Joey Silveri isn’t sure where he’s going, but the Grand Rapids Catholic Central senior is darn sure that he is going to get there.
The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Silveri quarterbacked the Cougars to state championships in each of the past two years, and he appeared poised to do it again after throwing 14 touchdown passes and rushing for two more through 2021′s first 13 quarters.
But his high school career was over in a blink of an eye.
Gone was Silveri’s chance to lead the Cougars back to Ford Field because he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of Catholic Central’s fourth game of the year against South Christian. Silveri suffered a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus in his right knee, and he will undergo surgery Oct. 29.
Silveri has a message to college recruiters who might be wondering what his future holds. Silveri promises that he will be back.
“It’s going to take a while to get back to full speed, but I’m definitely going to play again, and I’m definitely going to compete at a high level again,” Silveri said. “Words can’t describe (how determined I am). Hopefully, wherever I go, I will be able to start fall camp and be 100 percent.”
Related: Top recruit: GR Catholic Central quarterback Joey Silveri keeps winning, working and waiting
Silveri has been offered roster spots from Mount Union and Carleton College, and he said he has had conversations with other institutions as well. Cougars coach Todd Kolster said he is disappointed and puzzled that Silveri doesn’t have more offers, though. After all, Silveri earned the starting quarterback role his sophomore season and rolled up a 24-1 record. Silveri threw for 5,642 career yards and 84 touchdown passes. He also rushed for 1,830 yards and 30 touchdowns.
“His statistics are off the chart. They are amazing,” Kolster said. “We have been blowing people out, so he isn’t throwing the ball in the second half of our games.
“The thing that is a true tell-tale sign of a quarterback is turnovers. That guy has 10 interceptions in his career and one fumble in all of the snaps that he has played. Eleven turnovers? That’s amazing. That tells you how smart he is and how good he really is. He is amazing. He is as good as it gets.”
Silveri has undergone rehabilitation and physical therapy in an effort to strengthen his leg as much as possible before he undergoes surgery. That has been his priority since he sustained the injury during Catholic Central’s third possession of the game against the Sailors.
“I was running the ball and made a cut to the sideline, and as I was cutting, I got a helmet to the side of my right knee,” Silveri said. “My foot stayed planted, so all of the force was on my knee. I knew I was injured. I didn’t doubt that. But I didn’t know it was that serious. I didn’t know I would be out for the season.
“It definitely was tough to digest. You realize that you will still be on the sidelines cheering the guys on and helping them. But the realization that I will never put the pads on again for Catholic Central was a tough one. But you have to get over it and move on.”
Catholic Central is 8-0 heading into Friday’s regular-season finale at home against Kenowa Hills. The Cougars can win the OK Gold Conference title outright with a victory over the Knights.
Silveri will be back on the sidelines supporting his teammates, just like he has been doing since the injury.
“I’m doing fine. I’m trying to take it all in,” Silveri said. “I appreciate the last two seasons I had at Catholic Central and all of the great teammates that I’ve had and the relationships that I’ve built. I’m still trying to spend as much time I can with the guys and help them out the best I can and still be part of the team. I’m trying my best.
“I’m really proud of them and all of the work that they have put in. They keep getting those wins and those results. We still have a lot of work to do and we have to get a lot better. But I’m proud of the guys and what they have accomplished so far.”
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