Despite the seemingly impossible odds of making the National Football League from a Divison III team, linebacker Brent Blacharczyk has more potential to do so than anyone else.

According to head coach Chris Smithley, he wouldn’t be surprised if Blacharczyk becomes one of those players.

“I think that it’s got to match up with his goals, I think that if Brent sets his goals to something of that nature I wouldn’t be surprised, but I think playing at that level is incredible,” Smithley said. “I think there is always the possibility, but it’s a full-time job to get there.”

Smithley took over the football program in an interim position this past year, and then officially was granted the title as head coach after the season, but during the offseason both Smithley and Blacharczyk went to the PAC media day together. In the time spent together, Smithley was able to learn a lot about Brent Blacharczyk.

“We had a lot of really good conversations in what his aspirations were, what he wanted to get done and just a really impressive guy—a true man across the board,” Smithley said. “Taking care of his business in the classroom, out of the classroom, in the weight room [and] on the field—I mean he has been relentless in accomplishing his goals.”

Currently Blacharczyk isn’t on campus—he’s taking online classes along with rehabbing a torn meniscus and PCL in his knee he suffered while playing overseas professionally in Poland. Before the injury, Blacharczyk was taking first team snaps and was on his way to a starter position.

Blacharczyk continues to prepare for the rest of his life without playing football and continues to look for a job, but he’s happy with what he was able to take away from Waynesburg football.

“I think from the moment I came here I started developing as a leader,” Blacharczyk said. “And I think the football team has definitely helped form me into the position I am today.”

Even Smithley sees the leadership skills and the commitment Blacharczyk has made to his teammates over the past years—even in losses. While cramping up in a game against Geneva this past season that Waynesburg was only down seven at half, but would ultimately lose 35-14, Blacharczyk stayed committed to his teammates.

“He [would] come off and get a drink of water and stretch it out and be back in the next play regardless,” Smithley said. “I mean he was doing what he had to do what he had to do for his team.”

But with all the heart, sweat, blood and tears that Blacharczyk left on the field, he almost was never a Waynesburg University student. On an athletic scholarship to Seton Hill, Blacharczyk left the financial opportunity of avoiding loans, but wanted to be closer to home after his mother died during his freshman year.

“It was a lot easier to be around my family at that time we all needed each other,” Blacharczyk said. “Family is really important to me and basically I made that transition to get closer to home and it came down to [Washington & Jefferson] or Waynesburg.”

After visiting both schools, the feeling of Waynesburg drove Blacharczyk to come to Waynesburg along with quick recruiting.

Blacharczyk has no initial plans after earning his degree this spring.