2025 Interview with Anthony Nespeca from Fitch

Anthony Nespeca

Fitch

LB, FB, H-back.

2026

5’ 11

Jersey Number 32

Awards won or earned: 2-year starter/Letterman. Recognized multiple times toughest practice player—sophomore year. 1000-pound club,

Up to right now, what has been your biggest moment as an athlete?
 

A top player-LB recruited in division for C/O 26’

What are you looking most forward to this season?

I transferred to an amazing program with the best coaches/teammates, and we all play together with the mindset of a unit of 1. Playing with such great talent and dominating on the state-bound road. I love the atmosphere.

With this being your final high school season, have you prepared any differently?

Absolutely, the maturity and mindset I have gained, we get after it hard and push each other along with outside training together. Mentally challenging myself to grow, I believe, and being coached outside by my dad, who has given me so many tools, I learned/understood from a former all-state D1 LB that at this level it’s almost all mentality: “If you think you can, you will; if you have any doubt/think you can’t, you won’t.” That’s in all aspects of life.

Of all of the road games that you have played in, which stadium was the best to have played in?

Out of all the road games, I would have to say Austintown’s stadium, which is the school I’m at now; just something about the fans/stadium makes the energy so high and exciting. The field also looks super dark, which is cool.

Of all of the road games that you have played in, which stadium was the worst to have played in?

The worst stadium I would have to say I have played at is Canfield; the whole stadium has very low energy, and I don’t like the stadium.

What makes you a good teammate?

What makes me a good teammate is my hard work and dedication to myself and my teammates. I push myself and push my teammates very hard in practice while giving all I have to make plays on Friday night.

If you could take one of the home games and move it to any stadium in the country, where are you playing that game?

I would choose the Horse Shoe (Ohio State).

With the transfer, have you thought of what it is going to be like to play against your former team?

Yes, I have thought about it, and I am very excited and confident to play them.

If you are invited to play in any of the all-star games after the season, will you?

Absolutely, football is my passion. I play every play like it’s the last and will take every opportunity. If it were my choice, I’d never want to come off the field.

How do you get over a bad game?

I talked it through with my dad; he always knows how to tell me what I need to hear with support , and the next day, with the team. Everyone makes mistakes and has bad games, but learning from the mistakes is most important and moving on—short memory, as they say.

Can the band and cheerleaders really get you fired up before or during the game?

Yes, it gets me fired up, but what really fires me up is getting locked in with my self-blasting music before I walk out. All the adrenaline pumping makes me turn into a different person.

Would you share with everyone some of the schools that are recruiting you?

 I have a couple of schools recruiting me. My passion, dedication, and grit/hard work improve every day. I have been working hard developing the mentality it takes to always compete and will level up my game and challenge anyone to outwork me. I have the football knowledge it takes, and as much as a coach wants to get out of me above what I currently possess, they can. I have no entitlement and will work for every inch; nothing is given. Make plays, win!!

Where is the best local spot to get a pizza?

Wedgewood in Austintown

What is your favorite sports movie or TV show?

My favorite show on Netflix is All American.

What scares you?

What scares me is falling short of my dreams knowing that I have the athletic ability, work ethic, and everything I need to achieve my dreams.

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