In the trenches

Patrick said Bosa will line up at all three spots in Aquinas’ 3-4 defense to keep opposing teams from scheming against him. Bosa of course has some talented help around him. Anthony Moten (6-3, 265) is one of the top juniors in the country. Senior outside linebacker Lance Virgile (6-2, 215) led the team with six sacks last season.

“If you look at our past success when we won titles in ’07, ’08 and ’10 teams we were dominant up front,” Casullo said. “It’s a coach’s dream to be dominant in the trenches. We weren’t healthy there last year — it was a freak year for us.”

Bosa, who along with running back Fred Coppet and Moten are the only remaining players who had a role on 2010 state title team, said getting Aquinas back on top is all he’s concerned with heading into his senior season. He said the team was divided last season, but “we’re a big, happy family now.”

For the family

Beyond that, Bosa said, he would like to make two people proud: his father and his uncle, Eric Kumerow. Both were drafted 16th overall by the Dolphins in back-to-back years (1987 and 1988), but their pro careers never lived up to expectations.

Bosa said his father is now a businessman who owns a local gym and sells diet products. They talk football and the future all the time.

“Basically, my dad is who I look up to,” Bosa said. “My uncle was the top recruit in the nation just like me. I’ve heard people say I’ll be a bust just like my dad or my uncle. It’s pretty annoying. Both of them are good men. They just both got hurt.”