Courtesy photo
Incoming Bishop Gorman High freshman Nicco Fertitta, shown last fall playing with the Liberty Jr. Patriots, was selected for the USA U-15 team, which will play Canada in January at the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
Friday, July 29, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.
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Nicco Fertitta has spent parts of the past few weeks practicing with the Bishop Gorman High varsity football team.
The incoming freshman safety has done enough to earn a spot on the roster for the Gaels’ first two games — in Glendale, Ariz., against No. 23 Chaparral High of Scottsdale and at home against No. 2 Armwood High of the Tampa, Fla., area.
The experience of training with two-time defending state champion Gorman has paid off in more than a stint with the varsity squad. Fertitta was selected Tuesday for the USA U-15 team, which will play Canada in January at the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl in San Antonio.
Fertitta was picked after excelling at a pair of Football University events, including against hundreds of other youth players last week at its Top Gun camp in Williamsburg, Va. Football University evaluates players for the series of All-American games each January.
The confidence he displayed at the camp can partially be credited to his short time at Gorman. He has guarded junior wide receiver Ryan Smith and senior running back Shaquille Powell — two of the nation’s best at the their positions — in drills.
"It’s made me an all-around better player,” he said. “Shaq Powell is the nastiest running back I have seen. If I can tackle him, there isn’t anyone I can’t tackle. And Ryan Smith is probably the best receiver I’ve faced.”
The camp in Virginia featured one-on-one drills, where Fertitta shined while guarding a wide receiver in pass coverage. Campers were trained in technique and footwork drills. His performance earned praise from Football University organizers.
“Nicco’s greatest asset is his ability to learn coverages, and he already has a grasp on what will be taught during Bowl Week,” said Erik Richards, the group’s national director, in a statement. “He seems to have a sixth sense about where everyone is supposed to be on the field.”
In January, Fertitta played in the 2011 Youth All-American Bowl, also in San Antonio. The bowl consisted of four games, highlighted by the prestigious eighth-grade, no-weight-limit event in which he participated.
Despite his 5-foot-6, 140-pound frame, Fertitta has been able to find success because of his aggressive style of play.
“My mentality is to go out there and be the most nasty, competitive person on the field,” he said.
He plans to carry that attitude over to the gridiron at Gorman.
“It is like a dream come true,” he said of playing for Gorman, a program his father, Lorenzo Fertitta, and several other relatives have played in. “I can’t believe I’m in high school and going to have to ‘G’ on my helmet.”
