DEast’s Angeline is Daily Local’s Football Player of the Year
The way football is evolving, Cary Angeline was born at just the right time.
At six-foot-seven, 230 pounds, Angeline is what the tight end position has been evolving into the past decade.
Athletes with Angeline’s size and athleticism are just so rare, it’s no wonder there were few answers for his mismatch throughout high school. It’s also no wonder that colleges the likes of University Alabama, Penn State University and University of Southern California piled letters and sent offers Angeline’s way.
Ultimately, the Trojans of USC won Angeline’s committal, and he will head west leaving a mark on Ches-Mont League football that few have before him. For that, Angeline is the 2015 Daily Local News’ Player of the Year.
“The biggest two things that separate him are that he’s a great teammate and great to be around, and he never put himself ahead of the other kids,” East coach Mike Matta said. “With all the hype, he never let it get to his head. He’s a really good kid and he’s a better kid than he is a player. He cares about people and he does things the right way. It was a privilege to coach a kid like that.”
Angeline finished his career at East with 146 receptions, 2,313 yards and 29 touchdowns (according to Daily Local reports), all towards the top in PIAA history, especially Class AAAA. His highlights would be too long to list, whether it be one of his many spectacular catches over defenders or the game-sealing interception he had as a defensive specialist against North Penn.
But one game might stand out more than others in his brilliant career. It was the District 1 playoff opener against No. 16 Plymouth Whitemarsh this season when the top-seeded Cougars trailed by 14, twice. Angeline only had three catches in the game, but all three finished in the end zone, including a 45-yard score where Angeline rose above the defender, caught the pass one-handed and raced in for the winning touchdown.
“I wasn’t ready to go home that game,” Angeline said. “I had to make plays and I couldn’t have done it without Saunders (Healy’s) passes and the line blocking.”
Despite game plans revolving around stopping him and extra attention everywhere he was, Angeline gave East a chance every time he stepped on the field and always seemed to come up with the big plays.
In five career playoff games, Angeline hauled in 24 receptions for 458 yards and six touchdowns.
“He’s very competitive,” Matta said. “That’s what sets him apart, how competitive he is, and there was never a moment too big. (Against PW) he put the team on his back. Back in 2012 we put our heads down and wished we’d get through it, but he wouldn’t let that happen.”
East went 10-0 in the regular season this fall, and though the run ended sooner than the Cougars hoped, Downingtown football had the attention of the district and Angeline was at the epicenter of it.
“It’s an unbelievable group of seniors and we’ve been together since seventh grade,” Angeline said. “We grew up all waiting for our senior year and we all took advantage of it.”
Former East tight end Tyler Kroft was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals this past offseason, and many believe Angeline will one day follow in his footsteps.
There’s a long way to go between then and now, but Angeline will have all the opportunities in the world to be discovered and make in impact as part of one of the most storied programs in all of college football.
“I’m really excited to get to USC,” Angeline said. “They have some unique coaches and they’re very tight end friendly. … I want to be the best player possible and I want to win a national championship at USC.”
Matta believes the success will follow him out west.
“I really think he’s gonna be spectacular,” Matta said. “He has all the tools to be spectacular. He’s bright, has tremendous football IQ and knows when someone’s overplaying him. He has a desire to be excellent and he’ll do whatever it takes to win. … He’s not an in-your-face type of guy. He’s more laid-back and that’s kinda like California, I guess.”
