A 19-hour cross-country drive.
Having to self-quarantine for 14 days (as the son of a Massachusett Supreme Court justice, the law really isn't all that negotiable).
A makeshift home gym and a middle school field.
Plus, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound body that has the type of potential (and lacrosse background) that could endear himself to the hometown team.
Safe to say, this isn't exactly the run-up to the NFL draft that Northwestern defensive end Joe Gaziano, a Scituate and Xaverian Brothers product, envisioned.
"Yeah, no, not at all," Gaziano said this week from his home. "What’s funny too is that my agent (Kyle Dolan of Priority Sports), I talk with him regularly and he’s telling me, 'If you think of anything that you need let me know.' Throughout this process, I anticipated leaning on him because he’s gone through this process many times. Now it’s kind of like we’re both going through this process together step by step. It’s uncharted water for everybody."
Gaziano capped a stellar Northwestern career by being voted by the coaches to the Big Ten first team, his third-straight year of earning all-conference honors.
"Chasing the QB down for a sack is one of the best feelings I've ever known."
- @NUFBFamily DL Joe Gaziano (@jgaziano97) is a football guy to his core, but one of the best pass rushers in the B1G also has a background in lacrosse from growing up in Massachusetts: pic.twitter.com/fWNcF9o6Ui
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 8, 2018
Joe Gaziano (@jgaziano97) has a high position in the @NUFBFamily and @B1Gfootball ranks, and his father Frank has a high position in his pursuits, as well. @BTNJourney shares Joe's family's story and how his father sits on the Massachusetts Supreme Court. pic.twitter.com/ltnPVKYlJB
— Northwestern On BTN (@NUOnBTN) November 9, 2018
Joe Gaziano wins this one on one. @NUFBFamily @jgaziano97 pic.twitter.com/lZpMPstJav
— Gerry DiNardo (@gerrydinardo) January 13, 2020
NW uses DL Joe Gaziano outside the OT with his hand down and standing up - as well as backing him into coverage. I envision him putting on a bit of weight like former teammate Dean Lowry to play 5T. Here's a preview... #SnapScout pic.twitter.com/n7gVW1DFie
— Chad Reuter (@chad_reuter) December 2, 2019
A relentless every-down competitor who never lets up. Finished plays. An edge pressure player who if he doesn't get a sack, he gets a pressure. Projects as a 5 technique 4-3 defensive end. Created separation consistently from a blocker. He controls and sets the edge of the defense. Always has a plan to rush the passer with set up and counter moves. Worked on tackling skilled players in space (at Shrine practices).