COLLEGE FOOTBALL: TIOGA'S ROUGHT SIGNS TO PLAY AT UTICA UNIVESTITY (2 PHOTOS) (2024-06-18)

TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Tioga senior Cam Rought said Utica University “felt like home,” so he’ll continue his football career there as an offensive lineman.

Rought signed his National Letter-of-Intent here recently during a ceremony in the middle school auditorium that featured 13 Tioga seniors signing to play at the next level in four different sports.

“When I went there on my visit, they treated me like family,” said Rought.

“When I was there for practice, everyone was acting like friends and family, and no one was by themselves, everyone was inter-acting with someone,” he added.

Tioga football coach Nick Aiello has little doubt Rought will be successful at Utica.

“I’m real excited about Cam,” he said. “He’s a good-sized, and athletic lineman for the D-III level.

“We’ve had success with linemen from our program going on to the next level and playing,” noted Aiello. “To a certain degree, I think it’s easier at the next level because you’re only playing one side of the ball.

“And, we have a lot of blocking schemes. It’s really limited at the college level, especially when you starting talking zone blocking, and a lot of that is pass blocking,” added Aiello. “I think Cam will do well at both.”

Rought knows he has work to do before playing college.

“I need to stay consistent in the weight room,” he said.

“I also need to work on running my feet on contact,” added Rought. “I did it a little bit in high school, but I was also bigger than everyone. When I go to college, I need to keep running my feet, and staying on my block.”

Aiello said much of the challenges facing Rought will be mental.

“It will be about adapting to college, and the college football environment,” said Aiello. “It can be a little different than what you’re use to in high school, especially coming from a small school, but I think he’ll be just fine.

“I also think Cam is going to be surprised at how big and strong everyone else in the on the line,” noted Aiello. “He’ll be going against the best linemen from the schools they went to.

“Cam is a naturally strong kid, so he has that going for him.

“Getting in the weight room like he always has, and having that meanness and toughness as a college offensive lineman will be big keeps for him,” Aiello added.

Rought is excited about playing at the next level.

“I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully, it’s as fun as high school football.”

Rought will major in Exercise and Wellness studies with the intent of becoming an athletic trainer.

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IN PHOTO 1: Tioga’s Cam Rought. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY

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