Football | September 06, 2019

When a play breaks down for a football team, and it will happen for Western Michigan University when it goes against Michigan State on Saturday night in East Lansing, Bronco quarterback Jon Wassink will probably look for his security blanket.

Which just happens to be his roommate … senior tight end Giovanni Ricci.

''Oh, yea, he's definitely my security blanket,'' Wassink said with a smile. ''We've been roommates for four years and I know him really well, which helps on the field. I think I'm looking for him about the same as last year, when he was a big player for us.''

Ricci has already started out 2019 with a bang, catching two touchdown passes in the 48-13 win over Monmouth last Saturday. He ended up with five catches for 97 yards.

''We have tons of guys who can get open, and that was shown last Saturday,'' Ricci said, downplaying his own importance. ''Everyone was getting the ball. I was just doing my job, but it's nice to know Jon has confidence in me to throw it up there.''

That confidence started just prior to the 2018 season, when Ricci was moved from wide receiver to tight end, a position head coach Tim Lester loves to use frequently.

''Moving from receiver to tight end was something the former staff put in my head, but I said, 'No, no,' '' the senior said. ''The way Coach Lester loves to use his tight ends, and it's a big part of our offense, I was all for it now. I made the transition during the winter and just ran with it.''

The problem was, he was a bit light in weight to be a tight end, so he put on some pounds and is now at 240. Oddly enough, the 6-foot, 3-inch senior actually looks small compared to another WMU tight end, redshirt sophomore Brett Borske, who is 6-6 and weighs 270. Borske also caught a touchdown pass last Saturday.

''I was a quarterback in high school, then moved to wide receiver,'' Ricci said. "I've always liked the physical part of the game. It was definitely a transition as far as I needed to gain some weight and learn the technique. As a receiver, you aren't really focused on the ins and outs of run plays and where the line is blocking.''

Lester saw the potential in Ricci by how the Loveland, Ohio, native was playing on special teams.

''You watch a young, long receiver who is not afraid to launch his body on special teams, so he's got to be tough,'' the coach said. ''You can't play tight end without being tough. It's impossible.''

Ricci was a tough wide receiver for WMU in 2017 before getting injured and missing about half the season. He had plenty of time at practice to talk to Lester and watch how the tight ends were utilized.

''Gio saw how we were using Donnie [Ernsberger] at tight end and said, 'I'm in,' when we asked him to make the change,'' Lester said. ''Gio brings so much to the offense. He'll line up in every position on the field at some point this season. Gio and Borske is a good combination.''

That's like another good combination which helped the New England Patriots win Super Bowls – Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez.

''At one of our tight end meetings, we pulled up a Rob Gronkowski tape and he's an amazing player for me to mimic my game after,'' Ricci said. ''He's an animal, he's very physical, does everything to get open and loves the game. It's fun to watch his highlights.

''With the full offseason after playing tight end last year, it's been awesome to learn it all and feel confident in the position," Ricci continued. "There's obviously a lot to learn, but Coach Keeney [Bill Kenney, tight ends coach] is an awesome coach and helps me out a lot.''

Lester's love of the position is shown in that everywhere he's been a coach, the team has had an all-conference tight end. Ricci was third team All-Mid-American Conference last season as well as an academic All-MAC.

''I really believe in the tight end,'' Lester said. ''They are hard to find, but when you have them, they are a lot of fun and there is so much you can do with them. Gio has no fear. Jon does a good job finding him. Normally, the tight end is the closest receiver to a quarterback and a guy you can get the football to the fastest. They have that roommate relationship, too, which is huge. Game planning is fun with those two.''

As far as planning goes, Ricci feels he has a good one after he is done with football. He's already graduated with a degree in finance.

''I have a family business plan I'm getting into,'' he said. ''My dad owns some fine dining restaurants back home (in the Cincinnati area) and I'm going to get into that business.''

The restaurants are Tony's of Cincinnati, Tony's of Lexington, Ky., and Tony's of Indianapolis.

It looks like Ricci will be even busier there than he has been at tight end for Western Michigan.

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