58-Year Old Freshman Plays Division III College Football

Tom Cillo, at 58 years old, is making headlines as a freshman defensive lineman for Lycoming College, defying expectations with his bold return to the gridiron decades after high school. Standing 6’0” and weighing 227 lbs, Cillo brings a lifetime of grit and physical fitness — he’s competed in strongman events, half-marathons, powerlifting (including a 580-lb deadlift in the 55-59 age group), and more.

 After years of working for Williamsport’s streets and parks department and serving as a high school equipment manager, he enrolled at Lycoming to study criminal justice and chase the dream he once abandoned amid personal struggles.  While he may face younger, larger opponents and has yet to log major game time, his leadership, perseverance, and reminder that it’s never too late to follow your passion have already had a big impact on teammates and the campus community. (Courtesy of Laredo Morning Times and Lycoming Athletics)