Former St. John's football stars Cam Nolan, Matt Brunelle ready for next step at Holy Cross
WORCESTER — Cam Nolan’s St. John’s High coach, John Andreoli, told him the four years (1978-82) he spent at Holy Cross were the best four years of his life.
When deciding on college, Nolan, who was a star two-way lineman for the Pioneers, hardly needed any more convincing that HC was the place for him, too.
“It’s where I wanted to be,” Nolan, an Oxford resident, said Wednesday morning during media day at Fitton Field. “It’s a great program, it’s an elite school, it’s everything I wanted. I’m happy to be able to come here, and so far it’s been awesome.”
Nolan and his former St. John’s teammate, wide receiver Matt Brunelle of Paxton, are Holy Cross freshmen, and, through one week of preseason camp, HC coach Bob Chesney is pleased with the newcomers.
“They are young,” Chesney said, “and there is a big learning curve when you get up here, but I love their progress. They are smart players, good players, and I think they are going to end up in a situation to help us quite a bit.”
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Brunelle missed his junior season at St. John’s due to a hamstring injury. He transferred to the Loomis Chaffee School, where he had a strong 2021 season catching passes from former Tantasqua Regional star Dante Reno and helped the Pelicans to a 9-1 record. Brunelle had re-classified as a junior, but had enough credits to graduate this year and move on to Holy Cross.
“Holy Cross is always where I wanted to go,” Brunelle said. “When the offer was on the table, it was something I didn’t want to not take. I could have played one more year (at Loomis Chaffee), but I moved up a grade.”
Jim Andreoli, John’s younger brother and Brunelle’s uncle who also starred for the Crusaders, played a part in him coming to HC.
“The family roots,” Brunelle said, “and I really like Coach Chesney and the teammates, too. It felt like the right fit.”
Brunelle’s brother, Jay, is a junior receiver at Yale. The Bulldogs visit Fitton Field September 17.
The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Nolan, who will play offensive line for the Crusaders, was a three-year starter at St. John’s. As a senior, he earned Central Mass. all-star honors from the Joseph R. Mewhiney Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
“Cam was great in high school and he had a great summer,” Chesney said. “He’ll continue to build his body right and do the things he’s got to do.”
Nolan, who also had offers from Wagner, Marist and Central Connecticut State, and preferred walk-on opportunities at UMass and URI, will have a great mentor in first-year HC offensive coordinator Chris Smith, a former star Crusaders center who is in his sixth season as HC’s offensive line coach.
“Coach Smith is a great guy,” Nolan said. “We had a lot of freshmen meetings over the summer and a lot of whole O-line meetings, so we’ve been working with him every day and he has been really good teaching us and making sure we learn from every mistake we make.”
At Loomis, Brunelle, who was also looking at Ivy League schools, was part of a very talented offense and helped the Pelicans average 36.7 points per game last fall. Reno, the son of Oxford native and Yale coach Tony Reno, recently committed to the University of South Carolina.
“Dante,” Brunelle said, “that’s my guy. He’s unreal, just a great leader who will be one of my best friends for life. He’ll do great things at South Carolina. It was a great experience playing with him and our whole team.”
At Holy Cross, Brunelle will be part of a deep receiving corps, headed by senior Ayir Asante, junior Jalen Coker and sophomore Justin Shorter.
“Matt is definitely a kid with great speed and route-running ability and he’s physical,” Chesney said, “so he has all the traits we’re looking for.”
Brunelle and Nolan join two other former St. John’s players on the Holy Cross roster – running back Pete Oliver and linebacker Liam Doran. Oliver and Doran are both fifth-year seniors.
“Day one or two, I was walking back from getting some food and Pete pulled up next to me and asked me if I wanted a ride,” Nolan said. “We’ve talked almost every day since then and he’s been really great. I’ve talked to Liam a couple times, too, and it’s really good to have them here. Pete talked to me about what it’s like in season and school and how at first it can be a little overwhelming, but once you figure out time management, it gets a lot easier. (He also said) listen to everything Coach says, because the more you progress, the more you have a chance to play.”
Jay Brunelle was a St. John’s teammate of Oliver and Doran, so Matt Brunelle has known the pair for a few years.
“They’ve been really good,” Brunelle said. “They’ve been leading me. I’m glad Cam and I are back together and with the other St. John’s kids, too.”
Contact Jennifer Toland at jennifer.toland@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Former St. John's football stars Cam Nolan, Matt Brunelle ready for next step at Holy Cross
