Sports

OXFORD — Joe Coniglio, a junior defensive end who leads Miami University in quarterback sacks over the last two seasons, was a high school legend in Rockford, Ill.

He was a bruiser and a team leader back then, too, but in those days he was a quarterback's best friend.

Coniglio rushed for a school-record 2,806 yards and 42 touchdowns in two seasons at Boylan Catholic, where he also set a conference record with a 99-yard touchdown run.

"In high school I played fullback in a Wing-T," he said. "I hardly played any defense."

That didn't matter to the college coaches.

"I was being recruited by a lot of schools as a linebacker," he said. "But I never figured I'd end up as a defensive end."

The 215-pound Coniglio gave his nod to Miami, became a middle linebacker and gained about 15 pounds. But then the RedHawks' coaches realized they were thin along the defensive line.

So Coniglio was moved to another new position and gained another 20 pounds, up to 250.

"Before I got here, I wasn't as strong as I could be," he said. "I gained a lot of weight working out in the weight room."

After being redshirted his first season, Coniglio was named Freshman of the Year in 2005 and led Miami with five quarterback sacks in 2006.

This year Coniglio is making a bid for All-Mid-American Conference honors. He leads the RedHawks with 3.5 sacks and is second with 6.5 tackles for loss. His 22 tackles are the most of any Miami defensive lineman.

And he has become a leader of a defense on the rise.

During a three-game span early in the season, Miami allowed 43.3 points per game. Over the last four games, that figure is down to 16.3 points.

It's a trend the RedHawks hope will continue Saturday afternoon when they face the Vanderbilt Commodores in Nashville, Tenn.

"On the defensive side of the ball, we're adjusting to a new defensive coordinator (Jay Hood, who was promoted from defensive line coach)," Coniglio said, "and he's adjusting to being as defensive coordinator, and I think it's all coming together for us."

Despite his Barry Sanders-like numbers as a high school running back, Coniglio said he has no regrets.

"I loved (being a running back)," he said. "I always joke with the coaches about running the ball here, with all of our injuries there. They say 'yeah, right.'

"But the camaraderie that a defense has and how you need all 11 guys working together to be successful is something I enjoy," Coniglio added. "I love playing on the defense more than anything and makes me forget the days when I was a running back."