What a first season it was as coach at Belmont Hill for Anthony Fucillo.

The Winthrop native came over after a role as an assistant for Harvard. He took over a Belmont Hill team that went 3-5 in 2022.

Fucillo then led the team to a 7-2 record and an ISL-7 championship this past fall. The only losses were to Lawrence Academy in the opener, then to a very good Deerfield team in a NEPSAC A bowl game.

It is exciting to think what Fucillo can do with this storied program going forward.

We caught up with Fucillo this Tuesday just as he finished coaching JV baseball practice.

As expected, there are plenty of football players who should have big seasons and will be recruited. For Belmont Hill, it starts with their two talented defensive ends, Tommy Rupley (6-4, 245) and Sampson Onuoha (6-4, 240).

“No, (most schools don’t have two defensive ends like that) it’s kind of absurd that I’m at a small, private school in Massachusetts and I have two elite kids like that,” Fucillo said.

The schools after Rupley right now are Boston College, Duke, Northwestern, Rutgers, and Virginia, who have all offered. Rupley is also visiting Penn State as well, as the Nittany Lions have just started recruiting him.

“He is super twitchy,” Fucillo said of Rupley. “That’s probably one of his best things. His get off is elite. Plays super aggressive, very physical. And, again, kind of a kid that can be multiple. He’s really physical in the run game, and he’s an excellent pass rusher.”

Onuoha has a unique story, and has a high ceiling.

“Sampson is an interesting story,” Fucillo said. “Sampson is from London. Sampson has only played 15 games of football in his whole life. It’s crazy. He came to Belmont Hill to play basketball, and because we really preach the multi-sport athlete here at Belmont Hill, he tried football as a sophomore under the former coach. Kind of got his feet wet, and really started to love it and fall in love with the game. Then spent a lot of time in the weight room and working. He played as a sophomore at 215, and now he’s 240 and growing. Pretty special kid, both of them, but it’s kind of an interesting thing.”

Onuoha’s offers include Duke, Syracuse, BC, Minnesota, South Florida, Pittsburgh, and UConn. He also has eight from the Ivy League.

Other players from that class of 2025 include WR/S Luis Kuehberger (6-3, 205).

“Luis is a very versatile player,” Fucillo said. “He starts for us at both wide receiver and safety. He’ll be a kid that’s a borderline FCS kid. We’ll see how things go with recruiting and camps, but great leader in our program. Led our team in interceptions last year with five, which is pretty good for a nine-game season. Also played outside receiver for us and made some big plays for us. He’s a dynamic kid in terms of having the ball in his hands, as well as blocking and that triple-threat receiver that can catch the ball, run the ball, and block, which is a thing we really preach here.”

Jordan Summers (5-10, 170) is a DB/WR/RET who can also make plays.

“He can fly,’ Fucillo said. “If he runs well this summer, he could probably get some looks at the FCS level, because he can cover. He can run. Jordan made a lot of big plays for us on defense. Had two kick returns for a touchdown in big games last year against (St. Sebastian’s) and Milton. Did a good job in the punt return game as well.”

Myles Beckett (5-11, 225) is a LB/DE to keep an eye on.

“He made an impact in our program leadership wise,” Fucillo said. “He was only here three months and was named a captain by his teammates. . . . Myles is super physical, also a really good wrestler.”

Another LB, and also FB and H-back, is Dylan Doherty (5-11, 200).

“He’s a Stoneham kid, super tough, physical player,” Fucillo said. “Great on special teams. Mainly a linebacker who will come play fullback in our 21 personnel stuff, depending on where we want to put him. He’s the type of kid that will run through a wall. You tell him to go, he’ll go.”

Two members of the offensive line in that 2025 group are G Ford Webb (6-2, 280) and IOL Harrison DeWitt (6-3, 270).

“Ford played every snap for us last year at guard,” Fucillo said. “He’s like a 3.98 student. . . . Super powerful, people mover, tough kid.”

Fucillo said Webb is a borderline Ivy, Patriot, NESCAC recruit with his academics.

“Really smart football player. Understands the game really well,” Fucillo said. “Plays very physical. Has a real nastiness to him whistle to whistle, which is one thing you want in an offensive lineman. Obviously, off the field you want him to be a gentleman. Plays with a lot of passion.”

Out of the 2026 class is quarterback Reis Little (6-0, 185).

“Very, very strong athlete,” Fucillo said. “Can make all the throws. Very good in the run game. Very poised kid for his age. Really jumped into that role as a first-year starter at quarterback. Probably one of the better athletes at this school. Also a really good baseball player. He’ll take a big step going into this year in terms of leadership. Really smart, makes good decisions. One of his better games last year was against BB&N, accounted for six of our touchdowns, and threw for three in that game, and was a real big factor in our success for the year.”

Fucillo said offensive tackle Nick Fiumara (6-5, 285) could be a “big-time recruit” in time.

“He’s still a little raw,” Fucillo said. “Kind of growing into his body and everything. Powerful kid. Works really hard. Also a solid wrestler as well. Expect him to take a big step this year going into his junior year. I think that recruiting stuff will kind of follow.”

Another lineman, C/DL Antwane Mills (6-2, 280), returns for Belmont Hill.

“Super powerful kid,” Fucillo said. “I would say maybe the smartest football player we have. Was great in making all the calls at center last year and running things we needed to do. Also, a good d-tackle, too. Really played a ton of snaps for us last year.”

Running back Marcus Griffin (5-9, 165) is one of the more underrated at his position in the league.

“He ran for just under 1,000 yards for us last year,” Fucillo said. “Probably would have broke 1,000 if he was healthy for the bowl game. He wasn’t able to play in the bowl game. Had a couple carries, then had a tough ankle sprain at the end of the year. . . . Kind of the most impressive part is he was part of a double-wing offense (at his previous school, Blue Hills). Getting into a single-back spread was definitely a jump for him. But super explosive kid. He’s going to be a big-time track kid, as well. Was in the states last year as a sophomore at Blue Hills. He rushed for eight yards a carry last year, which is pretty impressive. Had 11 touchdowns on the year.”