Yukica Profile: Carter Vedrani

By rbrown
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Updated: May 4, 2020

NOTE: The 2020 Joe Yukica New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation Scholar/Athlete banquet was cancelled this year because of COVID-19. Each Scholar/Athlete will be recognized with a commemorative program, a plaque and a personal profile that will appear in the program, on the New Hampshire Football Report, the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter web site (joeyukicafootballfoundation.org) and the Joe Yukica/New Hampshire Chapter Facebook page. This is one in a series of 39 profiles. Once published, each profile can be accessed by clicking on the athlete’s name at the bottom of the page.

CARTER VEDRANI
Campbell High School

Here’s something most high school students don’t have on their resume:

Campbell High School’s Carter Vedrani spent a good chunk of last summer working one-on-one with a student at Valley Collaborative School, an alternative placement school in Billerica, Mass., for students with moderate disabilities. Campbell head coach Glen Costello is the assistant principal at Valley Collaborative and presented the opportunity to Vedrani.

“Our kids can be very challenging,” Costello explained. “This past summer we had a one-to-one opening with someone I thought would partner with Carter really well. He worked with a student who had multiple mental-health issues — a very difficult student to develop a relationship with because of the amount of adults who have been in and out of his life. Carter was able to reach him through playing sports with him.

“Carter drove to Billerica, Mass., every day, which, by itself is impressive, given Route 3 traffic. He met with the team of teachers and aides, and for a 17-year-old he fit in with professionals who were four, five, six, 10 years into their careers. It was impressive to see that professional piece of him at a super young age.”

Vedrani, an exceptional student, was also a dominant player on the football field. His mix of extracurricular activities plus his academic and athletic success earned him the Scholar/Athlete Award presented by the Joe Yukica New Hampshire Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.

Vedrani, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound tight end/linebacker, was selected to participate in the CHaD New Hampshire East/West All-Star Game, and will continue his playing career at Division II Franklin Pierce University.

Although Vedrani was recruited as a tight end, Costello said he can envision Vedrani playing defensive end in college.

“He’s battled injuries his whole career so he’s never been a huge weight-room kid,” Costello said. “It’ll be interesting to see once he does that, because he has the natural athleticism and the mental piece of it. He’s in a better position than most players.

“I think his instincts, his preparation, his athleticism and size made him a better and scarier player on defense (than offense). Campbell’s defense has been pretty good over the last couple years and Carter is one of the main reasons for that.”

Vedrani played four years of varsity football at Campbell. He was also a four-year varsity basketball player, and served as a captain in both sports.

“He wants to help others one way or another,” Costello said. “He has aspirations to become a doctor. Even on the field you could see him take time to help out others.

“His intelligence, plus his body and then him being an overall genuine human being made him one of the more special players I’ve come across. He had the on-field and off-field piece of it.”

Q and A with Carter Vedrani

Q: Please describe the most memorable moment of your high school football career.

A: The most memorable moment of my high school career was winning a state championship.

Q: Tell us about someone who has had a significant influence on your life.

A: Coach Costello (Campbell coach Glen Costello) had a big impact on my life. From Day 1 of freshman year to the last day of senior year, he taught me more than I could’ve imagined about football, life, and more.

Q: What is your favorite subject in school and why?

A: My favorite subject in school is science. This subject is the most fun and interesting to me.

Q: What life-lessons have your learned from football?

A: Football has taught me how to persevere, be confident, be a leader, and much more.

Q: What is your dream job?

A: My dream job is to become an Orthopedic Physician Assistant.

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2020 Scholar/Athletes: Keith Albergo (Winnacunnet), Thatcher Allen (Exeter), Cole Ames (Lebanon), Mason Belsky (Windham), Patrick Brust (Bishop Brady), Jaedon Cliche (Exeter), Riley Desmarais (Windham), Bobby DiCicco (Windham), Jared Dyer (Merrimack), Casey Gladu (Portsmouth), Owen Gormley (Salem), Jack Grogan (Bedford), Steven Guerette (Bow), Evan Haskins (Pelham), Samson Hodges (Milford), Ethan Holt (Bishop Guertin), Jack Jones (Bedford), Charlie Kneissl-Williams (Bedford), Hunter Lassard (St. Thomas), Joseph Lupo (Bishop Guertin), Jake MacInnis (Pinkerton), Braden McDonnell (Nashua South), Will MacLean (St. Thomas), Hayden Moses (Bishop Guertin), Riley Mulvey (Salem), Kyle O’Connor (Nashua South), Nolan Pafford (Portsmouth), Wade Rainey (Lebanon), Ismael Rivera (Bishop Brady), Oceanne Skoog (Newfound), Caleb Smith (Lebanon), Rolando Sylvain-Stott (Newfound), John Thibault (Trinity), Zach Twardosky (Merrimack), Gavin Urda (Milford), Carter Vedrani (Campbell), Jacob Wenger (Trinity), Jon Willeman (Lebanon) and Devin Wood (Merrimack).