(photo via ultimaterecruit.com)

Every high school football player dreams of the day they receive an offer to play in college. For Ben Castellano, this dream came true – 18 times, to be exact.

Castellano, junior at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville, Virginia, is gearing up for his last season with the Wolverines. This past Fall he recorded 61 catches for 804 yards and nine touchdowns in a mere eight games.

So far, Castellano has received interest from 18 schools, including Ivy League institutions Yale, Brown, Cornell, Penn, and Dartmouth, with plans to visit Harvard. He also received an athletic scholarship offer from Indiana University in November that he was excited for.

“I’m blessed to receive an offer from (a) Big Ten (school), Castellano said. “It was one of my dreams all my life and I’m so excited to get one.”

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In the classroom, Castellano studies business and maintains a steady 3.7 GPA. 

Along his promising journey to play college football, Castellano is grateful for those who’ve supported him. That includes his father, Mike, who is currently on Woodgrove’s staff as wide receivers coach. Another in particular is his mother, Kim Castellano, who will be joining him in spirit for his collegiate career.

Kim lost her 17-year fight to breast cancer in January this year at age 48 . She was an essential piece of Ben’s football development, cheering him on since youth football. Mike Castellano told the Loudoun Times the community has been comforting during this sensitive time.

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 “The community outpouring has been unbelievable,” Castellano said. “They’ve really helped us through it all.”

His mother’s passing has impacted his life drastically, but Ben plans on keeping her memory alive.

“Every game, I’m going to write her name and the date she passed on my tape,” Castellano said.

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Every catch, run, touchdown, and victory celebration, she’ll be with him. Castellano will also honor his mother’s last wish for him, “Just play for me, Benny,” as he’s already set a goal for his senior season.

“Two touchdowns and 100 yards a game,” he said, “That’s what I’m going for.”