Norwin graduate Gianni Rizzo has breakout season on Duquesne’s defense

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Saturday, December 16, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Gianni Rizzo has been playing college football since 2019 and still has a year to go.

But the Duquesne junior linebacker out of Norwin will be hard pressed to top this season.

Saving his best for late in the year when the Dukes made a push into the NCAA FCS playoffs, Rizzo led the defense and wreaked havoc on quarterbacks.

Duquesne finished 7-5 after a 40-7 loss to Youngstown State, Rizzo’s former team, in the first round. But the Dukes won five of their final six regular-season games with a defense-infused surge and captured a Northeast Conference title.

As he takes a step back to admire his handiwork, Rizzo said the season came down to belief and application.

“As the season got deeper into conference play, we kept stacking wins,” he said. “Then a realization came upon us that we have a real chance to go win the (Northeast Conference). Our focus changed. My focus changed. A lot of players on that defense relied on me and the other starting linebacker to set the defense and know the game plan.”

Rizzo (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) had double-digit tackles in his last three games, including 11 against Youngstown State, a school where he spent three years trying to have the breakout year he just finished.

When Bo Pelini left YSU for LSU, Rizzo asked the coach to hold the door for him. He transferred to Duquesne.

He racked up 10 stops in a 26-14 win over Merrimack and added 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks in a loss to Stonehill.

“Late in the season, I really stepped up on the film and took extra time to learn the game plan and it obviously showed in my play and on the statline,” Rizzo said.

Rizzo, who earned All-NEC Second Team honors, cut some weight in the offseason and was able to fully use his speed to wrap up ball carriers. He was a member of record-setting relay teams at Norwin and one of the top sprinters to come along in the Knights program in recent years.

He won a PIAA title with the 1,600-meter relay as a sophomore.

More than doubling his total from last season (32), Rizzo finished this season with 68 tackles, including a team-high 10 for loss, and was second with 3.5 sacks. He had two forced fumbles and three pass breakups.

Training when he is home has become a staple for Rizzo. Like many local athletes, he works out with a popular local outfit.

“Working with Tim Cortazzo at FSQ and training for the season was the difference,” Rizzo said. “Also, posting seven and eight tackles and a (breakup) against WVU gave me the confidence for the rest of the season … knowing I’ll be able to go out there and play with anyone in the conference.”

Rizzo has big plans for his senior season. His top goal is clear.

“Back-to-back NEC champs, nothing less,” h said. “We return eight starters on defense and seven on offense. We should have high expectations. As for myself, I don’t set individual goals because then you get too caught up in the stats and less about the team.”

Rizzo has sparked an interest in officiating basketball and earned his PIAA patch. He said he may be working recreation or junior varsity games this year.

He umpires baseball in the summer.

“I have a lot of time this spring because my grad program is all online so I thought, why not?” he said. “I enjoy baseball, so why not try basketball, too?”

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

Tags: Norwin