Joe Cruz has grown since the last time you saw him on a football field for Sachem North. At 6-foot-6, 275-pounds he is one of the biggest linemen on Long Island heading into the shortened spring season.
Cruz, like thousands of student-athletes across the country, needs this crucial junior season to make an impression on college recruiters and programs. During the early phases of the pandemic when society was locked down, he was unable to lift weights or focus on speed and strength at his local training facility.
In recent months that changed and the prospects of developing a more complete highlight film, while filling out his monstrous frame, has become more possible.
“The upcoming spring season is very important for me,” he said. “Not playing in the fall has put a stop on the recruiting process. Playing and putting out a highlight tape is big.”
What’s also big is Cruz’s comparison to Sachem legend and former NFL lineman John “Jumbo” Elliott. Almost 40 years separate their junior seasons, but they share a similar build, disposition and drive. Jumbo was recruited to play at Michigan by Bo Schembechlar and then spent 14 seasons in the NFL.
“I think the comparison is great,” said Cruz, who is up for the task of impressing college coaches and carrying Sachem’s torch to the next level. “Being compared to one of the greats that played at Sachem is just awesome and right where I need to be.”
Longtime former Sachem head coach Fred Fusaro remembers the days of Jumbo working hard to get Division I attention and then finally making it to that level.
“Joe is the same body type that John was in high school,” said Fusaro, who saw him play as a sophomore. “They both had huge growth spurts and they both have long arms, which is important for offensive linemen. John had a little bit more girth, but Joe is not done growing.”
Cruz is a long way from winning bowl games and a Super Bowl, but so was Jumbo when he was a tall and lanky lineman trying to find his strength and stamina.
“Joe Cruz is the complete package,” said Sachem football head coach David Caputo. “His size, athleticism, toughness, and mental understanding of the game is superior. His frame has the ability to develop and carry more weight. As he continues to develop physically, he has not lost his athleticism and feet. It’s special to see a six-foot-six kid move the way he does.”
Cruz has started at offensive line since his freshman year, something achieved by only a handful of Sachem players in the last 60 years.
Not surprisingly, he has drawn early interest from Michigan, Texas, Tennessee, Syracuse, Alabama, and Rutgers.
“They all have said the same thing,” said Greg Lauri, Sachem’s assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. “They all love the way he runs, his athleticism and his length. They all want to see how he grows and develops, and they all want to see Joe be more of a road-grater in his run blocking.”
As a freshman he lined up against William Floyd’s Keith Winfrey, a Division I-AA player at Stony Brook now, and made an impression.
“Joe played his tail off that night,” said Lauri. “That was the night I realized that there was something different about Joe, he had the ‘it’ factor. Joe fought on every snap and graded out very well.”
Aside from his athleticism that allows him to bend like a tight end, he is also very patient in pass sets and uses his hands well, according to Lauri.
As a teammate and leader, Cruz has been a perfect example for Sachem players to follow during this time of deep adversity. Battling remote learning, school closures from COVID-19 cases, erratic workout schedules, the program has still used consistent messaging services on Google Hangouts to band together and Cruz is a present and thoughtful leader.
“Joe works hard at being a great teammate,” said Caputo. “Since he was a freshman starting on the varsity, other players have gravitated to his charisma. He is a fun kid to be around.”
Cam Lee, a team captain, said Cruz is approachable and a joy to be around.
“He’s a quiet, funny type of guy,” said Lee. “He doesn’t speak much, but when he does, he’s making people laugh and always brings some great positive energy to the team.”
“He is always pushing himself and his teammates to be the very best version of themselves,” said teammate Vin Giordano. “His positive attitude is infectious on and off the field.”
On the visibility front, he participated in the New York Prospects Top 100 Showcase as one of the top linemen in the state, worked out at the Elite V Showcase in October as one of the top 10 Long Island athletes invited and at the Armory Combine as a top offensive lineman.
“Joe is right up there as one of the best in the northeast,” said Marc Vitticore, founder of ProspectNYS.com.
Long Island has produced some outstanding Division I football players the last few years, including linemen like Shoreham-Wading River’s Ethan Wiederkehr, who plays at Northwestern, and Lindenhurst alum and Virginia lineman Olasunkonmi Agunloye. Cruz could be next.
“This spring season is vital for Joe’s visibility,” said Caputo. “We have no doubt he is a Division I scholarship athlete and our staff is committed to help him live his dream.”