
Ready To Make The Jump
11/9/2018 12:28:00 PM | Football, Student Athlete, Features
By Justin Lafleur, Lehigh Sports Communications
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It doesn't matter where you start, but where you finish.
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Dom Bragalone has always been under the radar. That's all he knows. Playing high school football at 1A South Williamsport High School, the lowest classification in Pennsylvania, Bragalone has been out to prove people wrong.
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"I definitely feel like I've been under the radar, playing for a small school in a small town," he said. "My senior year, I rushed for the most yards in state history and I expected bigger offers, but it's not something I get mad about because it really put a chip on my shoulder and made me work extra hard. I'm happy I'm at Lehigh and I'm happy with what I've done here."
Â
What has Bragalone done? Continue to put up record-breaking numbers in college, much like he did in high school. As a senior at South Williamsport, Bragalone rushed for 4,704 yards, a state record and the second-highest single-season rushing total in the nation.
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It has been an incredible journey, from playing solely baseball through most of his childhood to being named 2014 Mr. Pennsylvania in football and now, getting interest from National Football League teams.
Â
"I played baseball from tee-ball all the way up to high school, but didn't start playing football until the eighth grade," said Bragalone. "My friends wanted me to try out football, so I did and just stuck with it.
Â
"I was put at running back from the start because I was fast," Bragalone continued. "Throughout the years, I learned the position and once I learned the plays, I started to focus on the little things that make a great running back."
Â
To this day, Bragalone's focus on the little things have helped define his success. As a sophomore in high school, Bragalone began to consider playing in college, but Lehigh didn't enter the picture until his senior season.
Â
"We were playing in the state playoffs in the Lehigh Valley. I connected with the Lehigh coaches, came up for a visit and committed," he said.
Â
The Lehigh coaches knew they were getting a special talent, but little did they know how special. In the end, Bragalone couldn't have been happier with the opportunity in front of him at Lehigh.
Â
"There were other options, but I liked Lehigh because of the school, the education and how the coaches and players treated me on my visit," said Bragalone. "They treated me like family from the start and I hadn't even committed yet. It's also close to home, so it's easy for my parents to come."
Â
Despite playing at a lower level high school, Bragalone was ready to make the jump.
Â
"My high school coach really prepared me for college football… a lot of lifting, working out and being dragged into the weight room," said Bragalone. "Once I got to Lehigh, the senior class helped me get used to the playbook. I ended up starting the first game as a freshman, so I only had a couple weeks to learn all the new plays."
Â
Bragalone earned the starting spot and went on to rush for 1,008 yards, be named first team All-Patriot League and Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Bragalone has gone on to garner first team All-League every single season. As junior, he was the FCSÂ leader in rushing yards (1,388), rushing touchdowns (18), total touchdowns (22) and scoring (12.0 points per game). This season, Bragalone became Lehigh's all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns for a career.
Â
It takes more than talent to do what Bragalone has accomplished.
Â
"Aside from his raw athletic talent, Dom is one of the most level-headed people I have ever met," said senior defensive lineman and Harrison Kauffman. "He constantly shows up to lifts and practice with a mindset focused on preparation. There is almost nothing that can phase him, and that makes him a good person to look to when things get tough. He loves to work hard and he never backs down from a challenge."
Â
In fact, Bragalone takes every practice, every game and every weight room session as a challenge. The chip on his shoulder, and desire to prove people wrong, shines through.
Â
"Dom's work ethic is second-to-none," said Kauffman. "I believe that work ethic comes from his love to compete. We have been lifting partners for two years now, and he always seems to find a way to out-lift everyone around him (including me). His work ethic is what makes Dom such a positive force, on and off the field. He never lets himself have a bad day in the weight room."
Â
This past summer, Bragalone squatted 620 pounds with a 455-pound bench. Those numbers are in the conversation amongst some of today's NFL's elite players. Needless to say, the weight room has grown on Bragalone.
Â
"I really committed to the weight room the summer going into my senior year of high school," he said. "I committed to lifting and getting bigger and faster and stronger. I was doing that three days a week and fell in love with it."
Â
Bragalone knows numbers in the weight room only mean so much if they don't translate to the playing field. The playing field has seen Bragalone become wildly successful, both individually (the numbers speak for themselves) and as a team (as a two-time Patriot League Champion). He is a naturally-gifted athlete, but has made a concerted effort to improve all parts of his game.
Â
"My pass blocking has definitely gotten better, along with my catching and my vision," said Bragalone. "Every year, I try getting better in all areas. There are still things I need to work on, but I'm definitely a different running back now than I was as a freshman."
Â
Bragalone is a stronger leader as well.
Â
"I had been leading by example," he said. "I would just go in and work as hard as I could, showing the guys around me that it takes a lot of work to be great. Now that I'm a senior and a captain, I've been focusing on being more vocal and trying to make sure we all have the same mindset and are on the same page."
Â
Kauffman has seen impressive growth in Bragalone as a leader.
Â
"This year, Dom has hit his stride as a leader. I have seen Dom intentionally begin to step up as a vocal leader on our team, breaking huddles and holding people accountable," said Kauffman. "I'm sure I speak for most of our team when I say he has one of the most powerful voices on our team."
Â
That voice looks to give himself a chance to join former Mr. Pennsylvanias in the NFL. Bragalone knows what it's like to take the jump (from a smaller school).
Â
Like he came from a 1A high school to college football, Bragalone is looking to do the same thing and rise from the FCS level to the NFL.
Â
"I try not to think about the NFL, but sometimes it's hard not to think about it when you have different teams contacting you," he said. "It's nice to know that they're watching; it puts some pressure on you, but I try not to let it affect me."
Â
Bragalone's play certainly hasn't been affected. He is undoubtedly the best running back in Lehigh football's storied history. Will he be given a chance to enter the NFL record books?
Â
Much like Lehigh gave Bragalone a chance, Dom hopes there's a team out there looking to give a hard-working young man with a strong head on his shoulders and a work ethic that's second-to-none, an opportunity.Â
.
"It's not Dom's fault that he's not at this place or that place," said Lehigh head coach Andy Coen. "When the pro scouts come in, they really don't look at the competition you compete against. Dom's goal is to get involved in the NFL and I think he'll have a shot because his measurables [are impressive].
Â
"A positive sign is that the scouts keep coming."
Â
Aside from his football career, Bragalone also has some interest in getting into human resources at some point, whether it's after his playing career or if professional football doesn't work out.
Â
"I would love to work with people, talk to people, interview people and hire people," he said.
Â
For now, Bragalone is the person looking to be hired. Instead of looking at others' resumes, it's NFL teams that are looking at his.
Â
Bragalone's resume speaks for itself. He already showed he could make the jump into college football and he's ready to do it again.
Â
"Dom's size and speed are second-to-none, but the real reason I believe he deserves a chance to play at the next level is his resiliency," said Kauffman.
Â
"There are no circumstances that Dom can't overcome."

Â
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Â
It doesn't matter where you start, but where you finish.
Â
Dom Bragalone has always been under the radar. That's all he knows. Playing high school football at 1A South Williamsport High School, the lowest classification in Pennsylvania, Bragalone has been out to prove people wrong.
Â
"I definitely feel like I've been under the radar, playing for a small school in a small town," he said. "My senior year, I rushed for the most yards in state history and I expected bigger offers, but it's not something I get mad about because it really put a chip on my shoulder and made me work extra hard. I'm happy I'm at Lehigh and I'm happy with what I've done here."
Â
What has Bragalone done? Continue to put up record-breaking numbers in college, much like he did in high school. As a senior at South Williamsport, Bragalone rushed for 4,704 yards, a state record and the second-highest single-season rushing total in the nation.
Â
It has been an incredible journey, from playing solely baseball through most of his childhood to being named 2014 Mr. Pennsylvania in football and now, getting interest from National Football League teams.
Â
"I played baseball from tee-ball all the way up to high school, but didn't start playing football until the eighth grade," said Bragalone. "My friends wanted me to try out football, so I did and just stuck with it.
Â
"I was put at running back from the start because I was fast," Bragalone continued. "Throughout the years, I learned the position and once I learned the plays, I started to focus on the little things that make a great running back."
Â
To this day, Bragalone's focus on the little things have helped define his success. As a sophomore in high school, Bragalone began to consider playing in college, but Lehigh didn't enter the picture until his senior season.
Â
"We were playing in the state playoffs in the Lehigh Valley. I connected with the Lehigh coaches, came up for a visit and committed," he said.
Â
The Lehigh coaches knew they were getting a special talent, but little did they know how special. In the end, Bragalone couldn't have been happier with the opportunity in front of him at Lehigh.
Â
"There were other options, but I liked Lehigh because of the school, the education and how the coaches and players treated me on my visit," said Bragalone. "They treated me like family from the start and I hadn't even committed yet. It's also close to home, so it's easy for my parents to come."
Â
Despite playing at a lower level high school, Bragalone was ready to make the jump.
Â
"My high school coach really prepared me for college football… a lot of lifting, working out and being dragged into the weight room," said Bragalone. "Once I got to Lehigh, the senior class helped me get used to the playbook. I ended up starting the first game as a freshman, so I only had a couple weeks to learn all the new plays."
Â
Bragalone earned the starting spot and went on to rush for 1,008 yards, be named first team All-Patriot League and Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Bragalone has gone on to garner first team All-League every single season. As junior, he was the FCSÂ leader in rushing yards (1,388), rushing touchdowns (18), total touchdowns (22) and scoring (12.0 points per game). This season, Bragalone became Lehigh's all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns for a career.
Â
It takes more than talent to do what Bragalone has accomplished.
Â
"Aside from his raw athletic talent, Dom is one of the most level-headed people I have ever met," said senior defensive lineman and Harrison Kauffman. "He constantly shows up to lifts and practice with a mindset focused on preparation. There is almost nothing that can phase him, and that makes him a good person to look to when things get tough. He loves to work hard and he never backs down from a challenge."
Â
In fact, Bragalone takes every practice, every game and every weight room session as a challenge. The chip on his shoulder, and desire to prove people wrong, shines through.
Â
"Dom's work ethic is second-to-none," said Kauffman. "I believe that work ethic comes from his love to compete. We have been lifting partners for two years now, and he always seems to find a way to out-lift everyone around him (including me). His work ethic is what makes Dom such a positive force, on and off the field. He never lets himself have a bad day in the weight room."
Â
This past summer, Bragalone squatted 620 pounds with a 455-pound bench. Those numbers are in the conversation amongst some of today's NFL's elite players. Needless to say, the weight room has grown on Bragalone.
Â
"I really committed to the weight room the summer going into my senior year of high school," he said. "I committed to lifting and getting bigger and faster and stronger. I was doing that three days a week and fell in love with it."
Â
Bragalone knows numbers in the weight room only mean so much if they don't translate to the playing field. The playing field has seen Bragalone become wildly successful, both individually (the numbers speak for themselves) and as a team (as a two-time Patriot League Champion). He is a naturally-gifted athlete, but has made a concerted effort to improve all parts of his game.
Â
"My pass blocking has definitely gotten better, along with my catching and my vision," said Bragalone. "Every year, I try getting better in all areas. There are still things I need to work on, but I'm definitely a different running back now than I was as a freshman."
Â
Bragalone is a stronger leader as well.
Â
"I had been leading by example," he said. "I would just go in and work as hard as I could, showing the guys around me that it takes a lot of work to be great. Now that I'm a senior and a captain, I've been focusing on being more vocal and trying to make sure we all have the same mindset and are on the same page."
Â
Kauffman has seen impressive growth in Bragalone as a leader.
Â
"This year, Dom has hit his stride as a leader. I have seen Dom intentionally begin to step up as a vocal leader on our team, breaking huddles and holding people accountable," said Kauffman. "I'm sure I speak for most of our team when I say he has one of the most powerful voices on our team."
Â
That voice looks to give himself a chance to join former Mr. Pennsylvanias in the NFL. Bragalone knows what it's like to take the jump (from a smaller school).
Â
Like he came from a 1A high school to college football, Bragalone is looking to do the same thing and rise from the FCS level to the NFL.
Â
"I try not to think about the NFL, but sometimes it's hard not to think about it when you have different teams contacting you," he said. "It's nice to know that they're watching; it puts some pressure on you, but I try not to let it affect me."
Â
Bragalone's play certainly hasn't been affected. He is undoubtedly the best running back in Lehigh football's storied history. Will he be given a chance to enter the NFL record books?
Â
Much like Lehigh gave Bragalone a chance, Dom hopes there's a team out there looking to give a hard-working young man with a strong head on his shoulders and a work ethic that's second-to-none, an opportunity.Â
.
"It's not Dom's fault that he's not at this place or that place," said Lehigh head coach Andy Coen. "When the pro scouts come in, they really don't look at the competition you compete against. Dom's goal is to get involved in the NFL and I think he'll have a shot because his measurables [are impressive].
Â
"A positive sign is that the scouts keep coming."
Â
Aside from his football career, Bragalone also has some interest in getting into human resources at some point, whether it's after his playing career or if professional football doesn't work out.
Â
"I would love to work with people, talk to people, interview people and hire people," he said.
Â
For now, Bragalone is the person looking to be hired. Instead of looking at others' resumes, it's NFL teams that are looking at his.
Â
Bragalone's resume speaks for itself. He already showed he could make the jump into college football and he's ready to do it again.
Â
"Dom's size and speed are second-to-none, but the real reason I believe he deserves a chance to play at the next level is his resiliency," said Kauffman.
Â
"There are no circumstances that Dom can't overcome."

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