Joe Nardella

Classroom

Nardella is a strong academic student, currently possessing a 3.38 cumulative GPA heading into the spring semester of his senior year. For the 2014 fall term, Nardella had a 3.625 GPA.

Character

Nardella is in his second season as a captain for the Rutgers squad and serves as an example for the younger players both on and off the field. He was the 2014 winner of the Rutgers Lacrosse Knight Cup, which is awarded to the player who has played the game of lacrosse to the best of his ability, who has inspired or led his teammates both on and off the field, and who, above all, has consistently demonstrated the qualities of unselfishness and loyalty to his team and Rutgers University. In 2013 he was the winner of the team’s William Miller Trophy, awarded to the team member who, by his own example, has constituted an inspiration to his teammates and made the greatest contribution to the team in the season’s play.

Community

Nardella has been continually involved in community service throughout his time at Rutgers. He has helped at Elijah’s Promise Soup Kitchen, the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the Ronald McDonald House. Nardella participated in the Big Chill 5K Run to support disadvantaged children of New Brunswick, helped provide toys for the community during the holidays, and still goes to St. Peter’s Hospital to visit with sick children. Additionally, the men’s lacrosse team worked with Team Impact to bring in a local high school student who suffers from cerebral palsy and make him an unofficial member of the team who comes to practices and games and spends time with the squad.

Competition

Nardella is one of the top face-off men in the nation. As a junior he posted an impressive .632 (206-of-326) face-off win percentage, totaling 10 or more wins in all but two of the 14 games he played in. That face-off win percentage was ranked fifth nationally and second in the conference. Nardella contributes beyond face-offs as a true two-way midfielder. He collected 137 ground balls and scored five goals, while notching seven assists last season. His 9.79 ground balls per game in 2013 were fourth in the country. He earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors in both 2013 and 2014, and was an Inside Lacrosse Midseason First Team All-American last year. Entering his senior season, Nardella was named a Preseason All-American by Inside Lacrosse and was drafted 36th overall by the Boston Cannons in the 2015 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft.