National Scouting Combine Feature: Otto Zaccardo, Football Running Back & Rugby Wing

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Otto Zaccardo | Syracuse University – RB/ST | Rugby – Wing

Twitter: @ottozone321 | Instagram @29otto

Q: Tell us about your sports career and what the recruiting/scouting process was like?

A: My sports career has been an uphill battle that I have always embraced.  The most important thing in the recruiting and scouting process is to develop a thick skin toward criticism and to always be improving as an athlete.

 

Q: Did you play in college and if so, who did you play for? What was your experience like?

A: I played football at Syracuse University. Syracuse was the only school that gave me the opportunity to compete at the highest level in athletics.  I was originally a walk-on and thanks to my work ethics, toughness and performance was able to earn a full scholarship.  It was a great experience and allowed me to accomplish my childhood dream of playing D1 football.

My father has been the most positive and influential person in my life without a doubt.  I owe a lot of my athletic success to him and his advice.

Q: What would you consider to be your biggest accomplishment in your sports career so far?

A: Starting out as a kid with no stars and no scholarship offers and working my way to be on full scholarship, play in a bowl game, earn a spot on national rankings/watchlists and then be able to continue as a professional athlete after college.  I am living my dream and hope to accomplish much more.

 

Q: When did you first realize you would be a good rugby player?

A: Others have always told me it would be a good fit, but it wasn’t until my 3rd game when I realized that I could have a lot of success in rugby.

 

Q: How has your transition from football to rugby been?

A: It’s always difficult to learn something new, but I have had great teammates and coaches who have made learning rugby very rewarding.  I always love new challenges.

 

Q: What has been the most challenging part of learning and playing rugby?

A: Initially it was the level of conditioning needed to play a full game, now I am focused on developing the skills and rugby IQ needed to compete against the best in the world.

 

Q: What do you consider to be one of the more important things you learned from your coach(es)?

A: No one is going to give you anything and you will oftentimes have to make your own path to accomplish your goals.

 

Q: What has been one of the most memorable plays of your career at any level?

A: My first tackle against Florida State will always be memorable to me because it was the first time it really clicked that I was living my dream.

 

Q: Who was the best player you played against anytime during your career?

A: I didn’t play defense, but Lamar Jackson was quite a spectacle when we played him while he was at Louisville.

 

Q: What were your thoughts and expectations when you attended the National Scouting Combine?

A: It was an opportunity that I needed to take advantage of.

 

Q: Are you involved in mentoring, a charity or do you “give back” or ”pay it forward” in your community?

A:  I have taught and coached kids at various ages for sports clinics and camps. I have also worked with multiple groups to create resources and education to prevent domestic violence.

 

Q: If you could make a positive impact on all of society what would it be and why?

A: Help people learn how to take care of their bodies and minds because I believe that the issues of mental and physical health are root causes for a lot of tragedies in society.

 

Q: Who is or has been the most influential person in your life?

A: My father has been the most positive and influential person in my life without a doubt.  I owe a lot of my athletic success to him and his advice.

 

 Q: What advice would you give athletes looking to continue their career at “the next level”?

A: Ask yourself if you truly love the work involved with your sport.  Every level that you regress to will have more world than the previous and if you are already struggling with the workload at your current level than you will have to amp up your work ethic if you want to continue a career in athletics and “the next level”.  It is also extremely important to keep faith that if you do the right things the right things will happen.

 

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National Scouting Combine Posts

“I would like to start this message by thanking you and everyone involved who made this opportunity possible. I am truly grateful for the experience and atmosphere you’ve cultivated through the National Scouting Combine. My journey has not been an easy one by any means. Losing my mother in 2017 to cancer, losing the house my brothers and I called home before attending this very event in 2018, and completely bombing the event left me completely shot mentally. This event that just took place gave me the motivation and hope for better days. That is exactly what has been provided to me. Opportunities I never considered have presented themselves to me with each passing day. WWE contract offers, Rugby offers, and NFL scout inquiries about what kind of man Jarrod Cann is, are just the first of many opportunities that were made real through my participation in your event! Thank you for allowing me to tell my story on such a platform and allowing me to save lives with my story.”
Jarrod Cann
Jarrod CannRB, Central Connecticut State
“The National Scouting Combine was a great opportunity for me to get official test numbers and get my information out to teams and scouts to gain necessary exposure. It is always a big challenge for athletes to get official verified numbers but the National Scouting Combine gave me this opportunity. The entire staff works with the players to put them into the best position to succeed. They give players opportunities to promote themselves on and off the field. They have a setup to do all combine tests and to perform official position drills. The event also allows for players to gain useful contacts with teams and National Scouting Combine staff members to further promote themselves. The National Scouting Combine provided me with a chance to showcase my abilities as a free agent and put myself in a good position to have success in my pursuit to play professional football. I want thank the National Scouting Combine staff for giving players this unique chance to demonstrate their skills.”
Chris Bury
Chris BuryTE, Notre Dame
“I had a great experience at the combine. The whole staff was extremely positive and really wanted the best for all of the players that attended. Being that I was a free agent and a season removed from NFL camps it was crucial for me to get new numbers to show I was still working hard. My only opportunity so far came from a scout who attended the combine. As players that’s why we attend these events, to be seen by the pro levels. I’m very greatful for the opportunity that was came from the combine. I’ll be recommending it to every player possible in the future who’s looking to go pro.”
Dillon Salva
Dillon SalvaTE, Merrimack
My experience at the National Scouting Combine was an extremely positive one. Coming from a small school (Bryant University – Division I AA), opportunities to showcase my athleticism and measurables to pro scouts were scarce. However, Jimmy and his team gave me that opportunity when they put together a first-class event, in an outstanding venue and invited hundreds of players that had been overlooked or just wanted the opportunity to showcase their abilities. The connections, advice and coaching I received at the 2018 National Scouting Combine were priceless, as many pro scouts and coaches began to get in contact with me during and immediately after the combine. Jimmy and his team did an outstanding job of incorporating new, cutting edge technologies into the combine, while inviting well-respected coaches, scouts and former professional players to run the drills and provide coaching. Jimmy provided me with a platform to chase my dream of playing professional football that I would not otherwise have had, and in turn is part of the reason why many CFL teams took interest in me, why I was invited to Rookie Minicamps with the Jets and Texans and why I have now signed with the Orlando Apollo’s of the new Alliance of American Football League. The invitation to the 2018 National Scouting Combine was a blessing to me and my career and I would recommend any and all small school or overlooked college football player to attend and take advantage of this combine that, with Jimmy leading it, will continue to get better every single year.
Matt Sewell
Matt SewellWR, Bryant University
“My testimonial would be because of COVID-19, it has hindered my ability to showcase my talents at pro days, workouts, and tryouts. But, because of the NSC I can still send official numbers and video to each team, while also gaining the opportunity to meet scouts in face and build a relationship with them. Lastly, the NSC is second only to the NFL combine which helps me have something else to hang my hat on as one of the top performers!”
Jamal Ware
Jamal WareLB, Maryville College
“Thank you for the support and helping with promoting me for the next level. I am most definitely interested and my experience at the national scouting combine was incredible. It was my first official opportunity and it was a professional combine. All verified, legitimate laser times and numbers are vital to have especially in the times we are facing today. All of the coaches and personnel involved were professional in every aspect. It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to be apart of the national scouting combine and I can’t be more grateful to have verified numbers.”
Kyle Haines
Kyle HainesWR, Shippensburg
“First and foremost I would like to thank the NSC staff for giving me the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of scouts and allow myself to get relevant combine numbers. This combine is by far the best Combine I have been to. The rooms were great and the food that was provided by NSC was great as well. You can feel that they had a passion for helping those who may not have had an NFL Combine invite and others who are just chasing that opportunity. They were extremely supportive and willing to market the players in every way possible. I was beyond impressed with the testing once we got going. Everything was very organized and professional just as it should be. When it came to the testing they had both hand time and laser time which makes your test times that much more official. The number of scouts that attended the Scouting Combine was even better. This staff truly knows how to put together a legit A+ combine experience and was by far the best combine experience I have been a part of.”
Nolan Saraceni
Nolan SaraceniRB, Montana Tech
“I was fortunate enough to be a participant in the 2020 BSN Scouting Combine as it was an experience that I will surely never forget. Not only did it open opportunities for me to play football at the professional level, but it also shed light on my path to a football dream as an underdog. Not many athletes get this sort of opportunity and I am just blessed to have been apart of it.”
Tyler Anderson
Tyler AndersonRB, Thomas More University
Pursuing a career in professional football from a small school is a lonely path. A prospect may have the support of his peers, family, and teammates, but the process can be overwhelming and very confusing. Often times small school prospects don’t have access to the resources provided to prospects at football powerhouses. “How can I get myself in front of scouts? How can I prove to them that I can play at the next level?” These are only a few of the many questions that race through a potential prospects mind on a daily basis. The Beyond Sports Network National Combine helped simplify this process for many of the players that attended, including myself. Despite the combine being held for a few days, the information and services provided by the combine, as well as the sense of community between the staff members and prospects stood out to me. Every test that would be performed at the NFL combine was covered, every coach and staff member supported each prospect to an unbelievable extent, and the amount of scouts and agents in attendance and how interactive they were was impressive. The Beyond Sports Network National Scouting Combine was a critical step in attempting to take my talents to the next level. If you are a small school prospect with no clear path to the next level, the National Scouting Combine will certainly clear up the path for you.
Schnayder Termidor
Schnayder TermidorLB, Ithaca College
BSN gave me the platform I needed to be respected as a athlete. I came to there first Combine in 2010. I was pulled by every NFL, CFL scout. At that time there were a couple really good WRs including a SEC top WR who NFL scouts were coming to see. Once I put up good #s in my Testing Drills, we did one on ones. I showed my great covering skills to the point all the scouts herd the WRs talking and asking who was this guy. Then BSN promoted me and my numbers and I received workouts on all levels. I became a name in the business. Having legit numbers and respectable organization backing you is what you need. Everyone can say they can play and perform but coaches and scouts don’t believe you. BSN gives you the stage to perform and prove them wrong and get the opportunity you deserve. Because of BSN I was able to create a long professional career and when needed comeback to prove I could still play at a high level.
Cedeno Patrick
Cedeno PatrickLB, Delaware State
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