"I stopped talking to [former head coach] Al Golden and [former defensive coordinator] Mark D’Onofrio week 8 or 9 of my senior season. It was tough. I kind of just cut them off and then cut off the Miami media. I took it out on the wrong people. The Miami fan base is passionate and I was looked at as the guy who would help bring us back and it didn’t turn out that way. When people are saying you suck all the time, as a young kid it was easy to be affected"
"The NFL career, which Chickillo now savors as an outside linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers after recently signing his second contract worth $8 million, did come. But the collegiate All-American status? Forget it. And that phone call from a UM Sports Hall of Fame representative delivering the precious news? He doesn’t expect it."
“My biggest dream turned into a nightmare,’’ said Chickillo, a five-star prospect from Tampa whose draft stock plummeted after former coaches had him gain 40 pounds and turned him into a lumbering defensive tackle instead of the explosive, speedy, 6-3, 245-pound All-American pass-rushing defensive end he became at Tampa Alonso High."
"Chickillo said he met new UM coach Manny Diaz and toured the indoor practice facility in February on his way to McDermott’s bachelor party. “It was incredible and I’m really happy for the players,’’ he said. “We’ve come such a long way. Manny said he wishes he could have had me. His scheme is incredible and I wish I could have played in it.’’
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article230111159.html
"The NFL career, which Chickillo now savors as an outside linebacker with the Pittsburgh Steelers after recently signing his second contract worth $8 million, did come. But the collegiate All-American status? Forget it. And that phone call from a UM Sports Hall of Fame representative delivering the precious news? He doesn’t expect it."
“My biggest dream turned into a nightmare,’’ said Chickillo, a five-star prospect from Tampa whose draft stock plummeted after former coaches had him gain 40 pounds and turned him into a lumbering defensive tackle instead of the explosive, speedy, 6-3, 245-pound All-American pass-rushing defensive end he became at Tampa Alonso High."
"Chickillo said he met new UM coach Manny Diaz and toured the indoor practice facility in February on his way to McDermott’s bachelor party. “It was incredible and I’m really happy for the players,’’ he said. “We’ve come such a long way. Manny said he wishes he could have had me. His scheme is incredible and I wish I could have played in it.’’
https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/college/acc/university-of-miami/article230111159.html
