Local RB Listorti Turns Heads At Terps Camp
When Victor Listorti walked through the Maryland locker room following a one-day camp in College Park, Md., a couple current Terps did a double take. Wasn’t Jake Funk supposed to be in Los Angeles getting ready for training camp with the Rams?
“It was pretty funny, some of the players thought I was Funk, and a lot of the Maryland coaches were calling me Funk every time they saw me,” said Listorti, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back/safety out of Chesapeake High in Pasadena, Md. “Coach [Mike] Locksley told me I reminded him of Funk with how strong, fast and quick I am, and how I’m a fast learner.”
The rising senior Listorti did not earn a Terps’ offer following said camp, but it’s clear he turned a few heads. Several of UMD’s offensive coaches took note of his performance, which included 4.02 and 4.07 second shuttles, and Locksley actually pulled Listorti and his father into his office post one-day.
“Coach Locksley told me he was really impressed with me; I got a lot of encouragement from him,” Listorti said. “At first I wasn’t sure how I’d stack up against some of the other kids there, but I did really well. Coach Locksley liked what I was able to do, and he also admired how I’m a wrestler too. He said he’s known a few wrestlers and knows they’re pretty tough. I really appreciated him saying all of that.”
Listorti realizes he’ll probably have to show even more during his upcoming senior season to earn a Terps’ offer, preferred walk-on or otherwise, but his camp performances have grabbed the attention of several other area schools. Navy, which he camped at twice, has shown solid interest, William and Mary is on him after a one-day; and Davidson; Towson; and JMU are also intrigued.
“I guess a lot of these schools do want to see me play since I didn’t play last year, but I am getting some good interest,” Listorti said. “It’s been a lot of fun so far. Before this summer, I wasn’t on anyone’s radar, and now I’m getting on quite a few peoples’ radars.”
Listorti was originally in the 2021 class, but he actually left Chesapeake High last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and re-classed to 2022. During his year away from school, he took classes at a local community college, did football workouts on his own, and competed in a couple offseason wrestling tournaments. Listorti ended up increasing his speed, quicknees, and, most notably, his size and strength. He was 160 pounds two years ago at Chesapeake, when he Wally Pipped an injured starter four games into the season and ended up rushing for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns, and is now up to 190 pounds. He said he’s developed from an elusive, make-you-miss type of runner to someone who can run both by and through defenders.
“I’d say I’m pretty versatile,” said Listorti, who has a 38-inch vertical, a 10-foot broad jump and around a 4.6-second 40. “The thing now is I can deliver a hit.”
Of course, Listorti has been quite adept at delivering a hit on the wrestling mat. He compiled a 49-4 record at Chesapeake two years ago, and has been a two-time county champion; a regional champion; and a state qualifier.
“Wrestling is probably my best sport,” said Listorti, who also plays lacrosse. “But football is my favorite.”
Indeed, Listorti will continue his pursuit of a football scholarship later into the summer, with plans to attend camps at Towson and JMU. He’s currently back at Chesapeake and about to begin school workouts with his teammates.
“I’d love to be able to go DI — that’s the dream,” Listorti said. “But I also want to be on the honor roll, break my school’s single-season rushing and touchdown record, get all-county, and help my team win a championship.”