« Football 2010

Anthony Castonzo

School
Boston College
Position
Offensive Tackle
Major
Biochemistry

Classroom

Anthony Castonzo maintains a 3.60 GPA in biochemistry and has been nominated by Boston College for a Rhodes Scholarship. He has been a member of the All-Atlantic Coast Conference Academic team in each of his three seasons and as a junior Castonzo was named first-team CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District. He is also a three-time recipient of Boston College’s Athletics Director Achievement Award.

Character

Castonzo hopes to one day conduct cancer research at a foundation that he will establish with money he might earn in the NFL. While talking to the media at the 2010 ACC Football Kickoff, he touched on his desire to research the disease. “When celebrities or athletes open up a cancer foundation, they usually just put the money in, but I would like to take an active role because I actually know something about the field,” Castonzo said. “I don’t think I would run it, but I would like to work there and do my own research. I’d like to be a research scientist.” Castonzo became even more interested in the idea when his friend and teammate, Mark Herzlich, was diagnosed in 2009 with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Herzlich returns this year after missing the entire 2009 season. “Mark has made me want to do it even more,” Castonzo said. “Just to see that people are capable of so many incredible feats, I’d like to help them be able to do that.”

Community

Castonzo is active in the community despite spending so much time on the field and in the lab. He has taken time out of his schedule to do various community service projects, including visiting Camp Harbor View to spend time with underprivileged children. He has also visited the local YMCA to play football and basketball with kids in after-school programs and spent time at the Franciscan Hospital for Children.

Competition

Castonzo has been named to Lindy’s preseason All-America first team, Sporting News preseason All-America third team and the Playboy preseason All-America team. He has started all 42 games since he arrived on campus in 2007, leading the Eagles to a 29-13 mark and two appearances in the ACC Championship Game. In 2009, Castonzo was named an SI.com All-America honorable mention and an All-ACC first-team member. As a sophomore in 2008, he was a College Football News All-Sophomore first-team and an All-ACC second-team honoree. Castonzo was the first true freshman to start on the BC offensive line in 10 years and was named to the Sporting News 2007 All-ACC Freshman Team.