Profile 2004 - Santino Panico (DB)

Libertyville's Santino Panico is a sleeper prospect that has been working out with Notre Dame bound defensive back, Tommy Zbikowski.

2004 Prospect To Watch - Santino Panico

High School - Libertyville, Illinois

Height, Weight, Speed - 6-foot-1, 205-pounds, 4.5

Honors - Three-year varsity letter winner.

Scholarship Offers - No offers at this time.

Favorites - Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana, Washington and Oregon.

Comments - Panico is a sleeper prospect to keep an eye on in 2003. Santino has two very solid teammates that will get looks as well this year. Panico has been working out with Notre Dame bound defensive back Tommy Zbikowksi on a daily basis.

Panico’s unle, Valentino Panico has been Tommy Zbikowski’s boxing trainer for the past couple of years.

“I have a ton of respect for Tommy,” said Panico. “That’s why I wear #9 on the football field. I work out with Tommy and want to get the same kind of work ethic as he has.

“I’ve been starting to hear from a lot of schools. Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, Penn State, Oregon, Cincinnati and a lot of the Ivy League schools are writing hand-written letters.

“My favorites are Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Notre Dame, Indiana, Washington and Oregon.”

Panico projects as a strong or free safety at the next level. Several schools will get an up close look at Santino this summer as he’ll be camping at Notre Dame, Penn State, Purdue and Iowa.

On the offensive side of the ball as a junior, Panico had 46 carries for 650 yards and he had 25 receptions for 450 yards with a combined 13 touchdowns.