Photo by: Rich Graessle
Rob Nittolo: A Quarterback’s Journey
Nov 15 | Football
The thrill of getting on the field and playing with his teammates will never get old for fifth-year senior quarterback Rob Nittolo, who has had a unique journey to Rutgers.
The Palm Beach, Florida, native started playing football when he was five, and by the time he was eight, he had fallen in love with the game. "The excitement you get every day, the feeling in your stomach, it will never go away. I just get excited when I get that opportunity," Nittolo said.
Nittolo started playing football in Florida and has traveled all around since his senior year of high school. The quarterback describes his journey as a, "roller coaster, I know that sounds cliché, but it has been ups and downs. I have played all over."
After spending the first three years of high school in Florida, Nittolo and his family moved to New Jersey and he became the star quarterback at Hillsborough High School.
"My grandfather was sick with cancer. My parents are originally from New Jersey, but they moved down before me and my sister were born, so we moved back up and I ended up playing at Hillsborough," said Nittolo who was named "The Best Quarterback" in New Jersey by a fan poll on NJ.com during his senior season, when he threw for 2,336 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2013.
Being around family is important for Nittolo and especially his father, Robert, who played at Pittsburgh and Minnesota. "He has been my quarterback coach my whole life, he has helped me with footwork, my arm. He was working with me every day, throwing with me every day before the season started and before every practice and he just helped me become who I am today."
Everybody dreams of throwing a late touchdown to lift your team to victory in a rivalry game. For Nittolo, that dream came true in high school. "My best memory is probably the third game of the year when we played Bridgewater, it is a rivalry and it was a one-point game. We were losing the game with two minutes left and I rolled out and threw an 80-yard touchdown to win the game. I will never forget it."
Nittolo's unique football journey landed him in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After his strong high school career, the Hillsborough graduate committed to play at James Madison University.
"It was awesome, James Madison is an FCS school, but it feels like an FBS school, football is a big deal down there. I loved it, I played with a lot of great people, just like here, there is a lot of potential NFL players you play against, great experience just different atmosphere," said Nittolo on his time at James Madison.
After one season at James Madison, Nittolo transferred to Southern Connecticut State and was able to get back to doing what he loved, getting on the field and playing football.
"At Southern Connecticut, I liked it because I was able to get on the field and actually play, as anybody that plays football knows, that there is nothing better than game reps so just enjoying myself," said Nittolo, who shined in his two seasons for the Owls, with 233 completions, 2782 passing yards and 32 total touchdowns.
"I won ECAC Rookie of the Year my redshirt freshman year and I was able to start 15 consecutive games and was able to throw for a lot of yards and a good number of touchdowns."
Academics has always been a priority for the redshirt senior quarterback. "I like school and I actually like learning."
After graduating early from Southern Connecticut State, Nittolo's unique journey led him to dawning the scarlet and white. "I thought about going back to FCS but then Rutgers offered me a walk-on spot. I took the offer and decided to run with it, so that I can prove myself that I can play at the big level, and then I was fortunate enough to win a scholarship."
A graduate student in the labor and employment relations program, Nittolo has been capitalizing on the opportunities Rutgers has provided for life after football. "Coach Ash does a great job in helping us get connections and meeting people that help us after football. We have Life Beyond the Game every Wednesday in the offseason, I got to meet a lot of people, just learning the business, so I am learning a lot of things that can help me in the future.
"I want to give myself the best opportunity to continue my football career, that has been my dream, my goal, I am not letting up on that, so wherever that takes me, I will continue to do that." Football is a passion for Nittolo and he wants to stay around the game long after he has hung his cleats.
"One day I want to become a broadcaster and announcer of football or work in the front office of an NFL team, so I am working along those lines, preparing for both of those, trying to keep options open."
The journey that started in Palm Beach, Florida, and led him to Rutgers has been unique for senior quarterback Rob Nittolo, who is excited about what that journey brings next.
"I love football and want to continue my career and just try to be the best person I can be and give the people hope and motivation to keep working."
The Palm Beach, Florida, native started playing football when he was five, and by the time he was eight, he had fallen in love with the game. "The excitement you get every day, the feeling in your stomach, it will never go away. I just get excited when I get that opportunity," Nittolo said.
Nittolo started playing football in Florida and has traveled all around since his senior year of high school. The quarterback describes his journey as a, "roller coaster, I know that sounds cliché, but it has been ups and downs. I have played all over."
After spending the first three years of high school in Florida, Nittolo and his family moved to New Jersey and he became the star quarterback at Hillsborough High School.
"My grandfather was sick with cancer. My parents are originally from New Jersey, but they moved down before me and my sister were born, so we moved back up and I ended up playing at Hillsborough," said Nittolo who was named "The Best Quarterback" in New Jersey by a fan poll on NJ.com during his senior season, when he threw for 2,336 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2013.
Being around family is important for Nittolo and especially his father, Robert, who played at Pittsburgh and Minnesota. "He has been my quarterback coach my whole life, he has helped me with footwork, my arm. He was working with me every day, throwing with me every day before the season started and before every practice and he just helped me become who I am today."
Everybody dreams of throwing a late touchdown to lift your team to victory in a rivalry game. For Nittolo, that dream came true in high school. "My best memory is probably the third game of the year when we played Bridgewater, it is a rivalry and it was a one-point game. We were losing the game with two minutes left and I rolled out and threw an 80-yard touchdown to win the game. I will never forget it."
Nittolo's unique football journey landed him in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After his strong high school career, the Hillsborough graduate committed to play at James Madison University.
"It was awesome, James Madison is an FCS school, but it feels like an FBS school, football is a big deal down there. I loved it, I played with a lot of great people, just like here, there is a lot of potential NFL players you play against, great experience just different atmosphere," said Nittolo on his time at James Madison.
After one season at James Madison, Nittolo transferred to Southern Connecticut State and was able to get back to doing what he loved, getting on the field and playing football.
"At Southern Connecticut, I liked it because I was able to get on the field and actually play, as anybody that plays football knows, that there is nothing better than game reps so just enjoying myself," said Nittolo, who shined in his two seasons for the Owls, with 233 completions, 2782 passing yards and 32 total touchdowns.
"I won ECAC Rookie of the Year my redshirt freshman year and I was able to start 15 consecutive games and was able to throw for a lot of yards and a good number of touchdowns."
Academics has always been a priority for the redshirt senior quarterback. "I like school and I actually like learning."
After graduating early from Southern Connecticut State, Nittolo's unique journey led him to dawning the scarlet and white. "I thought about going back to FCS but then Rutgers offered me a walk-on spot. I took the offer and decided to run with it, so that I can prove myself that I can play at the big level, and then I was fortunate enough to win a scholarship."
A graduate student in the labor and employment relations program, Nittolo has been capitalizing on the opportunities Rutgers has provided for life after football. "Coach Ash does a great job in helping us get connections and meeting people that help us after football. We have Life Beyond the Game every Wednesday in the offseason, I got to meet a lot of people, just learning the business, so I am learning a lot of things that can help me in the future.
"I want to give myself the best opportunity to continue my football career, that has been my dream, my goal, I am not letting up on that, so wherever that takes me, I will continue to do that." Football is a passion for Nittolo and he wants to stay around the game long after he has hung his cleats.
"One day I want to become a broadcaster and announcer of football or work in the front office of an NFL team, so I am working along those lines, preparing for both of those, trying to keep options open."
The journey that started in Palm Beach, Florida, and led him to Rutgers has been unique for senior quarterback Rob Nittolo, who is excited about what that journey brings next.
"I love football and want to continue my career and just try to be the best person I can be and give the people hope and motivation to keep working."
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