Sparaco strongly considering Buffs
It has been eight months now since Dante Sparaco earned a scholarship offer from the Buffaloes. The "big athlete" prospect from Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek has continued to keep in contact with numerous coaches from Colorado's coaching staff, and he plans to take a trip up to Boulder next weekend for a special recruiting event.
“I am excited to see the facilities now that they are finished,” said Sparaco of his upcoming unofficial visit to Colorado. “I am excited to see the coaches again, too. They are always fun to talk to. Boulder is just a pretty place. I enjoy being up there.”
Running backs coach Darian Hagan, co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini and defensive line coach Jim Jeffcoat all stopped by Cherry Creek earlier this winter, prior to signing day for the Class of 2016. They have made Sparaco and his teammate Jonathan Van Diest feel like top priorities from the Class of 2017.
“CU was my first offer from a power five program and they have done a good job of selling me on the program. They talk about how it is close to home, and how Boulder is the best college town in the nation,” Sparaco said. “They have great brand new facilities, and great coaches, and they are selling me on the fact the program is on the rise.”
Princeton, Columbia, Colorado State, Air Force and Utah State have also offered Sparaco, and he has heard from coaches at California and Stanford. He knows what he wants in a school, and that includes the ability study Neuroscience in college.
“Right now when I look at schools, I look at it in the light of wanting to find the best place where I can get a good education and play big time football, balancing both,” Sparaco said. “I don't want to go somewhere where I have to sacrifice my education and I also don't want to go somewhere where I have to sacrifice the ability to play big time football. I also want to go somewhere where I'll be happy living for four years and my parents can come see all my games. That is what I am focusing on with recruiting.”
After starring as a quarterback at Glenwood Springs as a prep underclassman, Sparaco played primarily as a blocking tight end during his junior campaign at Cherry Creek. He is not exactly sure what his role will be for the Bruins in 2016.
“My goal is to just play football and have fun,” Sparaco said of his upcoming senior season. “I think sometimes people can lose sight of why we actually play the sport. It is easy to get caught up in all these offers and wondering who has what. I just want to go out there during my last high school season and have fun. We'll see what comes of it.”
Sparaco, who currently stands 6-foot-4, 253-pounds, worked out as a defensive lineman and tight end at one of the Buffaloes' camps in Boulder last June. It was his performance at that camp that prompted Mike MacIntyre to extend an offer.
“They have told me they could see me playing outside 'backer, they could see me playing defensive end, or they could see me playing tight end, even as a slot guy,” Sparaco explained. “They haven't really put a label on exactly what I'd be playing for them.”
