Kevin Macari: Starting Over at the Next Level

After a record-setting career at , Kevin Macari has of the Rams for the midnight blue of Georgetown. Gone is the number 4, the single digit that many defensive backs couldn't stop from getting into the end zone.

Macari now wears number 89 and the powerful colors that he wore during his scholastic career have been boxed up as he starts anew with the Hoyas.

"My head was spinning the first few days of practice," Macari said from his dormitory on the campus of Georgetown. "We've been going 100 miles an hour trying to learn the plays and getting the calls right."

Macari and the rest of the Hoyas have been practicing since early August in preparation for their season opener on September 3 against Davidson. The practices are brutally tough and the competition is fierce. The former all-state receiver quickly learned that he wasn't in high school anymore.

"The level of competition has been really surprising," said Macari, who caught 60 passes for more than 1,200 yards during his senior year. "A lot of these guys could have played big-time Division I football. All of them are fast and obviously a lot bigger than what I saw in high school."

The offense at Georgetown is similar to the pass-happy system of New Canaan's, as is the philosophy of the coaches.

"If you make a good play, the coaches will tell you that you did, " said Macari. "But like New Canaan, the coaches will also tell you how to improve on it. They critique you and try to make you a better player."

Macari has been getting repetitions with the first and second units, which is nice accomplishment for a freshman. He hasn't set any lofty goals and doesn't have enormous expectations for his first season of college football. Macari just wants to learn the system and fit in with the rest of his teammates.

"I have no idea how much I'm going to play," he said. "It's early and that's for the coaches to decide. I'm going to going to keep my head down, work hard like I always do, and see what happens."

Macari had a spectacular high school career and gained the attention of a lot of big-time programs. However, . As he prepares for his future with the Hoyas, Macari refuses to look back and wonder, 'what if?'.

"I'm really comfortable here and I like the coaches," he said.  "I like it down here. Georgetown is a great school. I made a good decision."