Feature: Vellano Leads Terrapin Defensive Front
9/27/2011 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 27, 2011
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By Sean Ellenby, Maryland Athletics Media Relations
Printed in the Maryland Gameday Program - Sept. 24
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - At the end of the annual Maryland Football Camp in the summer of 2007, Joe Vellano was unexpectedly called into former head coach Ralph Friedgen's office.
Prepared to begin his senior year of high school, Vellano entered Friedgen's office alongside his parents expecting nothing more than a polite thank you from the head coach and a message to keep in touch.
The young Vellano was shocked to learn, however, that Friedgen had summoned the budding defensive lineman to offer him a scholarship to play football at the University of Maryland. Vellano, a native of Rexford, N.Y., quickly made up his mind.
"I committed two days later after coming home and talking about it for a little bit," Vellano said. "It was awesome, kind of a dream come true."
Vellano's dream to play for the Terrapins began at a young age. His father, Paul, also a defensive lineman, was a first team Kodak All-American and two-time All-ACC selection for Maryland from 1971-1973.
Paul Sr. brought Vellano and his older brother, Paul Jr., to games at Byrd Stadium throughout their childhood in the 1990's.
"We were fans from the start," Vellano said. "We always used to come down to the games with my dad's friends."
Paul instilled more than just the Terrapin tradition in Vellano. As his coach from Pop Warner through high school, his father also infused in him a strong set of core values and characteristics.
"My father's influence was huge in terms of just going over technique and playing hard," said Vellano. "He taught me to have a coach-is-always-right mentality and about the importance of winning for the team."
Head coach Randy Edsall noticed Vellano's superior work ethic this past offseason and rewarded the junior by naming him captain along with seniors Andrew Gonnella, Davin Meggett, and Kenny Tate.
"I think it's great that Coach Edsall gave me the opportunity," Vellano said. "With a new staff, it showed that hard work pays off."
Despite being a current stalwart on the Terrapin defensive line, it took Vellano a bit of time to gain his starting role.
After redshirting his freshman year and then battling a foot injury through the first part of the 2009 season, the lineman realized he needed to change his approach at practice if he wanted to make an impact on the field.
"With seniors leaving, I realized somebody had to step up so I lifted hard and worked out hard and started taking practices seriously in that spring [of 2010]," Vellano said. "The way to get on the field was to treat practices as games, so I did that and it kind of clicked and I started getting my game going."
Vellano's dedication heading into his sophomore year was evident as he earned his first career start against Navy in the season-opener at M&T Bank Stadium.
Rejuvenated and excited, Vellano had the best game of his career, tallying career highs in tackles (10), solo stops (5), tackles for loss (3.0), and sacks (2.0). He never relinquished the starting position, starting all 13 games and leading the Terps with five sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss on the way to second team All-ACC honors.
As captain this season, Vellano has already made an immense impact defensively, particularly three weeks ago against Miami.
Down 14-13 to the Hurricanes with 47 seconds remaining before halftime, Maryland cornerback Cameron Chism stripped Miami running back Mike James. Vellano scooped up the fumble and chugged 30 yards for the touchdown.
"I fit my gap and was getting down the line running after the ball. It popped up in the air and I hit the sidelines," said Vellano with a huge grin. "I thought one of those guys was going to catch me so I was kind of looking back and just running as fast as I could to the end zone."
The score proved to be a sharp blow to the Hurricanes and Maryland used the momentum to propel itself to a marquee victory in front of a sold-out Byrd Stadium. Vellano believes that the win was an important one for both the team and Coach Edsall.
"It was a program win really," said Vellano. "I thought that with a new offense and a new defense, the win proved that [Coach Edsall's] system worked and everybody had bought in."
Vellano is encouraged with the direction of the program and, like many of his teammates, has set the bar high for the Terps this season.
"I really feel like the sky is the limit for this team," Vellano said. "I feel like if we come out and run the ball, pass the ball, play tough defense, and cause turnovers, then we can do some things. We've got a lot of athletes on both sides of the ball and on defense we've got 11 guys that can play."
The lineman is quick to make clear that the Terrapins are taking the season one game at a time, but he also has his eyes on a major prize come the end of November. "We have a next one in front of us mentality," said Vellano. "But ultimately we want to win the ACC."
