The DePaolas are a football family. Andy DePaola plays on the special teams unit at Rutgers. Nick DePaola is a senior running back at Hereford High School and will attend Rutgers next year. With that in mind, it certainly isn't surprising that Vince DePaola is heading in the same direction.

"Well, [Vince] comes from good genes," said Hereford coach Steve Turabaugh, who coached all three.

But while the two elder DePaolas walked on at Rutgers, the youngest has a chance to land a scholarship. Vince is a 6-foot, 190-pound behemoth of a safety who hits like a linebacker and runs like a power running back.

"He has the potential to be the best of the group," Turabaugh said. "He's seen what the other two have done, and he wants to make his own legacy."

Vince DePaola is only a sophomore, yet he started every game at safety last season and worked his way into the rotation at running back. On defense he racked up over 60 tackles, recorded two interceptions and returned one for a touchdown. As a running back, he reached the end zone five times. On top of that, he benefitted from watching his brothers play, so his game is already refined for an underclassmen.

"On defense, he was always around the football. He was one of our top tacklers from a secondary spot," Turabaugh said. "Offensively he has great instincts. He knows when to cut; he knows how to use his blockers."

He also knows what it takes to make it at the next level. He's not content to play Division I-AA, nor does he want to walk on at Rutgers. He's dead set on a full ride to a power conference, and he's doing everything in his power to achieve that dream.

He works with a speed and conditioning coach, Rob Slade, in order to improve his 4.6 40-yard dash time. He works with a strength and conditioning coach, Joe Haden, to add muscle to his 190-pound frame.

The spring, he's going to the Nike Combine in Baltimore even though he's an underclassman. Later he'll attend the Bullseye Combine for freshman and sophomores and finish up with minicamps at Penn State and Maryland.

"This spring I'm going to get my name out there," DePaola said. "And next year I'm going to have a big junior season."

And after you do all that?

"I want to go Division 1."

Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, Pittsburgh, and, of course, Rutgers.

"It was pretty cool up at Rutgers, but I liked Penn State more," he said. "I want something a little different than my brothers. I visited Penn State and I loved it. I saw the coaches, the players and the fields. It was first-rate."

Turabaugh likes DePaola's chances of landing a scholarship. He noted his tremendous work in the weight room and his dedication to watching film and improving his technique. And he is only a sophomore -- and he does have those two brothers to emulate.

"Neither of his brothers is on scholarship. They both had to earn it," Turabaugh said. "That's the type of work ethic that family has."

DePaola projects as a safety in college, but if he gets his 40 time down to a 4.4, he could be a cornerback. His coach, however, wouldn't preclude running back … or even another sport altogether.

"I'm not sure football is even his bet sport," said Turabaugh, who is also the school's lacrosse coach. "He's smooth as silk on the lacrosse field.

"He's a go-to-the-goal guy, and he's got a rocket of a shot."

But DePaola says football is his sport. After all, his brothers are football players. And he wouldn't want to break that family tradition.