On Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2012, Hatboro-Horsham seniors Aaron Channing and Matt Schuck were recognized at a special news conference for signing letters of intent to play football at the collegiate level.
“These are two incredible young men,” coach Gary Pagliaro said. “They have done everything right. They’ve kept their noses clean, they’ve worked at their craft, and they’ve done well in school. Kutztown and Millersville are getting steals. These guys are unbelievable football players, and they’re going to do a great job. I’m very excited to follow them in years to come.”
Aaron Channing – Kutztown University (Football)
Major: Sports Management
F
inal list of colleges: Kutztown or prep school
Reasons for choosing Kutztown: “If Kutztown didn’t work out, I was going to go the prep school route or junior college just to try to get a year of experience under my belt, but really, Kutztown has always been my dream. They’ve had (a history of) great quarterbacks, and they’re one of the best teams in Division II and the PSAC. They throw the ball a lot, so that’s always attractive if you’re a quarterback, but the biggest reason is when I went on my visit, the people were just awesome. All of them are just positive people. They’re friendly. For them to be so open and friendly, it made me say, ‘This is where I want to go.’ With Kevin (Morton) and even other guys in the past, I just want to be part of it. I want to say I played quarterback at Kutztown with those guys. It would be such an honor.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “When I was five years old, I started playing quarterback, and ever since then, my dream has been to play college football. That was my number one goal since I was five years old. When I was in eighth grade, I started for the first time ever, and coming into my freshman year, I started working hard and talked to some scouts. They thought I could play college football, so that’s when I really thought, ‘Hey, my dream could actually come true.’”
Coach Gary Pagliaro: “I think what Aaron brings to the table is that he has a tremendous arm, and his work ethic is second to none. I think he’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever been around. He really works hard at his craft, and he wants it. I think that’s the thing – he wants it more than any other kid that I’ve ever coached. He wants it so bad, and I think that’s what going to make him successful.”
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite music: Anything
Matt Schuck – Millersville University (Football)
Major: Elementary Education/Special Education with a minor in Secondary Education and a concentration in History
Final list of colleges: Millersville, Kutztown, Shippensburg, Susquehanna
Reasons for choosing Millersville: “I really like that at Millersville – even though they had a losing program the past few seasons – they really have an outlook that they can turn it around, and I want to be a part of that. That was the key thing, and I really like how Millersville has better academics.”
What was the progression that led you to playing collegiate football? “I’ve been playing football for 12 years, and I always dreamed of playing and not stopping at just the high school level, but I didn’t know if I would ever be able to. I just tried to work as hard as I could to be able to get that chance, and I’m blessed with that ability.”
Coach Gary Pagliaro: “I think what makes Matt so special is that he was the type of kid that from day one was willing to do everything that it took to make himself a better player. He’s just worked extremely hard in the offseason, and he never missed a day of workouts and lifting. He just continued to get bigger and stronger, and leading up to his senior year he became one of the more dominant players in the Suburban One.
“I think they have him projected to play offensive guard, but don’t be surprised to see him play center. What sets Matt apart is his motor and his tenacity. He was able to play at a high level every single down. He was the type of kid who hardly ever came off the field and just gave it 110 percent. I think that’s what made him so good, plus he’s very, very strong.”
About Matt:
Favorite movie: Old School
Favorite food: Buffalo chicken cheesesteaks
Favorite music: Aer
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