Sachem East football star honored with major awards at Suffolk Football Coaches dinner.
Sachem East senior Danny Carroll was named the top lineman and overall defensive player in the county by the Suffolk County Football Coaches Association at a ceremony on Monday, December 4.
Carroll took home the prestigious honors of the Zellner Award, which is given annually to the top lineman, and the Burnett Award, which is given to the top overall defensive player.
He is the first Sachem East player to win the Zellner Award, and the second player to win the Burnett Award since Steve Casali did so in 2012.
Carroll had 80 total tackles this year and played both the offensive and defensive lines. He was the main force on a Sachem East team that made the Division I playoffs.
“He shuts down any run plays between the tackles,” Sachem East coach Anthony Gambino told Newsday. “He forces double-teams, and that opens things up for the rest of the defense.”
Aside from his physical ability, he was also a leader on and off the field.
“This year I was a little more vocal as a leader, but I just always made sure I showed up on time, never missed practiced or fundraisers,” Carroll told Newsday. “I always wanted the guys to know it’s the right thing to do. I saw both of my brothers go through the program and learned how the leaders on the good teams went about things, and if everyone did the right thing, we could get somewhere special.”
Carroll was also All-Long Island, All-County and All-Division this season.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro