four or five times a week, doing plenty of running and keeping muscle on his huge, 6-foot, 245-pound frame. He'll also watch what he eats -- he stresses organic foods.

"I was telling my dad earlier, even when you're on vacation, you're not on vacation," Fiammetta said. "You've always got to stay ready."

Still, he had time to visit the Walkersville camp and he'll return Thursday, when he'll sign autographs.

"It was a thrill to me to find out that he wanted to come back," said Walkersville varsity football coach Joe Polce, who runs the camp and coached Fiammetta for two years as an assistant for the Lions. "It's great that somebody who's made it to the NFL is still willing to come back and help his hometown and give something back to the football program he played in."

J.J. Cassels, Brendan's mother, chose this camp over a Penn State camp when she heard Fiammetta would show up at his alma mater to help out.

Seeing someone from their own community who made football's top level meant a lot to campers like 10-year-olds Zack Mathis, C.J. Barndollar and Josh Polce. Fiammetta instructed players on running back fundamentals, such as how to properly grip a football, and he shouted encouragement as campers went through drills.

Fiammetta's presence also inspired Walkersville players who served as counselors, including Quentin Ezell, a rising senior who's played power back and fullback for the Lions.

"It was great just to see an NFL running back that came from here," Ezell said. "He's a down-to-Earth guy. If you think he's in the NFL, you might think he's like above all of you, but he's really cool, easy to talk to, a fun guy."

Like Ezell, the speedy Jose Depadua is another rising senior who worked at the camp and is expected to excel at running back this season. What were his impressions of Fiammetta?

"He's pretty big," Depadua said. "I wasn't expecting him to be that big."

A lot bigger than Fiammetta was when he first set foot on that practice field as an 8-year-old football novice.

Dave Lomonico
MDHigh.com Publisher

WALKERSVILLE - After watching a two-hour workout session, complete with weight lifting and cardiovascular conditioning, Walkersville coach Joe Polce approached a reporter. The Lions' new head honcho vehemently shook the reporter's hand, thanking him for taking an interest his team.

"It was awfully nice of you to come out," Polce said in his Western Maryland draw. "I don't think anyone's ever done this for Walkersville before."

Well, probably not in the last 23 years anyway. As traffic turns off Franklin Street into Walkersville, there's a prominent sign that reads, "Welcome to Walkersville, Home of Class B MD State Football Champs 87." That's the last - and only - state title the Lions have won.

Since then they've been mediocre at best, hovering around .500 or so every year, seemingly content with their place in the lower-middle of the Frederick County hierarchy. It's fairly clear that Walkersville has really never aspired to greatness. After all, they haven't made the playoffs since 2004, and even that resulted in a first-round exit. No wonder reporters don't stop by.

But suddenly there's an evident buzz in Lions country (and no, it's not the buzz from those annoying vuvuzela horns at the World Cup). The alumni are upbeat, the administration is excited, the players are hungry. It's a feeling that hasn't been here in 23 years.

Of course, that's what happens when mediocrity is no longer acceptable. That's what happens when you hire a hard-nosed coach who compiled a 33-14 record at a local power, Urbana. That's what happens when Joe Polce is in charge.

"Coach Polce has been great for the program," said senior running back-defensive back Jose Depadua. "He has everyone thinking we can win. Everyone just seems really hungry and ready to play."

That became clear the minute the reporter strode into the weight room. He expected maybe 20-30 kids to be there, this being a smaller school.

Try doubling that number. The Lions looked more like Thomas Johnson and Urbana, the local class 4A schools, than a tiny 2A program.

"Everyone is in the weight room - attendance is crazy," said senior fullback-linebacker Quentin Ezell. "Coach is taking a no-nonsense approach with working out and he's really making sure we're concentrating on everything. He has us going hard in 7-on7 drills, he has us running the right routes, setting the right blocks … we never jog to drills and we're always coming off the ball hard. The focus is unreal."

After Polce's four-year stint at Urbana he left the school in order to be closer to his home near Walkersville. Last year he served as an assistant under Ryan Hines. During his brief stint as defensive coordinator he identified a few areas he'd like to tweak. He thought the players could be a little more disciplined, more committed and more responsible.

When Hines bolted for Urbana after the season, Polce sprung into action.

"Last year the guys were real loose and I don't think they had intensity," Polce said. "They were sitting around in the weight room and weren't always focused in practice.

"So when I came in I said, 'This is how we're going to do it. And you're either going to work out all the time, run all the time, be on time, be focused and pay attention to detail. If you don't, you're not going to a part of this.'"

Evidently the squad liked what they heard. Even though most of them enjoyed playing under Hines, who led them to a 6-4 record last year, they felt they'd underachieved.

In almost every game Walkersville was either winning or tied at halftime. Three of their four losses were winnable games - the loss to Linganore was a given - but they let their leads slip away in the second half. Good teams finish the job. Mediocre ones find ways to lose.

"We didn't all actually believe last year," Depadua said. "We said we did, and we played hard, but when something went wrong, it seemed like we choked."

Depadua pointed to the agonizing loss to Middletown in the season finale. A playoff spot was riding on the outcome. Once again Walkersville played well early and held a 14-6 halftime lead. But they made a few key second half mistakes that cost them the game.

Middletown went to the playoffs. The Lions went home.

"We had a talented, athletic group last year, but they weren't really confident," Polce said. "To be successful you really need to believe you can win. You need to make big plays at big times. You need to finish. This year we'll do a better job in crunch time because we're going to be better prepared."

They'll also have a good group of players, too, which always helps. Walkersville returns about 13 starters from last year, including a glut of athletic skill players and all five starting offensive linemen. Their only key loss was quarterback Jeremy Mussleman.

Defensively, Walkersville experienced a renaissance in 2009, recording three shutouts after not having any since 2004. With Polce's penchant for confusing opponents with multiple fronts, combined with a physical, attacking style, the Lions should put up similar numbers in 2010.

And offensively, the thunder and lightning combination of Division I stars Ezell and Depadua -- who will be running behind that experienced line -- will strike fear in every opponent.

"It just seems like everything is cliquing and coming together for us," Ezell said. "We have a lot of skill, good team unity and we're focused. Walkersville has been under the radar the last few years, but this year we're putting this team back on top. Hopefully people will know our names before it's all said and done."

When it's all said and done, maybe Walkersville can replace that sign off Franklin Street, the one that glorifies a state champion from the Regan era. Polce is only in his first year, but he and his players plan on giving that sign a little update: "Welcome to Walkersville, Home of Class 2A MD State Football Champs, 2010."

Is it possible with 2A powers like Douglass, Gwynn Park and Eastern Tech to contend with? Tough to say. But Polce has his players believing.

"We can be the class that pushes Walkersville back to the stop," Depadua said. "We won a championship in '87 and we want that back again."


Projected Depth Chart

Offense

QB - Josh Kutchey*
HB - Jose Depadua
FB - Quentin Ezell
WR - Jacob Miller, Nick Bowen, Xavier Stewart
OL - 3 seniors, two juniors, all starters… Kevin Crouse, B.J. Sullivan, Jay Dennis, Matt Hawkins, Justin Maggi, Ty Tucker*, Jeremy Wiand*

Defense

DL - John "Fuzzie" Tseng, Richard Johnson*, Kevin Crouse, B.J. Sullivan, Jay Dennis, Matt Hawkins, Richard Johnson*
LB - Mike Kelley, Quentin Ezell, Cameron Farr, Xavier Stewart
DB - Jacob Miller, Nick Bowen, Jose Depadua, Forrest Parker*

* = Newcomer

Jose's article from MD High can be seen at:
MD High Jose Depadua

Just a few weeks ago, Walkersville's Jose Depadua received his first scholarship offer from Division I-AA school Bryant. But on Monday, the speedy cornerback officially reached the top level of college football.

"An Army recruiter [John Brock] came to talk to me at and my teammate, Quentin Ezell and at the end our conversation he said, 'I just wanted to let you know you guys know you have an offer from Army and the papers will be in the mail,'" said the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Depadua. "That just felt great. There haven't been many D-I prospects out of Walkersville, so to be one of them feels really special."

Depadua said that Army isn't necessarily recruiting him as a cornerback. His speed and versatility could pay dividends on both sides of the ball.

"He liked my speed and thought I was an excellent all-around player," Depadua said. "He asked me what position I preferred and I said it didn't matter as long as I got to play football."

Of course, the service academies are different than most colleges. Not only is the student life different with training, uniforms, curfew, early wake-up and the strict discipline, but after graduation there is the mandatory five-year service commitment. Would Depadua be OK with an Army life?

"I guess I wouldn't mind, but right now let's say I might not consider it because of the commitment and all that goes into being in the Army," Depadua said. "I hope to get a few more options. But if this was my one D-I option, I would definitely look further into it and see if Army is the place for me."

Depadua is considering a campus visit, but "isn't sure yet" of his plans. He said that so many schools have invited him to one-days he needs to choose which ones he can attend.

In the meantime, he'll continue to court interested schools. He mentioned that Connecticut, Maryland, Navy, Cornell and Delaware among others have shown legitimate interest.

"I think since I got this first D-I offer more will start coming in now," Depadua said. "They'll see I'm a good player and can play Division I football."

Check out Quentin's Article at MD High by clicking on this link MDHighQuentin Ezell

When sizing up Walkersville's Quentin Ezell, opponents take one look at his compact, husky build and peg him as an interior lineman or maybe a blocking fullback. No way, they assume, could this kid be a running back.

But then the game starts.

"Usually they underestimate me at first," said the 5-foot-10, 220-pound Ezell, who fell just shy of 1,000 yards and scored 17 touchdowns in only eight games last year. "Most people don't expect a 220 guy to run a 4.5 [40-yard dash]. Unfortunately, most teams we play have film on me now and they've figured it out. If not, they do after a couple big runs."

Ezell laughed just thinking about one of his more memorable runs. It was at the end of the year and Walkersville was pitted against eventual state champion Catoctin.

On one of the first drives Ezell carried the ball on an inside trap. A Catoctin linebacker immediately stuffed the hole and wrapped Ezell up. But the big, bruising runner shrugged him off, bounced outside, broke two more tackles and then sprinted away from two secondary players. Two safeties jumped on his back, but he carried them across the goal line for a touchdown.

"Catoctin was a great team with a great defense and he ran right through them," said Walkersville coach Joe Polce. "He was chucking guys everywhere."

Ezell is a poor man's Jamal Lewis - and that's a compliment. Lewis (5-11, 240) has the same bullish build Ezell has. And, just like Ezell, many scouts initially thought the former Ravens star looked more like a fullback than a running back. But then Lewis ran a 4.38 40 at the NFL Combine. Suddenly, he became the hottest running back prospect in America. Ezell is about 20 pounds lighter and a few tenths of a second slower than Lewis, but the concept is still the same.

"I've always been bigger than most kids, and when I was younger people thought I was the big, slow kid," Ezell said. "I used to race people as a joke, and everyone just assumed they could beat me. But then I'd end up smoking them. I don't know how -- I guess I was just naturally fast."

Make no mistake: Ezell's game is more about power than speed. He's a threat to score on any play, but he's best at grinding out yards and wearing down defenses with his rugged inside runs.

"He's just a real strong kid," Polce said. "Like a rock of muscle - a bruising-style runner. He's tough, there's no doubt about it."



Unlike his speed, which Ezell says is a natural phenomenon, his strength results from hours of daily weight room work. Ezell bench-presses 315 pounds and squats well over 400, putting him on equal footing with the best interior linemen in the Monacacy Valley Athletic League.

"My dad always tells me, 'You can be good, but someone else is working 10 times harder and is probably 10 times better than you,'" Ezell said. "So that keeps me motivated. I'm always trying to keep up with that next guy, trying to get bigger and better."

Of course, weight-room work isn't the only way "to get bigger and better." Ezell also runs track and plays lacrosse, making him a rare three-sport athlete. Some critics say playing so many sports takes away from perfecting one in-particular. But Ezell disagrees.

"Track helps with speed, obviously," Ezell said. "And lacrosse -- I play defense - helps in so many different ways. You have to be able to move laterally and change direction quickly. You have to have good hand-eye coordination. You have to have endurance. You have to be able to take a hit. Bring it all together and it makes you a better football player."

Ezell has indeed become a better football player. The problem is he's not yet great. Ezell openly admits he needs to work on his footwork, his agility and his balance in order to be a more complete runner.

One area Polce would like to see Ezell improve is his initial acceleration. Ezell is like a Ford Mustang: It takes him a few seconds to build up speed, but once he gets going he can fly.

"He needs to get a little quicker with his first step," Polce said. "Guys that had success stopping him got to him before he got going. Once he gets a head of steam he's gone, but he needs to get to that point quicker."

Those little shortcomings are probably the reason Ezell hasn't received a BCS scholarship offer yet (he has one from Army). Some recruiters think he's fast enough and strong enough to play linebacker. But he's not quite tall enough. Other scouts think he's strong enough and big enough to play running back. But he's not quite fast enough.

In other words, he's one of those dreaded "tweeners."



"You know, I just have to roll with the punches and keep my head up," Ezell said. "I'm sure one offer will come in eventually. I'd love to be a D-I guy - that's always the goal. But I-AA might be more realistic."

Ezell might be selling himself short, according to Polce. The coach truly believes Ezell has what it takes to play Division I football.

"I've been around for a good while and seen plenty of [Division I] players," Polce said. "I know he's got the talent and he's going to work hard to get there. The kid can really play."

Ezell's been snubbed in the past. But time and again he's proven people wrong. Can the Walkersville locomotive do it one more time?

"It's my senior year and I want to go out with a bang," Ezell said. "I out to show scouts what I can do."