COLLEGE FOOTBALL: WAVERLY GRAD TOMASSO RIDES TRANSFER PORTAL TO COLGATE (June 12, 2026)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
WAVERLY — Waverly grad Joe Tomasso will have a change of address in the fall, moving from Williamsburg, Va. to Hamilton, N.Y. after a transfer portal move landed the sophomore quarterback at Colgate University.

Tomasso spent two years at William & Mary — the first a redshirt year, and the second as the primary holder for field goals and extra points. His only pass in 2025 was incomplete, but he did run for a 5-yard TD on a fake field goal.

Tomasso takes his talents to Colgate, now coached by former Cortland coach Curt Fitzpatrick, who directed the Red Dragons to a Division III national championship in 2023.

Former Utica University coach Joe Gerbino is the pass game coordinator for the Red Raiders.

Tomasso said his familiarity with the coaching staff was a big key in his move.

"I thought it was a good opportunity," he said.
 
"Obviously, I have a pretty good history with the coaching staff there, and it's closer to home.

"I've gone to a lot of the Cortland football camps back when Coach Fitz and a lot of a lot of those guys were at Cortland, and obviously I've done a lot of camps with guys like Coach Gerbino, too," noted Tomasso.

"I've known them for really as long as I play football, so I'm excited to work with them," added Tomasso.

Tomasso was a two-time all-state quarterback at Waverly, led the Wolverines to a state title in 2023, and was the Class C "Player of the Year."

Tomasso ranks third in New York all-time in career yards (9,183) and TDs (104). He is fourth all-time in yards and TDs in a single season.

He also rushed for 2,144 yards and 43 TDs.

Tomasso said the transition to Division I has been a challenge, and is as much mental as it is physical.

"I would definitely say the biggest difference is the tempo of everything and the size of the guys.

"It's a lot different with how quickly the game moves," he noted. "And, how you have to take it one play at a time ... in high school,we were always thinking state championship and sectional championship. 

"When I first got to college, I had to realize you can't shoot for those goals," added Tomasso. "You just have to shoot for the very next play and that's all you got."

The physicality of the game is another big difference in the game at the Division I level.

"It's a lot different, but it's not as different as I thought it would be," said Tomasso. 

"I put on a good amount of weight since I've since I've gotten to school, so it's not terrible, but you definitely feel it a little bit more," he added.

Tomasso is said to be in the competition for the starting job in the fall, and he said that's why he ended up at Colgate.
 
"I really just want an opportunity to play and obviously they've given me that throughout the spring," he said. "So I'm just excited to see where it leads."

Coming off a 5-7 season in Fitzpatrick's first season, Colgate opens the 2026 season Friday, Aug. 28 at Fordham.

The Red Raiders' first home game is Sept. 5 against Holy Cross.

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IN PHOTO: Joe Tomasso.

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