Scelfo Back in GA Role with Wolfpack Football

RALEIGH, N.C. – There is a familiar face in the NC State's football program's graduate assistant room this season. But those who were with the Wolfpack during the 2016 season might have to do a double-take when they see which side of that room he's sitting on.

Former Pack center Joe Scelfo returned to the the Pack as a defensive graduate assistant this past January.

"I've been on one side of the field my whole life, so now I get to come over to this other side and see the game from that perspective," said Scelfo.

This marks the second time in the past three seasons that Scelfo has decided to run with the Pack.

Following the completion of the 2015 football season, Scelfo earned his undergrad degree from South Alabama, where we played his first three seasons of college football.

The opportunity arose for Scelfo to transfer into NC State and play right away. Not only did Scelfo see the field as the starting center for the Pack during that 2016 campaign, he was in for 99% of the offensive snaps that season.

"My whole experience coming to NC State was unbelievable," said Scelfo. "It helped me learn not only more about football, but how to carry myself, how to handle change and how to get out of my comfort zone.

"My time here was so short and went by so quick. Every week out on that field was a highlight for me."

To cap off his lone season in the Red and White, Scelfo and the Wolfpack defeated Vanderbilt in the Camping World Independence Bowl, 41-17. Not only did Scelfo leave with a win in his final college game, but the victory also provided him his best memory of playing at NC State.

"The biggest highlight of my life so far was when the guys and Coach Doeren elected me to be a team captain for my final college game," said Scelfo. "I can't even describe that feeling. I still get chills thinking back to it. To me it was such an amazing honor for a guy that was only here for five months."

Once that season came to an end, Scelfo had the dream of making it to the NFL. He left NC State for Orlando where he trained full-time. He got a call to tryout for the Houston Texans, but they did not sign him for a training camp invite.

"I was chasing that dream to keep playing football," said Scelfo. "I knew I was kind of a long shot, but I'm not going to try to do something without going all out. I took those six months and gave it all I had."

After a brief stint in Canada as well, Scelfo knew his time playing career was coming to an end.

"I was still training during the fall, hoping to get that call up (to the NFL), but then I had to flip the page and think about what is next in my life," said Scelfo.

So instead, he decided to follow in the footsteps of his father, and pursue a career as a coach. He spent the fall volunteering at the University of West Florida. The Argonauts finished the year 11-4, falling in the NCAA Division II National Championship game.

Scelfo then headed to Honolulu with his family for the Hawai'i Bowl, as his dad Chris was the offensive line coach for Houston. That's when he started to work the phones to see what opportunities were available in the coaching ranks.

"I was reaching out to everybody I knew in the profession, looking for a graduate position," said Scelfo. "I actually called Coach Doeren before their Sun Bowl just for his advice and to see if he knew of anything for me to get a foot in the door somewhere.

"Out of the blue he called me back and said there was a spot open at NC State working with the defensive line, and he wanted me to think about it. I asked for a couple of days, hung up. And no kidding, it was probably 30 seconds after he offered that I called right back and said I was in, and asked when I could start. I knew right away this would be an amazing opportunity."

With an entire spring under his belt and fall camp well underway, Scelfo has had to adapt to the 'GA-life' pretty quickly.

"Since January, I've gotten a pretty good taste of the work that goes into being a GA," said Scelfo. "There is so much behind the scenes work that you didn't really notice while you were playing.

"The main thing about being a GA is you always have to be on top of things. You don't have as much free time as you thought you would. You need to take care of stuff right away before it piles up."

Scelfo has already seen the advantages of coming into the defensive line meeting room after ending his playing career on the offensive side of the ball.

"I get to go into film and show these defensive guys how the offensive guys think," said Scelfo. "It's tough, but it's fun."

Not only did Scelfo change from playing center to working with the defensive linemen, but he made a physical change as well.

During his playing days. he weighted in at around 305 pounds. Today he is down to 260 and still getting slimmer.

"I think with offensive linemen, you either go way up in weight or way down once your playing days are done," said Scelfo. "I changed my diet, and that has been the biggest thing. You don't have as much time as you did to work out, so my workouts are different now too. "

The 2018 season is sure to be a grind for the first-time GA, but Scelfo can think of no better place to spend it.

"My ultimate goal is to be an offensive line coach, and I look at this as an investment to my coaching career because I am learning this side of the ball and how defenses game-plan and prepare for offenses," said Scelfo. "This is a great experience all-around.

"I love Raleigh. I have made this place home. This would be a tremendous place to raise my family."

North Carolina State University Athletics

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