Nick Gargiulo credits Ivy League for preparing him for South Carolina
The Ivy League will always be best known for having some of the most prestigious academic universities in the world. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t producing talent when it comes to football.
Since arriving at South Carolina, Yale transfer offensive lineman Nick Gargiulo has quickly made a name for himself. He’s earned what will likely be a starting role on the Gamecocks’ offensive line as well as the respect of his teammates.
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“Nick Gargiulo is the heart and soul of our offensive line,” said offensive lineman Sidney Fugar. “When it comes to the nitty-gritty, when it comes to leadership, and when it comes to bringing us all together, we all count on Nick.”
On paper, Gargiulo certainly looks the role of an offensive lineman in the SEC. Standing at 6-5, 327 pounds, he exhibits a combination of power and speed that few rarely possess at the position. It’s a style of play that he credits to his four years at Yale.
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“I think coming down here, I put a lot of respect on the Ivy League,” said Gargiulo, who served as Yale’s only captain last season. “I think you can see that with the number of NFL prospects they produce now. If you look back ten years (ago), it probably wasn’t the same. The talent level has increased there. That’s tough football and it’s the same as it is down here.”
All-time, more than 300 former Ivy League players have appeared in NFL games, with 75 percent of them being drafted. But it’s not just the number of Ivy Leaguers going up in the league. Former Ivy League players are also making an impactful difference. For a second straight year, Yale product Foye Oluokun led the NFL in tackles. This marked the first time a player led the NFL in tackles in consecutive seasons since 1992. While San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk, a Harvard product, earned his seventh straight Pro Bowl nomination.
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“I tried to explain it to a couple of buddies that maybe five or six guys in the Ivy League could come down here and compete for a starting spot. But here, it’s all 11 and they’re here for a reason. I think the speed is a little faster, the strength is (there) more, but I came from a hard-nosed program.”
