Arlington football star Colin Cubberly commits to Wisconsin

Days after announcing a major decision about his college football future and hours after completing a high-level training session, Colin Cubberly was back at Arlington High School. On a Saturday afternoon.

“I’m working out with some of my linemen,” he explained.

Cubberly drives each weekend about 80 miles to an athletic training facility in New Jersey, the 11th-grader practicing there in the morning with college athletes.

But instead of going home afterwards to enjoy the remainder of his Saturday, he’ll then host high school teammates for a session to share what he learned.

“You just look at him and your first impression is that, with the size, he can be really good,” Arlington football coach Michael Morano said of the offensive tackle. “Then, over time, you see the leadership and his dedication to improvement.”

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Those intangible traits, combined with an imposing 6-foot-6, 305-pound frame, made Cubberly a coveted college prospect since his freshman year. As he dominated on the field, the Division I offers poured in and much of his “free time” was spent traveling for recruiting visits.

The right tackle last week announced a verbal commitment to the University of Wisconsin, adding himself to a short list of Dutchess County products who have played or will play football for a Power Five conference team.

“It’s a huge relief,” the Lagrangeville native said of his decision. “I feel great and my family is super happy. It wasn’t easy to choose, but Wisconsin jumped out to me.”

Wisconsin hosted Cubberly, his father and Morano for two days in April and made a strong impression. The 16-year-old said the team made them feel welcome, and he enjoyed the warm campus atmosphere.

As well, he said, the Badgers’ tradition of featuring physical, run-heavy offenses appealed to him. New schemes are being installed under head coach Luke Fickell, who was hired last winter, but Cubberly said the team was assured elements of its signature style will remain.

Members of the Wisconsin coaching staff visited Arlington twice, making their interest clear, and Cubberly received an offer in January.

“The moment you set foot in Madison, you know it’s a college sports town,” Morano said. “The culture suits Colin and there was a home-like feel that was comfortable. I’m happy he ended up in a place that’s a great fit.”

It helps, of course, that Wisconsin has plans to construct a $300 million indoor practice facility.

Cubberly got a torrent of offers from schools including Texas, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Cincinnati and Duke.

“It’s amazing,” Morano said of the whirlwind recruitment tour. “It’s an experience that, as a coach, you’re fortunate to have, to be part of this journey and help guide an incredible kid.”

With Wisconsin, Cubberly said, “We spent a lot of time with the staff and players, and I had a strong feeling. Plus, the campus is awesome and it’s right in the capital.”

Thanks to an accelerated academic schedule, Cubberly is expected to graduate from Arlington in January and plans to enroll early at Wisconsin. Doing so, he said, will enable him to participate in the spring practices, getting a head start for the football season and fall semester.

“It’s a lot, but I take pride in academics,” he said of juggling a condensed scholastic schedule with football training and frequent recruitment trips the last two years. “We got on it from my sophomore year and my guidance counselor set up a plan to make this possible.”

The most recent locals to play football at the major Division I level were Millbrook native Allan Rappleyea (Wake Forest) and Poughkeepsie’s Kyiev Bennermon (Boston College). Rappleyea’s younger brother, Andrew, is a senior at Milton Academy in Massachusetts who is committed to Penn State.

“It’s a major accomplishment for a player in our area,” Morano said, referring to the Hudson Valley seldom drawing a national spotlight. “Colin is a tremendous human being, a humble kid, and someone you can easily root for.”

Colin’s older siblings also starred at Arlington and went on to play collegiately. Andrew Cubberly pitches for the Quinnipiac baseball team and Allie plays softball at Babson College.

Allie Cubberly once joked that Colin’s struggles to hit a baseball led him to football. That might’ve been serendipitous as he grew into an athlete whose physical tools — including long arms, quick feet and power — are ideal in the trenches.

The natural talent has been supplemented by a training regimen that included workouts at Kings of Fitness since he was in the seventh grade, and those Saturday trips to Pro E.D.G.E. in Wayne, New Jersey. Colin has anchored Arlington’s dominant run-blocking line and earned the Journal’s Offensive Player of the Year honors the last two seasons.

“He takes part in our strength program, his private strength training, the offensive lineman training,” Morano said. “He dedicated himself to getting better and constantly worked toward getting himself in this position. He’s earned it.”

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Football: Arlington's Colin Cubberly verbally commits to Wisconsin