Pantale Names Top Three

Wayne, N.J., product Chris Pantale spent most of his summer visiting college campuses and trying to figure out which of the eleven programs that have offered him is the best fit for his future. Currently three schools are standing out for him and Pantale took some time with us recently to talk about each of those programs, as well as fill us in on which others have put offers on the table.

Chris Pantale has now been offered scholarships by Boston College, Virginia, Syracuse, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Cincinnati, UCLA and North Carolina State and while most schools are recruiting the 6-foot-5, 230-pound athlete at tight end, the Wolverines are the sole program who like him on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive end/stand-up linebacker. Pantale does hold three programs in high regard right now and took some time to talk about each one of them in depth.

“My favorites so far are Boston College, Virginia and Michigan,” Pantale stated. “I will probably take an official visit or two and then decide sometime after the season ends, but I am not 100-percent sure on that yet. Right now everything is a bit up in the air and I have not set things in stone, so I could change plans over the next few months.”

Michigan - “It’s just Michigan football! They’re always one of the top programs in the nation and it would be incredible to be a part of that type of a program and winning tradition. With Michigan it isn’t just football either, it is the education that you get while you’re there as they are one of the top academic schools in the country. I just got back from Ann Arbor which is a very pretty place and really felt like I could fit in there. I liked the coaching staff that I met and got a good vibe on campus.”

Boston College - “Boston College is another school with a really nice campus and the city is only about ten minutes away, so there is plenty to do if you go to school there. Academically, Boston College is definitely top-notch and I get along well with the coaching staff too.”

Virginia - “Again, another very nice campus just like the others. Virginia has a great college atmosphere and there is just so much support for the football team from the people on campus. They have a very tough, very prestigious academic presence and because they were the first school to offer me and have been in contact with me the most I probably feel most comfortable with their coaching staff right now.”

As a junior at Wayne Valley High School, Pantale registered 110 tackles, four sacks and three interceptions earning him first team All-Conference and All-Area honors as well as a second team bid for All-County at linebacker. He also caught 18 passes for 205 yards and four touchdowns.