MARLBORO, N.Y. — Marlboro High’s Sal Montaperto Jr., the 2024 Freeman Football Player of the Year his senior year, knew SUNY Brockport was the place for him almost from the moment he stepped on campus during his official visit last December.“I’m excited to be on the same team as him instead of having to face […]
MARLBORO, N.Y. — Marlboro High’s Sal Montaperto Jr., the 2024 Freeman Football Player of the Year his senior year, knew SUNY Brockport was the place for him almost from the moment he stepped on campus during his official visit last December.“I’m excited to be on the same team as him instead of having to face him,” Montaperto said.Although he missed three games due to an injury his senior season, Montaperto had 43 tackles from several defensive positions as the Dukes were 8-3 and finished runner-up to Port Jervis in the Section 9 Class B title game. He had seven tackles for losses and returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown in a 21-7 victory over Highland in a Class B playoff game.Montaperto said he has been recruited to play middle linebacker. SUNY Brockport’s defense allowed just 10.6 points a game in the regular season in 2024, ranking fourth nationally in Division III.“At first they (SUNY Brockport coaches) were wondering who this kid with the same name as the kicker was when I first contacted them,” Montaperto Jr. said. “Then they realized I was Sal’s younger cousin. They really liked Sal heading into his senior year, so heading into my junior season at Marlboro they wanted to know about me. I had a pretty successful junior season and we stayed in contact throughout the season and then I sent the coaches my film from summer camps. After my junior year, they made it known they wanted me on their team.”“Coach Mangone told me they liked my speed and my versatility at different positions,” Montaperto said. “In high school, I would go from outside linebacker to defensive end and middle linebacker. I’m happy now I can focus on one position at middle linebacker and get my talent to the highest level at one position.”Though Montaperto visited four other schools who were recruiting him, the Dukes’ star running back and linebacker said none of the others could match the warm feelings he had about SUNY Brockport.Montaperto officially committed to attend SUNY Brockport on Feb. 25. Montaperto will have half of his tuition paid with academic aid since Division III schools don’t give athletic scholarships.Following his official visit on Dec. 14, 2024, Montaperto received his first offer on the collegiate level from SUNY Brockport.“That offer felt so good, especially coming from that school since I liked Brockport so much,” Montaperto said.SUNY Brockport is coached by Jason Mangone, who has compiled an 81-31 record since taking over in 2013. The school earned berths in the NCAA Division III postseason playoffs three straight years starting in 2017.Montaperto rushed for a team-high 763 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Dukes as their primary runner last season. He averaged 8.5 yards per carry.Montaperto said he had been in contact with coaches at SUNY Brockport prior to his junior season in high school. He said the school was recruiting his cousin Sal Montaperto, who was SUNY Brockport’s starting kicker his freshman season by making 44 or 47 extra points and kicking six field goals. Sal Montaperto, who was one year ahead of Sal Montaperto Jr. at Marlboro, was named third-team all-conference following his freshman campaign at SUNY Brockport.Montaperto said former Dukes’ teammate Antonio Hickman is also a member of SUNY Brockport’s roster as a wide receiver. He also said he found out that Carroll Dolshun of Port Jervis will be a teammate of his at SUNY Brockport. Dolshun was a key member of Port Jervis’ state title team last fall. The Raiders have eliminated Marlboro the last three years in the Section 9 football playoffs.SUNY Brockport competes in the Empire 8 Athletic Conference in football. The Golden Eagles finished with an 8-3 record last season, earning a berth in an ECAC bowl game.Others schools that were interested in Montaperto that he visited were SUNY Cortland, Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, Western Connecticut University and Springfield College in Massachusetts.“I realized that Brockport just kind of felt like home for me,” Montaperto said in a phone interview with the Freeman. “I liked everything about Brockport from the coaching staff, the campus and the area. Honestly, it just felt like the spot for me.”
