Fuschetto Signs Letter of Intent with Marist

Vinny Fuschetto only had one goal: to play Division I football.

After signing his National Letter of Intent with Marist, the former New Providence standout knows that he accomplished that dream.

“I’m so happy with Marist,” the Pioneers tailback and defensive back said. “I couldn’t have asked for a better school. It was my goal to get D-1, and I achieved that.”

Fuschetto will join the Football Championship Series program in the summer, but will begin preparing to join the Red Foxes as soon as his basketball season ends.

Marist set him up with a weight-lifting program that will have him in the weight room for two to three hours a day, five times a week, he said.

While Fuschetto plans on adding some weight, he remains unsure of how head coach Jim Parady plans on using him. As an impact player on both offense and defense for the , he could still play both ways.

“I think they’re going to play me at d-back, but they also talked about just making me an athlete and playing me wherever,” Fuschetto said. “I don’t really know yet. I just want to play. Either way, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Although New Providence head coach Frank Bottone saw his talent firsthand over the past four years, he has no insight as to where Fuschetto is best suited.

“For us he did both, so it’s tough for me to say,” Bottone said. “He carried us offensively. In certain games, he just took over. Then against Lincoln he made that touchdown-saving tackle, so it’s tough to say. I’d like to see them use him how we did — offense and defense. Let him go both ways.”

For now, Fuschetto is just relieved to have the recruiting process over.

He also considered Wagner, East Stroudsburg and Stone Hill.

“It’s such a big weight off your back,” Fuschetto said. “I know I’m going to my school and don’t have to worry about that and the recruiting process.”

Although Wagner also offers a Division I program, Fuschetto reached his decision shortly after taking an official visit to Marist’s Poughkeepsie, N.Y., campus.

“It’s a beautiful school,” he said. “I had a really fun time when I went up there. The kids are great. The coach is the nicest guy ever — he’s as nice as Coach Bottone. They have a great football program — D-1AA — and I wanted to play D1.”

Bottone is not surprised to see that happen, naming Fuschetto among the best players the now-retired coach sent on to play college football in recent years.

While he certainly enjoyed coaching the future Red Fox at New Providence, Fuschetto will now cause problems for FCS opponents.

But he will also cause problems for Marist.

“They’re going to have trouble finding where to play him, because he’s so effective offensively and defensively and on special teams,” Bottone said. “He’s going to have a good chance to play right away there.”