Coach: Kevin Pyne Is "Complete Package"

MILFORD, Mass. – As he spoke about Kevin Pyne‍, Milford High School head coach Anthony Vizakis was unaware his standout offensive tackle was proving his point at that very moment.

“The kid just works hard,” Vizakis said of Pyne, a junior tackle for the Hawks. “He’s a grinder. He doesn’t say much, he just puts his head down and works.”

Vizakis hadn’t noticed the 6-foot-8, 275-pounder had just returned to the field following his team’s first practice of training camp on Friday to get in some additional wind sprints. This after having to pass a challenging conditioning test earlier in the day.

Pyne, who has scholarship offers from schools like Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, North Carolina and UCLA among many more, is in his first year at Milford High School, having transferred from Millis over the offseason. It’s not completely new for him though as he attended middle school in the town.

“He’s friends with the whole senior class and a lot of the juniors,” Vizakis said of Pyne. “Not only are they getting a player back, but they’re getting a friend back on the field. When you’re playing with your best friends and your buddies, it just adds that element of, ‘Hey, I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine.’

“Having him at his size, his athletic ability and the way he plays the game, it’s almost like a two-for-one. His work ethic is so hard, you want kids like that and he’s a leader. Anytime you can add a kid like that, it’s something special. It’s unbelievable.”

Vizakis says Pyne’s potential is undeniable.

“First, you’ve got to look at his feet,” he explained. “He’s got great feet, he’s got power, he’s got quickness. For a big kid, he moves very, very well. He’s got fast hands. He knows good hand placement. He’s got power.

“We haven’t played a full-on game yet, but from what I’ve seen and how hard he works, the kid’s the complete package. He’s got all of the tools to be a really successful player moving on to college and hopefully beyond.”

Still, like anybody he has things to work on.

“Everybody should always be working on their craft whether you’re in college or beyond,” he said. “I think for Kevin, the day-to-day little technique things, run-blocking, pass-blocking will be a focus for him.”

With recruiting set to ramp up even more come Sept. 1st when colleges can start contacting him directly, Vizakis’ advice to Pyne is simple.

“Keep your head down, keep working hard, keep grinding. His performance on film will dictate what happens in the future. He’s going to stay healthy, he’s going to keep working hard. Right now, he’s just going to have fun playing high school football.”