The Boston Globe
By Andrew McDougall
Domenic Cozier was not going to wait for his big break. The Milford teen chose instead to chase it down.
The summer before senior year is a critical period for high school football players with college aspirations, especially in New England. Few prospects are able to lure top programs to the Northeast, away from the hotbeds of the South and West.
In order to catch the eye of major college coaches, many players opt to pack the family car and travel far and wide in hopes of securing that elusive scholarship.
Unlike his peers, however, Cozier took a bus, on a seven-day tour.
“I thought that was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” said the 18-year-old running back, a rising senior at Milton Academy. “Being from Massachusetts, we have to go out . . . for them to notice us. Even if we have the talent, we still have to go out to them.”
The trip, organized by Florida-based Gain Sports, took the 5-foot-8 Cozier and several other prospects to eight states and 15 universities in Football Bowl Subdivision conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, SEC). The schools included Clemson, North Carolina State, West Virginia, and Old Dominion.
“I thought it really exposed me to these big colleges,” Cozier said, “and I think it’ll really help me in the future” in vying for a scholarship from Division 1 programs.
He was able to tour Louisville and Wake Forest, and chat with coaches at Penn State and Vanderbilt, but it was a 7-on-7 scrimmage at Maryland that may have been the biggest benefit to Cozier.
JONATHAN WIGGS/THE BOSTON GLOBE
Domenic Cozier made a favorable impression with his workout at the University of Maryland.
As opposed to a typical summer football camp environment, which focuses on skills-testing drills, the 7-on-7 event allowed Cozier to put his vision and 4.4-second time in the 40-yard dash on display in game-like settings.
Maryland defensive backs coach Darrell Perkins told Cozier he loved what he saw. Cozier is a special talent, he said, and they would certainly be in touch. The Terrapins have recruited a running back similar in size to Cozier.
“It’s really exciting. It’s one of the most exciting processes of my life,” Cozier said. “At some points it gets stressful, but it’s for the game you love.”
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