Commitment Report: Max Giannini (Park-2020)
is a Park of Cottage Grove OLB/RB who I have been tracking for a while now and whose commitment announcement I was excitedly awaiting. The 6’0, 185 lber. is coming off a senior season in which he was named his…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Readingis a Park of Cottage Grove OLB/RB who I have been tracking for a while now and whose commitment announcement I was excitedly awaiting. The 6’0, 185 lber. is coming off a senior season in which he was named his districts-the Suburban Maroon (5A)- Defensive Player of the Year. Also voted All-Conference and All-District, the playmaker held Northern Sun offers from Upper Iowa University, MSU-Moorhead, Concordia-St. Paul, and the now defunct UMN Crookston Golden Eagles after visiting South Dakota State University, the University of Northern Iowa, and North Dakota on gameday or junior day visits. I was pumped when the news broke on my twitter that Giannini committed to Concordia-St. Paul and some of my former Olaf coaches, as well as Head Coach Shannon Currier. CSP just completed a pleasantly surprising and promising 6-5 season with big wins against the University of Sioux Falls and OT win at Bemidji State. I was fortunate enough to have Giannini give me and Northstar Football News some of his time for a few questions regarding his prep career at Park, his recruitment process, and his commitment to CSP. Congratulations and enjoy, Max! Hudl: http://www.hudl.com/v/2CJXbP
NFN: Hello and congratulations on the commitment, Max! Concordia-St. Paul is a great D2 program with some MN ballers. Please begin by telling us a little bit about the recruiting process from your perspective as well as well as some cool parts of the process.
Giannini: “Well the recruiting process as a whole can be a lot of fun, but I also feel it is misinterpreted. I’ve dreamed of getting college offers since I was in 3rd grade, it was all I ever talked about, so when I started getting them of course it was so amazing, but at the same time, It gets really stressful. Every coach in the NSIC treated me with so much respect and it’s just hard to have to make a decision when everyone is treating you so well. I started getting recruited a few games into my junior year when I started making a couple of big plays here and there as a undersized linebacker, and I feel like that is really what made people catch attention to me. I was extremely undersized to be playing LB, but I had the nose for the ball to be playing that spot.
Giannini after his All-District award ceremony.And like I said, I’ve dreamed of getting a scholarship offer since 3rd grade, so when the first college coach hit me up, I was in awe, its an indescribable feeling. So much joy, but then also you want so much more, so it’s also just more motivation to work even harder. Some very interesting parts of recruiting for me was really just the in season phone calls every once in a while, you could tell that the schools needed more time to evaluate you because I only had one year of varsity film going into my senior year, but then you could alos feel at the same time these schools wanted you, just had to pull the trigger on it.”
NFN: Interesting! So what stood out to you about Concordia-St. Paul and Coach Shannon Currier? What were some important factors to CSP that made you commit?
Giannini: “What made me commit to CSP and Coach Currier was when I was at my official visit it felt like I was a kid in a candy store. I was having the time of my life. Every coach was so genuine talking with me and my parents. Knowing that this visit isn’t all about “pushing their program” to try to get us to commit. They just wanted us to have fun, enjoy ourselves, and let us make the decision for us. I found that very special. Coach Currier wasn’t ever scared to reach out, Coach just has a contagious smile. He makes my parents feel safe to let me be in his hands for 4-5 years. He tells you the truth about why they are recruiting you and for what reasons, he doesn’t BS around it. He is a good man who admits he isn’t perfect, admits that he has made mistakes. And I honor that. Another thing about CSP is I knew I wanted to be close to home, close to family. So just being 20-30 minutes away from home feels nice. Family is extremely important to me. Another thing, is I’ve been to many Concordia games, and nothing in this world looks more fun than playing for that defense. Every guy is so juiced up and fired up waiting to hit someone!! I love it.”
NFN: Glad to hear it. What do you like about playing football in MN? Did that factor into the process at all?
Giannini: “Personally, I really like playing football in MN, especially with there being so many D2 schools in the MN area. I feel it helped my recruiting process because all the schools are not super far from my high school. So it was easier for recruiters to find you and things like that, I also really love the chilly weather games near the end of the season. No feeling like it! That’s why I’m staying home with the Bears in MN!”
NFN: Oh yeah! Finish by telling us a little about your senior year as well as Park’s 2019!
Giannini: “Personally, I felt Park had a good season, Especially with it being head coach Rick Fryklund’s first season as head coach, it was really nerveracking bringing in a new head coach my senior season. But right away he sat me down and told me to trust the process. And I believed him. He always did what was best for me and the rest of our team. He taught us life. Not just Xs and Os. personally I thought I did very well especially being my first season and mike linebacker, I really got after it and made some big plays, but overall just had so much fun with the kids that I grew up with. I had some plays and some hits that I’m sure the community of Cottage Grove wont ever forget!”
It was a pleasure talking to Max, and I wish him the best in his NSIC career and I’m looking forward to watching him prove more doubters wrong.