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Recruiting Wrap

Boenzi improving on and off the field

Posted by: Jeremy Werner

Wednesday, September 30, 2009 8:48 PM

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Though he's a girthy 6-foot-3, 290 pounds, Frank Boenzi sports a slim number. Unlike most defensive lineman, the Geneva (Ill.) defensive tackle ditched the wide numbers usually left for lineman and wears No. 7.

"Of course, (it's slimming)," Boenzi said. "It's tighter and makes me look a little bigger on the field."

Boenzi has had the number since his sophomore year when he was brought up to the varsity level. Geneva used him as a fullback in the goal-line situations, so he needed an eligible number.

"The number kind of stuck after that," Boenzi said. "It's a good number. I like it too because how many defensive linemen where a single-digit number? It kind of makes it unique in a way."

Though his number may be small, Boenzi has been a big part of Geneva's recent success. The Vikings went 13-1 last season, with its only loss coming to East St. Louis in the Class 7A state championship. The Vikings are 5-0 this season after a 28-21 win over Sycamore on Friday.

"Everyone comes out and plays their best against us," Boenzi said. "Everyone wants to beat Geneva. We've won the conference the last five years, so everyone in the conference is going to give us their best game. You can't take anyone for granted."

Boenzi was forced to sit out Geneva's week four game after a controversial ejection in week three. A referee tossed Boenzi after another player pushed him following a big hit. Boenzi said that the hit he delivered was legal and that "his coaches backed him up" over the issue.

But in his four weeks on the field, Boenzi said he's been playing well. How does he know? Teams are running away from him.

"I feel a little bit more in shape," Boenzi said. "I'm flying around to the ball. Teams are running the ball away from me. It's kind of a good feeling knowing teams don't want to run towards me. Then again, it hurts your stats, but it's not all about stats. It's more about the team."

Boenzi continues to receive interest from several Division I programs. He said Northern Illinois calls often. BCS programs showing interest include Illinois, Indiana, Michigan State, Minnesota, Colorado and Arizona. But Boenzi said recruiting has been "quiet" as schools wait for his first-quarter report card.

"A lot of the schools want to offer me, they're just waiting on my grades," Boenzi said. "I think after the first semester, if my grades are where they need to be, I'll have some offers."

Illinois coaches have kept tabs on Boenzi, who said he e-mails "a bit" with the Illini coaches but that he hasn't talked to Illinois coaches personally.

Boenzi said he has a much different outlook on academics now then when he was a freshman. Instead of skating by and possibly missing out on an opportunity to play college football, Boenzi said he is putting in the work in the classroom, as well as the gridiron.

"I would like to think I've grown up a little bit since freshman year," Boenzi said. "As a freshman - not in a cocky way - but I thought I was good at football. You see those kids that don't do anything in the classroom and they just get by. I found out the hard way that it's not like that. You actually have to try and stuff.

"I spent a lot of extra time with summer classes and corresponding classes just trying to get to where I want to be. It would suck to know that I had the ability to play at the next level but not go because of my grades."