GILROY—Christopher’s Anthony Sammut had always played quarterback since taking up football in fifth grade. When coach Tim Pierleoni reassigned him as a wide receiver his junior year, it was difficult to accept.
As it turns out, it was the best move the Cougar standout ever made.
Sammut signed his letter of intent to play for Minot State University in Minot, N.D., March 18 in front of a packed house in Christopher High’s library. The crowd came as a bit of a shock to the Cougar, who said he was humbled by the turnout.
“There was a lot more people than I expected, which made me feel really comfortable,” Sammut said. “It made me feel like I had a lot of people in my life who supported me.”
Sammut will suit up for the Beavers alongside his best friend Darius Alexander-Jones II. It’s the first time in four years the duo will be playing for the same team as Alexander-Jones spent his high school career across town with Gilroy High School.
And having his best friend at his side was the just the icing on cake.
The minute Sammut stepped foot on the MSU campus, he knew it was the place for him. From the coaches to the players, the academic offerings to the overall vibe of the school, the Cougar said he knew this is where he’d want to spend his collegiate career.
But things weren’t always so cut and dry.
It wasn’t until Sammut’s junior year that he even considered the possibility of playing at the next level. After the move to WR and constant encouragement from Pierleoni and Coach Brian Boyd, Sammut said it finally started to click that he might have what it takes to play in the NCAA.
“Sometimes I don’t think (Sammut) knows how good he is,” Pierleoni said. “As soon as I saw him handle the ball, I said ‘he’s not a quarterback.’ Get in where you fit in and a lot of times I feel one of my strong suites as a coach is being able to see an athlete and know which position he’s made for.”
The change allowed Sammut’s talents to flourish. He scored 10 touchdowns and racked up 886 yards for the Cougars in his senior season in addition to 52 catches. He’ll be joining a Minot State team that went 1-10 last year; one that will be looking to him to help right the ship—and he’ll fit nicely into that leadership role, Pierleoni said.
Sammut emerged as a senior leader for his team by organizing game day breakfasts at the Black Bear Diner in an effort to bring the Cougars closer together. The action brought a smile to Pierleoni’s face and he noted the idea was all Sammut’s—no one had asked him to do it. Instead, he saw an area the team needed improvement in and he took charge to strengthen it. The result was a 9-2 overall record, a Monterey Bay League-Pacific Division title and berth to the Central Coast Section playoffs on the Cougars’ home field.
“He’s a big time leader,” Pierleoni said. “It’s not like he has to try at all, he’s just a natural leader and the kids are all kind of drawn to him like a moth to the flame… He’s going to be a leader wherever he goes. I’m extremely proud of him.”
The Beavers will be looking for more ‘W’s’ this season and while Sammut knows they won’t come easily, but he’s prepared. All the practices, the long days in the weight room and the seemly infinite wisdom bestowed upon him by Pierleoni have equipped him for this.
“Coach P (Pierleoni) taught me a lot about football, but not just football—he taught me a lot about life,” Sammut said. “(He taught me) how to handle things and deal with things that are going on in my life. He taught me how to overcome a lot of obstacles that I deal with.”
Sammut will study business at MSU and said he’s looking forward to learning new skills to make him successful after college graduation.
“I’m so proud of Anthony,” Pierleoni said. “He’s done a lot of growing in the last few years as a football player and as a kid who has now become a young man.”
