Canton friends, teammates commit to colleges

They have been teammates and friends for almost a dozen years — going back to their earliest days in the Canton Pop Warner program — and on Wednesday, February 6, Stephen Cesso and Maurice Hurst celebrated another major milestone together when they gathered at Xaverian Brothers High School with their families for a football commitment ceremony.

Mo Hurst (left) and Stephen Cesso

Hurst, a 6’2”, 295-pound defensive tackle and the No. 2 recruit in Massachusetts, signed a national letter of intent to play for the University of Michigan, and Cesso, a 6’2”, 225-pound defensive and offensive lineman, formalized his commitment to play for St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York.

The two longtime friends and Canton residents were joined by three of their teammates: Hunter Taute of Norfolk, a highly rated inside linebacker who signed a national letter of intent for Bryant University; Ray Gobbi of Brockton, who committed to Merrimack College; and Jordan Bayuk of Foxboro, who committed to Bowdoin College in Maine.

“Myself and our entire football staff were privileged to have the opportunity to work with these fine young athletes,” said Athletic Director and head football coach Charlie Stevenson in a statement issued to the press, “and we certainly wish them the very best of success as they move forward in their football lives.”

Hurst, who fielded offers from more than a dozen top colleges — including Boston College, Michigan State and Nebraska, among others — was a defensive force during his four years with the Hawks, compiling 131 tackles, 21 sacks, and seven forced fumbles. He was especially dominant during his senior season, racking up 11 sacks while also running for five touchdowns as a part-time running back.

He was named the Catholic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a Boston Globe All-Scholastic, and he recently shined at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Los Angeles, where he finished with three tackles and a sack to help lead the east team over the west team 17-14 in front of a national television audience.

“Defensively, he made me a better player,” noted Cesso, who is proud of his friend’s success. “I went up against him in practice a lot. He’s really quick off the line and he’s really strong.”

Cesso, meanwhile, has put together a pretty impressive resume himself during his time at Xaverian. A three-sport athlete, he has twice been awarded most improved player — once as a sophomore in track and field and again as a junior in football. He also competes in powerlifting and is considering going out for the track team for shot put and discus next year at St. Lawrence, although he acknowledged that playing just one college sport is already very time-consuming.

An honor roll student, Cesso said he chose St. Lawrence not only for a chance to play football, but also because of its impressive academic track record. He also has a family friend who went there and had a “good experience” as a member of the football program.

A two-way player in high school, Cesso said he enjoys playing on the defensive side of the ball more and is hoping to focus on defense in college. His college coach has already informed him that the “best players play,” regardless of experience level, and he is already looking forward to the start of preseason in August.

As for Hurst, he too is an honor roll student and is thrilled to be attending an institution that is consistently ranked as one of the best in the nation. He plans to study criminal justice at Michigan, while Cesso is currently considering economics.

In his biography, prior to finalizing his decision, Hurst wrote, “I am looking for a school that will offer me an excellent education in my area of academic interest [and] provide an opportunity to play football at a top level. I am also looking for a coach that will challenge me and help me further develop for the next level.”

The families of both Canton players, including Hurst’s mother, Nicole Page, and Cesso’s parents, Stephen and Sheila Cesso, could not be prouder of the two boys’ academic and athletic achievements, and the two close friends are also proud of one another and will be rooting each other on from afar when the college football season gets underway next fall.

Short URL: https://www.thecantoncitizen.com/?p=19374

Posted by Jay Turner on Mar 7 2013. Filed under Beyond CHS, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.