Deakon Tonielli aspires to be Michigan’s Mr. Reliable
OSWEGO, Ill. (BVM) — For a while, it was clear that Deakon Tonielli had a future in sports. But it was unclear which sport that would be.
The 6-foot-6, 215-pound tight end for Oswego High School thought that it could be on the basketball court. But as he got older, it was evident that his size would be a nightmare for defenses to cover.
Tonielli was always one of the biggest kids in his class, towering over his teammates and his opposition. This also made it tough for his coaches to figure out what position he should play.
He started out as an offensive lineman, then later transitioned to running back in seventh grade and quarterback in eighth grade. But when he got to high school he finally made the move to receiver.
Now having first-hand experience at every position on the offensive side of the ball, his strong football IQ may be his biggest asset. Partly why he has emerged as the No. 5 player in the state of Illinois.
“It’s kind of easier to see how an offense should look and how it should run,” Tonielli said. “I kind of learned what it was like to throw the ball and to know how a receiver is going to want the ball, so I know how a quarterback feels. It’s really good for connections because I’m able to know where he’s gonna throw the ball before he throws the ball.”
But it’s more than just above the neck for Tonielli. His pure athleticism and physicality also add to why he is so coveted.
Four-star Michigan TE commit Deakon Tonielli (@deakontonielli) putting on a show. Second TD of the day. #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/OhmQbimYJm
— "EJ Holland" (@EJHollandOn3) September 16, 2022
In June, he announced his commitment to the University of Michigan.
“What really stood out to me was the people,” Tonielli said. “You can have the best education in the world while also playing the best level of football. I had felt the sense of home and a warm sense that this was the right place.”
The opportunity to play at one of college football’s biggest powerhouses is not something that comes overnight. It is something that all of these recruits put years of hard work into just to be able to sniff the idea of playing at the highest level.
But Tonielli does not really view it like that.
While it is something Tonielli has grinded for, he does not really view it as work. It was just what he loved to do.
“As a kid, I just wanted to be outside doing something. Football has always kind of been that something,” Tonielli said. “Whenever I go outside and put work in, it doesn’t feel like I’m putting work in. It feels like I’m just playing football. I’m going out there and having fun.”
While Tonielli has quite the resume already up to this point, he is most proud of his maturation over the years, on and off the field.
“I think keeping my head where it has been has been my biggest accomplishment,” Tonielli said. “Just not letting everything from the outside world really get to me and change the way I am as a person. Being a human and being a person is the most important thing and when you stray away from that, it’s kind of hard to accomplish anything.”
This line of thinking has also helped shape some of his upcoming goals for when he gets to Ann Arbor. While some high school seniors salivate over the idea of being a Freshman All-American or maximizing their playing time, Tonielli simply wants to be someone the coaching staff and the team can rely on.
“Whether it’s special teams, defense, offense, or whatever, just being that guy that coach can look at and be like, ‘There’s nothing wrong with this kid, he does everything,’” Tonielli said. “I just want to be that guy.”
