SAM’S CLUB: Princeton High alum Sam Smallzman, right, shares a moment with former PHS teammate Zack DiGregorio last fall during a game with the University of Pennsylvania sprint football team. Smallzman enjoyed a superb debut campaign last fall for the Quakers, leading the team with seven sacks (third-best in the Collegiate Sprint Football League) while also adding 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble as he earned second-team All-CSFL honors.

During his senior season with the Princeton High football team in 2014, Sam Smallzman turned a lot of heads.

Emerging as a tackle machine at linebacker as he returned to action after being sidelined by a knee injury during his junior season, Smallzman starred as PHS went 8-2, producing a remarkable turnaround from a 0-10 campaign a year earlier.

Joining the University of Pennsylvania sprint football program last fall, Smallzman was initially lost in the shuffle.

“I think from the start I was holding my own, making plays and showing what I can do but it took a little bit of time for the coaches to notice,” said Smallzman.

“When you are a freshman, there are so many other people so it just took a little time to really work into things. They did look at me at different positions, they moved me everywhere.”

Once Smallzman worked his way into the starting lineup, he made the most of the opportunity, quickly becoming a defensive star for the Quakers. Playing at linebacker and defensive end, Smallzman led the team with seven sacks (third-best in the Collegiate Sprint Football League) while also adding 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble as he earned second-team All-CSFL honors.

For Smallzman, the CSFL, in which players are required to be 172 pounds or less at weigh-in to compete, is a good fit for him.

“The game feels like it is a little faster paced,” said Smallzman, noting that playing home games at historic Franklin Field is another plus of the experience for him.

“There are no huge guys, it does give me a pretty big edge actually. The guys I went against in high school were a lot bigger. Getting off blocks and making reads, I can still make the tackle. It is a little bit different.”

Some of Smallzman’s most memorable moments of his freshman season came with his move to defensive end from linebacker.

“The game against Mansfield, I had four and a half sacks, playing defensive end,” said Smallzman.

“Against Navy was my first game playing d-end and I didn’t even know I was going to be at d-end before that game. I stayed there the rest of the year.”

The Quakers enjoyed a superb campaign in 2015, going 5-2 and tying Navy for second behind league champion Army (7-0).

“We definitely did come together; we had a really high powered offense and some big games,” said Smallzman, noting that Penn lost a double-overtime thriller to Army in late October with first place in the CSFL on the line.

“Our QB (Mike McCurdy) was co-MVP of the league but on the other side. I think our defense really got better and held everybody together when the game was closer or we went down, it helped bring us back.”

Being reunited with former PHS teammates Zack DiGregorio and Jeff Barsamian helped things come together for Smallzman.

“It was awesome getting to play with Zack and Jeff again, two guys I really looked up to at PHS as an underclassmen,” said Smallzman.

“Jeff was a captain when I first came to PHS and Zack was a captain when I was a sophomore. I was actually introduced to the Penn sprint football program through coach DiGregorio (Zack’s father, Steve). It was pretty cool having three former PHS captains playing together in college.”

It was cool for Smallzman to earn All-CSFL honors. “That was a good accomplishment, coming out as a freshman and making an all-league team is good,” said Smallzman. “I wish I could have been first team but I will be on that.”

Off the field, Smallzman has enjoyed his Penn experience. “I have a great group of friends, I pledged a fraternity,” said Smallzman.

“I like the idea of a PPE major, philosophy, politics, and economics. Academically what I like about it is that in any of the classes or areas of study that you choose to go to, there are some of the best teachers and students from everywhere.”

In prepping for his sophomore season, Smallzman has focused on the areas of strength and speed.

“In the spring, we have team lifting tests and we maxed out before school ended,” said Smallzman. “In summer it shifted to less weight training and more agility and running stuff.”

With Penn starting practice this week, Smallzman is looking to help lift the Quakers to a title.

“Getting the championship is a big goal; we were right on it last year so we are coming for it this year,” said Smallzman.

“Everyone is really working with that in mind. Individually, I want to have a bigger role on the defense and more of a leadership role.”