SWAMPSCOTT — It was a strong junior season for Swampscott’s Doyle Delano, from making plays at Blocksidge Field on the gridiron to competing this spring on the track and field team. The rising senior has caught the eye of several college programs that are keeping tabs on Delano in hopes of landing his signature at the next level for football.
Since February, Delano has competed at multiple football camps and showcases, and what has stood out to many is his elite athleticism, which has helped him earn seven offers to date.
“It’s been an amazing process. I really enjoy building relationships with the coaches. They pave the path for my future,” Delano said. “It’s also helpful going through this process that I’ll be able to pass on knowledge to my younger teammates who will be starting the process soon.”
It wasn’t smooth sailing, as Delano missed his entire sophomore season due to a broken collarbone that required surgery.
“Pushing through adversity,” Delano said. “I unfortunately missed my entire sophomore season. I think that really drove me to just be a better athlete, but also a better person, and not take things for granted.”
“Coach [Peter] Bush is always telling us that if we’re not in the game we have to be a sponge. We have to absorb everything, the plays, the spirit, and just lift everyone up because at the end of the day, we’re all a team,” Delano said.
When Delano was cleared for his junior year, he made the most of it. A versatile player, he lined up on the edge but also played linebacker, totaling eight sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Of his 39 tackles, 28 were solo.
Now heading into his senior season, Delano is excited to use another offseason to continue improving mentally and physically.
“I’m mainly focusing on speed. Nowadays, speed is everything in college football,” Delano said. “In addition to speed, I’m going to continue to get stronger. On top of that, just continuing to learn the game. I know a lot having played it for so long, but continuing to gain more knowledge is very important.”
To help with his speed, Delano also competed on the track and field team.
“It’s a huge upside using track to help with football. The spring training every day helps build muscle memory of running and staying in shape,” Delano said. “In addition, building relationships with kids on the team is important for the development of everyone’s athletic capability.”
When asked what he hopes college coaches know about him beyond his physical profile, Delano pointed to being a “people person” who cares deeply about the program he represents.
“Wearing that Swampscott name across your chest and representing the town and keeping the tradition of being a winner alive,” Delano said. “It means a lot to keep the tradition going and not let anyone down.”
“I hope they see my character. I’m a big people person and love relationship building,” Delano said. “I hope they see the level of spirit that I have to be able to play for the town of Swampscott.”
