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Patrick O’Neill ’02

Patrick OneillConsidered among the top high school players for his defensive prowess in the 2001 football season, Patrick was recruited by several schools and accepted a full ride to Division I-AA University of Rhode Island. As a Spartan, Patrick was a 3-year starter and earned accolades, including First Team All County, First Team All Area, First Team All Parochial, Second Team All State, and the Star Ledgers’ Co-Defensive Player of the Year. He was chosen to play in the NJ football classic All-Star game “North vs South,” and voted one of the top 100 players in New Jersey by the NJ coaches association. In 2010 O’Neill was selected to the Courier News’ “All Decade, All Area Team.”

In college, Patrick was a 4-year Letterman and a 3-year starter at the University of Rhode Island while playing in the Atlantic 10 Conference. In his junior year, he was among team leaders in total tackles and tackles for loss and was presented the “Take-Away Award” for most turnovers caused. Serving as Co-Captain his senior year, he led the team in tackles for loss and was voted most Outstanding Defensive Lineman. Patrick laced up his cleats one more time and signed a 1-year contract to play overseas in Europe for the Bergen Storm, part of the (NAIF) First Division. He was a two-way starter (LB/WR), led the team in sacks and tackles for loss, and was one of only 14 Americans chosen to play in the league.