PALM BEACH GARDENS – There is a key high school football player from Dwyer who all college coaches will need to take a look at.
Enter Dante DeSantis, the younger brother of Dwyer Class of 2024 alum and Stetson signee Corrado DeSantis.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound linebacker played five game in an injury-shortened junior season for the Panthers, but he certainly made the most of his time on the gridiron. He posted the following statistics:
•35 tackles
•11 tackles for loss
•1 forced fumble
The best individual game for DeSantis came in Week 1 against Jupiter – a 24-11 road loss. He recorded the following:
•15 total tackles
•4 tackles for loss
DeSantis had another standout game, which came in Week 6 against Pahokee – a 27-13 home loss. He recorded the following:
•10 total tackles
•3 tackles for loss
•1 forced fumble
The other three games that DeSantis played in were against Forest Hill (Week 8), Atlantic (Week 9), and Palm Beach Lakes (Week 11).
“I loved the fun we had,” DeSantis said. “Even though the season was rough, I had a lot of good memories with everyone trying to make the best of the situation. I wish I didn’t have as many injuries as I had. All that missed game time was highlights left on the field.”
DeSantis has overcome two disc herniations and two concussions, as evidenced by him excelling in both wrestling (winter season) and track (spring) for Dwyer. He qualified for the FHSAA Class 3A state wrestling championships (215-pound class), along with his older brother Corrado.
“Playing other sports I think is necessary if you want to be good,” Dante said. “Everyone who is good doesn’t have an off-season. They work all year. So playing other sports allows me to continue to work in the offseason, perfect my skills for football, show off my athleticism in other sports, and have fun. This allows me to come back to football ready and amped for the season.”
Dante returned to the gridiron for the spring football circuit and excelled on defense in Dwyer’s spring game at home on Thursday, May 16 – a 36-0 blowout win. He posted the following statistics:
•15 tackles
•3 tackles for loss
•2 sacks
“I had to show out for my last spring game”, Dante said. “I was just glad to see that all our hard work in the spring paid off. It was great to see our offense being productive, and defense we went out and did what we were supposed to. We were flying around to the ball, playing physical. Personally I was glad to be back on the field and just having fun.”
Yaphet Spencer, a Pahokee native who was on Dwyer’s coaching staff during this past season, spoke on what the younger DeSantis brother brings to his team and more.
“The kid has the ability and he’s a hard worker,” Spencer said. “He’s a good kid who has very good size. He should be a pretty good name around the county this year.”
Dante is now looking forward to the summer offseason months of June and July.
“I’m going to stay working over the summer,” Dante said. “I’m planning on attending lots of individual camps, as well as 7-on-7 ones.”
After the summer will be the fall football season, which will start at the end of July and will end in November or December.
Dante is happy with the trajectory that new Dwyer head coach – and Dwyer alum – Willie Smith is taking the team at this time.
“Coach Smith has said that since he got here, his goal is to change program around,” Dante said. “And I think looking at the spring game, you can see we are in the right direction.”
Dante shared his aspirations for the upcoming fall football season.
“My goal is to get the opportunity to expand my football career onto the collegiate level, but also be a part of the Dwyer team that changed the identity of Dwyer football around,” said Dante, who has no offers at this time. “And I think that’s what the team’s main goal is, turning the program around and becoming more disciplined. Once we do that the wins and offers will follow.”
PHOTO CREDITS: Takenbyzach (Instagram), Drew Campbell (dhc_visuals; Instagram), and Cady (Dwyer High School)
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