'He's definitely fearless.' Bishop Chatard's Sam Feeney named City Male Athlete of Year

As if competing in football, basketball and track and field was not enough to fill his schedule, Sam Feeney also likes to golf. And play chess. And if there had been time, he likely would have gone out for the baseball team again as a senior.

“I don’t want to sound like I’m bragging or anything, but I’m versatile,” Feeney said. “I’m not that good at basketball, but I can go out there and get a rebound and make a good pass. I just like to compete.”

Football eventually became Feeney’s sport of choice and will be his focus in college at Ball State. His football coach at Bishop Chatard, Rob Doyle, said he “could see (Feeney’s) athleticism” going back to his days playing CYO football for St. Pius X.

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“We had high expectations for him because he was so athletic,” Doyle said. “You never know how things will turn out, but he is a very hard worker mixed with that talent.”

Feeney did not seem destined for stardom, at least in his mind, coming into his freshman year at Bishop Chatard. Feeney’s older brother, Jack, encouraged him to get in the weight room going into his freshman year.

“He told me, ‘Don’t mess around.’ He didn’t think I’d be anything special and neither did I," Sam said. "My goal was not to be the worst one on the team. I tried to follow what he did. I work hard, but he works way harder than me.”

Feeney did blossom into a special athlete, excelling particularly in football and track and field. He first made his name as a fearless special teams star, blocking seven punts and kicks during his high school career. He relied on that athleticism to become a wrecking ball at outside linebacker to help Chatard to back-to-back Class 3A state championships and run the 100 meters in a blazing 10.67 seconds this spring.

“His goal was to become a Division I athlete,” Doyle said. “He needed to get to 200 pounds from what the (college) coaches were telling him and he was able to do that without losing any speed. I think he’ll be a difference maker on special teams right away. He’s tough and aggressive and he’ll play that way from the first day he gets on campus.”

Feeney can add a distinguished honor before he gets to Ball State. The Chatard senior was voted the City Male Athlete of the Year by a vote of the athletic directors in Marion County. The honor dates to 1950 (it grew to include female athletes in 1979) and is regarded as one of the top recognition awards for Indianapolis-area senior high school athletes.

Other finalists for the award were Heritage Christian shot put and discus star Luke Himes, a Notre Dame recruit, and Scecina three-sport standout David Mendez, who is planning to play football and baseball at Wabash College. The award is geared toward athletic achievement, but the winners also exhibit impressive credentials in academics and in their personal lives. Generally, multi-sport athletes are given consideration over single-sport athletes, though that is not always the case.

For all his accomplishments in football and track and field, Feeney said he considered himself more of a baseball player when he started high school. But the marriage between football and track and field turned out perfect for Feeney, who qualified for state in the 100 as a junior, his first year running track.

“Over the two years I’ve done it, I’ve gotten a lot faster,” he said. “I’m better with technique.”

Feeney had high hopes for his senior year and appeared to be well on his way to reaching those goals, finishing first in the 100 in five meets, including the City meet and Circle City Conference meet. Feeney ran a personal-best 10.67 at the City meet on May 9. But a nagging hamstring injury the following week at the sectional kept him from advancing to state, where he would have been a contender.

“It was frustrating not to compete in the last two meets and maybe have a chance to win state,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I accomplished what I needed to accomplish. I set some new personal records in the 100 and got done what I needed to get done. I can at least say that.”

Feeney’s future is in football, though. Even as a junior who had yet to fill out physically at 170 to 175 pounds, Feeney found he had a knack for making plays on special teams as a kick and punt blocker. He finished that season with 83 tackles, including nine for a loss, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for the 3A state champions.

“He’s definitely fearless,” Doyle said. “We took his athleticism and schemed some things for him, but we allowed him to have some freedom out there to make plays. Sometimes kids are athletic and fast but not physical. But we set a standard at Chatard for being physical and Sam certainly was that.”

By his senior season, Feeney was a different player. Still fast and physical. But with a little more oomph behind him. About 30 pounds worth. On a 15-0 team that completed the back-to-back run to 3A titles, Feeney made 84 tackles, including 17 for loss, with 8 ½ sacks, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and two defensive touchdowns.

“He didn’t slow down at all,” Doyle said. “We used him at tight end, too. Once he got locked in on somebody (to block), they never got off the block. He was a natural for that.”

There were some bigger schools, Purdue and Northwestern among them, that liked Feeney as a preferred walk-on candidate. But he picked Ball State over several other offers with the idea that he could play earlier.

“From what I’ve heard, they give everybody a fair shot,” he said. “They aren’t going to set somebody aside just because they are a freshman. I know some people personally who have played there and are on the team right now. I thought it would be a better fit for me and I really, really like the coaches. From what they’ve told me I’ll have a chance to be a special teams player for sure and I’ll have a chance to fight for a spot because I’m the fastest linebacker in the room.”

Feeney has NFL aspirations and believes his metrics for speed and strength compare well to players in the NFL combine if he continues to put on weight and keep his speed. NFL executives often talk about well-rounded athletes. That certainly describes Feeney, who believes he would be where he is without his brother pushing him.

“I hated him at times, you know?” he said with a laugh. “But I have to be thankful for what he told me. I tried to model myself after him on and off the field. He went after everything, and I respect him for that. He definitely helped me a lot.”

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Bishop Chatard's Sam Feeney is 2023-24 City Male Athlete of the Year