Anthony Chickillo’s roots are well known to Hurricanes fans: He’s the son of Tony, a former nose tackle at UM, and grandson of Nick, an All-America guard.
Few were surprised when Chickillo announced his college choice in September 2010 by putting on a green and orange cap and a T-shirt that read, “Third Generation.”
While Chickillo always had his sights set on Miami, Tampa is where he grew up. On Saturday, he will be one of eight Tampa-area Hurricanes returning home to face South Florida (noon, ESPNU).
“We’re all excited, trying to get our tickets up,” said Chickillo, a junior defensive end. “It’s been a fight to get these tickets from the other guys that aren’t from Tampa.”
Whoever attends the game will see a new and improved version of Chickillo. In three games, he has 12 tackles and two sacks — half of last season’s total — despite playing little in the second halves of Miami’s blowout wins over Florida Atlantic and Savannah State. He was ACC co-defensive lineman of the week after Miami’s win over then-No. 12 Florida on Sept. 7.
“He’s not trying to make plays, he’s running the defense and making plays because of it,” coach Al Golden said. “That’s been the biggest thing from last year to this year.”
Chickillo, who is 6-feet-4, has added nearly 40 pounds since his freshman year. Now listed at 277 pounds, he is better conditioned to fight through double teams and play inside as a tackle in Miami’s third-down speed package. The emergence of players around him, like edge rushers Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyriq McCord, has helped Chickillo feel fresher than ever, he said.
“I just want him to keep doing his job,” defensive coordinator Mark D’Onofrio said. “Stats will come. But that’s really not what we’re about. We’re about winning and playing great defense.”
Miami, which is 3-0 for the first time since 2004, has proven him correct on both counts. That represents a drastic change from last season.
Among the many unflattering program records set in 2012, the Hurricanes allowed the most rushing yards, passing yards, total yards, plays, first downs and points in their history. They were 120th in the nation in total defense, allowing 486 yards per game.
After three games — two of which, it should be noted, against less-than-stellar competition — Miami ranks 14th in total defense and has markedly improved against the pass (105th to 11th) and the run (114th to 44th).
The Hurricanes lead the nation in turnover margin (plus-2.7 per game) and are plus-8 overall (four fumbles and six interceptions gained vs. two interceptions lost). They are fourth nationally in both pass efficiency defense and red zone defense.
They have 11 sacks and counting after putting up 13 in 12 games last season — another program low, and a stat that caused many to wonder why Chickillo wasn’t doing more.
“At the end of the day, everyone wants to see his sack production,” D’Onofrio said. “That’s at the bottom of my list, to be honest with you. … If he just lives up to our standard, he’ll be fine.”
Kevin Patrick, who has deep ties to Miami, USF and the Chickillo family, knows plenty about the expectations placed on Chickillo.
Patrick, who starred at Forest Hill High, was an All-American and two-time national champion as a UM defensive end. He is a longtime friend of Chickillo’s father. As a defensive line coach and recruiter for USF, he watched Anthony blossom into a high school All-American at Tampa’s Alonso High.
“I had a good relationship with Coach Patrick,” Chickillo said. “I went to the school a lot, took a lot of unofficial visits. … But I was always going to come here (Miami).”
Though he couldn’t convince him to become a first-generation Bull, Patrick is pleased to see Chickillo living up to his family’s legacy.
“He put a lot of pressure on himself,” said Patrick, who spent eight years as a USF assistant and was not retained by first-year coach Willie Taggart. “It’s just natural. You can’t help it. Anthony’s the type of athlete who’s going to do that. He just cares so much.
“It can disable you at times. I think he understands that it’s not … how many plays did I make, but did I do my job well? Am I helping my team win?”
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