Once he arrived at Steinert High School, Remy Feniello became a nomad lost in the football wilderness. He started at running back during an abbreviated freshman season; and was moved to defensive back for the first time in his life and started for varsity as a sophomore.
His junior year has thrust Feniello into yet another spot: inside linebacker. And he is lost no more. He has found a home.
“In the beginning of the season when I got that call in the first scrimmage, it just felt so real to me, like it was meant to be,” Feniello said. “It was like I really owned that spot.”
The stats through the Spartans 3-4 start will confirm that ownership, as Remy (pronounced Ray-me) led the team in tackles (51.5), solo tackles (20), tackles for loss (9) and sacks (3). He has partnered with fellow junior Matt Iraca to create a powerful inside tandem.
For first-year coach Thaddeus Richards, the decision to move Feniello from corner to linebacker was a no-brainer after seeing his growth spurt while coaching him on the JV basketball team. Between last fall and this one, Remy blossomed into a 5-foot-10, 195-pound specimen.
“Physically, I was very confused as to how he wasn’t in the box before,” Richards said. “But I guess he had such a physical growth spurt; he just grew because of body weight and everything that goes into it. From day one in preseason, he was an inside backer for us. He physically fits the mold of what we’re looking for schematically.”
How so?
“I think his physicality more than anything, combined with his athleticism really makes him a tough kid to block inside the box,” Richards continued. “I think he brings the right tenacity every single game whether it’s practice or to the game, that we kind of need. We build off him defensively.”
Actually, they build around him and will try to create plays for him. Feniello is involved in the blitz packages, and defensive coordinator Joe Washington creates a variety of one-on-one opportunities that allow Remy to be free to run the field. Richards said: “He’s definitely a kid we want to get involved in our pressure packages whenever we can.”
Feniello welcomes the action, but admits it did cause a little duress when he was first told he would be the man.
“I felt a little pressure but I just do what I do,” he said. “Nothing really changes. And they have me blitzing a lot. I love when I get that call.”
Feniello played youth football for the Hamilton Revolution, where he was mainly a running back. He was also an outside linebacker but barely got any reps, so it’s not like he had any experience going into high school
During his freshman season, which was the shortened Covid-19 year, Feniello got hurt playing running back so really didn’t get to show much.
Entering his sophomore year, defensive backs coach Brad Harris thought Remy would make a good cornerback, despite the fact he never played the position. Feniello accounted himself as well as possible, making 23 tackles and one interception.
“It was different,” he said of playing the position. “I had a really good coach with coach Harris. He taught me all the moves and techniques and put me in the best position to succeed.”
All the while, Feniello was increasing his muscle mass by lifting with his dad, also named Remy. When big Remy was at Steinert he played freshman football but quit after a year to focus on bodybuilding. He became his son’s mentor, and that became important when Richards told Remy he would be a linebacker.
“My dad showed me those techniques,” Feniello said. “My work ethic was always up there as far as getting bigger, stronger and faster than everybody. I think that just helped me along the way. So it was nothing really different once I became a linebacker.”
But backers do not live by strength alone. They need speed, quickness and agility to get to the quarterback or move laterally in pursuit of ball carriers. Feniello also has that covered in his training, or when he plays basketball or baseball for Steinert.
“I just set up cones in my backyard,” he said. “Playing basketball my sophomore and freshman year, that helped a lot in conditioning. Even in baseball. We do what they call poles, where you run from left field to right field. Just little stuff like that, even running around my block to stay in shape.”
The work has paid off big time, as Feniello appears to check all the boxes when it comes to playing the position.
“He’s transitioned so well from playing corner last year to playing in the box,” Richards said. “He’s a sideline-to-sideline type of kid. We put a lot of eggs in his basket as far as forcing plays to him and hopefully allowing him to scrape free. He’s done a great job just making the plays that come to him and making other plays that not necessarily he’s drawn up to make. He’s still making them at the opposite side of the field. It’s remarkable what he’s done so far this year.”
It’s easy to see why. A player always seems to play better when they are at a position they love.
“It was really exciting because last year as a corner I didn’t get as many tackles, not as many opportunities,” he said. “This year playing middle linebacker got me more pumped up for games and ready to hit somebody. That’s all I really wanted to do.
“I think the biggest change is now it’s more filling the gap and making those moves on the big linemen. As defensive back last year I didn’t have a lot of action with the big offensive linemen that I do now. Now I have to get by them.”
He has been doing that on a regular basis, but is also called upon to cover receivers. “I play the Will backer, so he puts me to the trips side more because I have more range than the Mike linebacker,” Feniello said.” That way I can cover that third receiver. Being a DB helped me tons with that.”
On a defense that starts just two seniors, Feniello has taken one of the leadership roles on the unit. He doesn’t do it by yelling or screaming or drawing attention to himself. He just does what he does and sets the right example.
“Defensively we go as he goes at this point,” Richards said. “He’s kind of worked into that leadership role throughout summer and early fall as more has got put on his plate. He’s kind of risen to the occasion and kids gravitate toward the way he plays. He’s a lead-by-example kind of guy. Not many words need to be said, people just kind of gravitate toward his actions on a day to day basis.”
When he’s not playing sports, Feniello helps out at the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, and also hits the books to the point where he has a 3.4 grade point average. With that kind of academic success, combined with his ability to play linebacker, Remy has college football in his sights.
“I’ve been in the recruiting process for a couple months,” he said. “It’s really been my main priority right now, to get looks from colleges and keep up my grades. I’m following all the recruiting coordinators on twitter, all the coaches. I’m emailing a bunch of different schools, sending out film, trying to get noticed as much as possible.”
If it all works out and Feniello does play college football, Richards feels they are getting a unique individual in all the right ways. “You watch him play, he plays angry with a purpose every single time,” the coach said. “ Then you talk to him, he’s the sweetest kid, the nicest kid, just happy-go-lucky. Off the court or field he’s super excited, fun to be around. He’s like the super old school, nostalgic kind of thing. Everything is just fun to him. In 2023 with everything these kids have lived through, it’s refreshing to know he still has that charm about him.”
For Richards, it’s also refreshing to know he has him for another season.
“Nearly the whole group will be back, almost,” he said. “Knowing he’ll be a centerpiece on our defense for the next 16 months is something really good for this program.”
Junior linebacker Remy Feniello in action for Steinert. (Photo by Amanda Ruch.),
