Two Colts to play Division I football

Not one but two Calhoun High School football players have earned scholarships to play football at Division I colleges starting in the fall of 2011 –– Nicholas Marcello, a kicker who was recruited by Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., and Coleman Meier, a linebacker who is headed to SUNY Stony Brook.

Colts coach Joe Bianca said that it’s rare to have even one football player recruited by a Division I school, let alone two. “Two in one season is a credit to the program and to [the players],” Bianca said.

Marcello and Meier, both 17, of Merrick, credited their coach with instilling a work ethic in them that enabled them to reach Division I. “He’s just been telling us that hard work pays off,” Meier said.

Marcello said he plans to study biology and pre-medicine at Lehigh, and Meier said he will major in sports medicine at Stony Brook. Both Marcello and Meier were recently featured in a Herald article on the Calhoun football program, “Calhoun football, a constant effort,” which can be found at liherald.com/merrick or bellmore.

Comments about this story? SBrinton@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 203.