Former Smiths Station player Moss Saccomanno signs with Charlotte

It’s been two years since Moss Saccomanno played for the Smiths Station Panthers, but on Wednesday he realized his dream of playing football at the FBS level.

Saccomanno signed his national letter of intent to play football at Charlotte. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end joins the 49ers after a one-year stint at Dodge City Community College.

Saccomanno explained there were a number of factors that made him decide Charlotte was the place for him.

“I see it becoming a program that can turn around and become a winning program and a top contender in the conference,” Saccomanno said. “The coaching staff is great in what they do and have shown that they can really develop me as a player, especially in a pro-style, spread offense. The facilities are top-notch with strength, recovery and study purposes. All resources are available to help any player become a better athlete and student.”

Saccomanno’s signing capped off a two-year run full of transition. After graduating from Smiths Station in 2016, Saccomanno attended Alabama Prep Birmingham, where he was able to craft his game at tight end. He spent the following spring at home training before going to Dodge City for the 2017 season.

Upon settling in at the junior-college level, Saccomanno quickly learned he wasn’t in Smiths Station anymore.

“JUCO was a whole different animal that high school was,” Saccomanno said. “Everyone is bigger, stronger and faster than 99 percent of the people I faced in high school. It’s a challenge, but it definitely made me a better football player.”

Saccomanno explained that he’s grown a great deal as a football player since his days playing with the Panthers, especially in terms of blocking at the tight-end position.

“The issue coaches had with me in recruiting me was my ability to block in-line, so when I was at the prep school my position coach molded me by teaching me everything there is to being the total package,” Saccomanno said. “This is where I learned all the mechanics of blocking and where I became good at it.”

Saccomanno didn’t have the luxury of going straight to a Division-I program, instead having to prove himself at a junior college before he got his chance. That opportunity has finally arrived with Charlotte, and though it took a great deal of work, the pay-off remains just as sweet.

“It’s an unusual feeling that worrying about recruiting is over and I get to relax,” Saccomanno said.

This story was originally published December 21, 2017 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Former Smiths Station player Moss Saccomanno signs with Charlotte."