I spoke with Colorado defensive end early enrollee Dante Sparaco, and he was probably the best interview of the series with how passionate he is about Colorado.
What day are you enrolling at Colorado?
Sparaco: "I move in on the 12th and the classes don't start until the following Tuesday (Jan 17)."
What is your height/weight right now?
Sparaco: "I'm 6-foot-5, 245-pounds."
Did you drop weight? (Rivals profile lists him at 265-pounds)
Sparaco: "Yeah, I was weighing about 260. I was at 21% body fat. I got a diet plan and a workout plan. I've been running a lot and working on my speed. I'm down to 15% body fat now. I'm maintaining 245 pretty easily."
Did the Colorado staff want you to drop the weight?
Sparaco: "I don't know if they wanted it; it's just something that happened as I got into the college level workout plan and nutrition. I think it's a good thing with me playing the outside backer in a 4-3 scheme. I think it was an added benefit."
How excited are you to finally enroll?
Sparaco: "I'm really excited to start my career and finally be enrolled in college. It's been my lifelong dream to play college football, and it's finally here. I remember thinking as a freshman in high school that it was going to take forever. I'm excited for this new chapter of my life."
You're from New Mexico, moved to Colorado in 6th grade, and then moved out to Florida for your senior year at IMG Academy. What did you learn at IMG? What was that experience like for you?
Sparaco: "It was a great experience. I accomplished exactly what I wanted to accomplish. Not only getting better on the field with my technique and speed of the game, I got to practice against the best in the nation every single day in practice. Also, the classes were really well structured."
Was playing at IMG a lot different than playing high school ball in Colorado?
Sparaco: "Oh yeah. Everything from the weight room to the practices to the locker room - it was like a year of college football, especially with the talent we had. Not only the games, but in practice going against guys like Robert Hainsey every single day. We were playing college guys in a college level environment. It was a year of college, in my opinion, and I feel like it's prepared me."
What were you thinking when coach Leavitt left Colorado?
Sparaco: "It sucks. Coach Leavitt is a great guy, and I hope he does well at Oregon. I wish him all the best. I loved how intense he was and how much passion he brought, but one thing I've learned in recruiting is that you can't commit to a school because of coaches. You have no idea who is going to be there in a month, a year, or two years. You really have to commit to a school based on the tradition, the academics and how you feel about the school. I feel good about my decision to go to Colorado because I didn't commit to because of the coaches. I committed because it's Colorado."
What's your message to Buff Nation? What do you want them to know about you?
Sparaco: "I just want them to stay positive and keep bringing that great Colorado spirit that they bring in week in and week out. We're turning the ship around."
(Video below is from August)
Click Here for Sparaco's Senior Highlights
What day are you enrolling at Colorado?
Sparaco: "I move in on the 12th and the classes don't start until the following Tuesday (Jan 17)."
What is your height/weight right now?
Sparaco: "I'm 6-foot-5, 245-pounds."
Did you drop weight? (Rivals profile lists him at 265-pounds)
Sparaco: "Yeah, I was weighing about 260. I was at 21% body fat. I got a diet plan and a workout plan. I've been running a lot and working on my speed. I'm down to 15% body fat now. I'm maintaining 245 pretty easily."
Did the Colorado staff want you to drop the weight?
Sparaco: "I don't know if they wanted it; it's just something that happened as I got into the college level workout plan and nutrition. I think it's a good thing with me playing the outside backer in a 4-3 scheme. I think it was an added benefit."
How excited are you to finally enroll?
Sparaco: "I'm really excited to start my career and finally be enrolled in college. It's been my lifelong dream to play college football, and it's finally here. I remember thinking as a freshman in high school that it was going to take forever. I'm excited for this new chapter of my life."
You're from New Mexico, moved to Colorado in 6th grade, and then moved out to Florida for your senior year at IMG Academy. What did you learn at IMG? What was that experience like for you?
Sparaco: "It was a great experience. I accomplished exactly what I wanted to accomplish. Not only getting better on the field with my technique and speed of the game, I got to practice against the best in the nation every single day in practice. Also, the classes were really well structured."
Was playing at IMG a lot different than playing high school ball in Colorado?
Sparaco: "Oh yeah. Everything from the weight room to the practices to the locker room - it was like a year of college football, especially with the talent we had. Not only the games, but in practice going against guys like Robert Hainsey every single day. We were playing college guys in a college level environment. It was a year of college, in my opinion, and I feel like it's prepared me."
What were you thinking when coach Leavitt left Colorado?
Sparaco: "It sucks. Coach Leavitt is a great guy, and I hope he does well at Oregon. I wish him all the best. I loved how intense he was and how much passion he brought, but one thing I've learned in recruiting is that you can't commit to a school because of coaches. You have no idea who is going to be there in a month, a year, or two years. You really have to commit to a school based on the tradition, the academics and how you feel about the school. I feel good about my decision to go to Colorado because I didn't commit to because of the coaches. I committed because it's Colorado."
What's your message to Buff Nation? What do you want them to know about you?
Sparaco: "I just want them to stay positive and keep bringing that great Colorado spirit that they bring in week in and week out. We're turning the ship around."
(Video below is from August)
Click Here for Sparaco's Senior Highlights
