Kiski Area WR Joey Brungo: ‘Pitt is my dream school’

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The Pitt football team will soon be adding a large crop of talented walk-on players in June.  Many of those players started their ‘courtship’ with Pitt within the last year.  One of them, Vandergrift (PA) Kiski Area wide receiver Joey Brungo (6-foot-1 inches, 185 pounds), has thought about Pitt his entire life.

“Pitt is my dream school.  I can’t wait to get there,” stated Brungo.  “I have grown up watching them and I can’t wait to be part of the university and football program.”

“I had interest from other schools.  Wake Forest, Youngstown State, New Hampshire and several others were recruiting me.  My heart was with Pitt.  I finally told everyone that I was going to Pitt, even if I had to walk on, and shut down recruiting.”

Brungo had a prolific career at Kiski.  He had 37 catches for 426 yards and five touchdowns last season.  He set the all-time leading receiver in Kiski Area history.  Joey was named a first-team all-conference selection as a wide receiver in 2012 and a first-team all-conference selection as a defensive back in 2013.

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Although Brungo was a four-year starter on both sides of the ball, he believes he will initially be tried on offense.  “I have played on both sides.  I played wide receiver on offense and a mix of safety and outside linebacker on defense,” he said.  “I will play receiver at Pitt.”

“I’ll start at wide receiver but I’ll play anywhere.  I want to get on the field and contribute.”

He was asked to specify his strength at the wide receiver position and he stated, “I’m good with the short catch and I’m a strong route runner.  I can get nasty when it comes to blocking as well.”

Brungo perceives himself as a strong possession receiver.  He currently runs a 4.6 forty-yard dash.  “I friend of mine is an intern with Michigan’s strength and conditioning program.  I was using that program for a while to build some muscle.  Pitt just sent me their program and I’m starting to work on that,” he said.  “I’m currently running track with a coach as well.  I’m doing everything I can to get my forty-yard dash time down.”

“I want to get to Pitt and prove myself.  I want to show that hard work and dedication can make great things happen,” he said.  “I know I’m not going there with a scholarship in hand.  I’m going to use that as a big motivation.”

“Pitt has been my dream school.  My family went there and my sister is there now diving for them.  I can’t wait to get there and make my mark.”

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