Commitment Report: Alex Strazzanti (2017)

<p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">Chaska senior <strong>Alex Strazzanti</strong> could have played it safe. He could have taken a full ride scholarship from one of many Division II colleges in the Midwest. Based off a successful high school career Strazzanti has confidence in his abilities. With that confidence, he is forgoing the sure thing and following his dream. He accepted a preferred walk-on offer to play for the Minnesota Gophers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">The Hawks won six games last fall – including a first-round playoff win.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">"We were a powerful team," Strazzanti said. "We had a great running back and running game. Towards the end of the year, we picked up defensively."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">Like every player who doesn&#39;t end his career in the state tournament, the three-year starter would have liked the season to have lasted a few games longer but was happy with his own performance.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">"I thought I had a very good senior season," Strazzanti said. "Obviously one of my goals was to make it to State, which I was unable to do, but overall I had a good career at Chaska."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">During his three-year varsity career, he rarely came off the field. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">"The offense allowed me to make a lot of decisions on my own. It allowed me to be loose," the option quarterback said. "The triple option fit me well. I feel I am one of the more athletic quarterbacks in the state. I am quick and shifty, can escape with my athleticism, but then I am also smart with the ball. I didn&#39;t have many turnovers."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">A two-way player, Strazzanti also started at safety.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">"I am versatile," Strazzanti said. "I can play multiple positions. From sophomore to senior year I have played outside linebacker, free safety, strong safety and middle linebacker. I would say I am one of the most physical players on the field. I feel like no one can out hit me on the field and I take pride in being the hardest hitter out there."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt"> Strazzanti had even more success as a team with the basketball team.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">"It was a season we&#39;ve been dreaming about since fourth grade," said Strazzanti, whose Hawks advanced to the 4A state basketball tournament. "It was a good group of guys, and we had a lot of fun. I played point guard and was kind of a shutdown defender.  I think the skills translated well between football and basketball. They would always put me on the best player and ask me to shut him down."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">This spring he is focusing on getting ready for college football; where he was going to play college football took many twists and turns.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">"It had its ups and downs, but overall (recruiting) was a great experience," Strazzanti said. "I got to meet a lot of new people. I had just about every DII offer, and then I narrowed it down to Mankato and Augustana. I also had a PWO offer from Iowa State. From there I realized DII was not the route I wanted to go.&#39;</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">Strazzanti bet on himself.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">"I had faith in myself and chose to take a different route," Strazzanti explained. "I have confidence in myself, and I ended up at Minnesota. There were big pros and cons with DII or Minnesota. I would have basically had a full-ride scholarship (going DII), but DI was a higher level of competition. Personally, I thought I could play at that level, and I still do. When it came down to it, this was something I had to prove to myself."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">Strazzanti was invited to Minnesota&#39;s junior day then went to a practice. In January things picked up. Everything was on track for him to walk on as a safety, but then the coaching change was made.</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">"That delayed the process – which is not what I wanted at all – but I have always wanted to play for Minnesota. With the DII offers, they were on a time limit, so with the coaching change, it delayed everything. The DII offers needed to know if I was going to take it or not. I hadn&#39;t heard anything from (the new coaching staff at) Minnesota. I was putting it on my faith and banking on it would all work out in the end. I had confidence in myself, so I turned down the two DII offers because I believed I could play at the U. It all worked out in the end."</span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">Strazzanti told northstarfootballnews.com the new staff at Minnesota like how physical he plays at safety. They also like how versatile he is. </span></p> <p><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif; font-size:12pt">They must also like his confidence. Strazzanti took a huge risk and so far it has paid off in the form of a chance to fulfill his dream of playing Division I football.</span></p>