COOL HAND LUKE: Princeton University star receiver Luke Colella heads upfield in a game last fall. Coming off a season where he made 47 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns, earning All-Ivy League Honorable Mention recognition, Colella is primed for a big senior campaign. The Tigers kick off their 2024 season by playing at Lehigh on September 21. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

After making just three receptions in the first two seasons with the Princeton University football team, Luke Colella produced a breakout season last fall in emerging as one of the top receivers in the Ivy League.

Colella hauled in 47 catches for 620 yards and six touchdowns, earning All-Ivy League Honorable Mention recognition in the process.

For Colella, coming up big last fall was a matter of following in the program’s tradition of great receivers.

“The history is unreal at wide receiver, especially with the mentorship,” said Colella, a 5’10, 190-pound native of Wexford, Pa. “Guys like Jacob Birmelin, Andrei Iosivas, and Dylan Classi are still some of my best friends to this day. When I first got here, they took me under their wing. They really showed me the ropes. They showed me what it takes to be a great football player, especially receiving in the Ivy League.”

Biding his time while riding the bench in his first two seasons allowed Colella to get up to speed.

“I think that is all part of the process, there is a learning curve at each level of football,” said Colella. “As you develop and start to make your way up to the top of that learning curve, you get more skill, you are better with your teammates, and you work harder. Seeing guys do it day in, day out, doing the right things, it really leads you to the position that you want to be in.”

Colella has given his all on a daily basis to develop into a top receiver.

“It all starts with practice, the coaches have given me the opportunity to do what I love to do every day,” said Colella. “It is work hard in practice and to go out and execute the plays and the opportunities they give me. It puts me in a good position for Fridays and Saturdays to go out there and dominate and play to the best of my ability.”

Forming a tandem at wide out with classmate AJ Barber (42 receptions for 582 yards and three TDs in 2023) has helped Colella be at his best.

“AJ is my brother, I love him to death,” said Colella. “He is a special weapon. He is an incredible player. I love being out there next to him and having that one-two punch, It is very threatening for defenses, we make it work really well.”

Princeton head coach Bob Surace loves seeing Colella develop into a star.

“It is one of those challenges where guys are used to being the star in high school,” said Surace. “Those guys had to sit behind the classes ahead of them with guys like Classi and Andrei. They had to get on special teams and earn their way up. To see Luke go from being that guy who has had to take every step has been really good.”

Looking ahead to the 2024 season which starts when Princeton plays at Lehigh this Saturday, Colella and the Tigers need to step up their attention to detail as they look to improve on last season which saw them go 5-5 overall and 4-3 Ivy League, losing three games in overtime and another by two points.

“It just focusing on the little details, there are a lot of things,” said Colella. “One yard determined our season last season. One more point, one more first down, those very little details that you might not think about are a large part of the game. When you really analyze the game, the little things matter so much. Being on time, taking notes in meetings, doing all of those things. Everybody doing those things leads to a championship team.”

Colella, for his part, is primed to be a driving force this fall as Princeton makes a championship push.

“As you become a senior, the coaches and the team count on you in a more vital role,” said Colella. “I am very excited to accept that role and go out on the field and play to the best of my ability along with my brothers. I try to do my job play in, play out in every practice and every game and work towards a championship.”