There’s no doubt that Vernon Hills’ Giuseppe Urso is a winning football player.
Whether the 5-foot-8, 170-pound senior is busting through defenders for rushing yards or filling gaps as a linebacker, he has made a positive impact on the Cougars in each game since the beginning of the 2023 season.
But something has been missing for Urso and the Cougars, who went 3-6 and 1-8. The team’s last winning season was in 2021.
“There’s nothing worse than going 1-8,” Urso said. “It’s obviously embarrassing. I’m proud to wear my jersey to school and don’t want people to be saying negative things about the team. We remember how last year went, and that’s not going to be how this goes.”
Urso has received encouragement from Chicago Bears running back Travis Homer, who lives next door.
“We were pretty close with the neighbors who lived there before, so the day the U-Haul came in, my brother and I helped him unpack boxes, and we struck up a small relationship,” Urso said. “I take advice from him that has helped me conquer little things. He’s reinforced me on the mental side.
“We talked a lot about last year, and he lifted me up for this year. We got lucky. It’s pretty cool to have him as our neighbor.”
Vernon Hills is happy to have Urso, who had a big hand in a 17-0 season-opening nonconference victory at Grayslake North last week. He rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and played a key role in a sterling defensive effort that held the Knights to 86 total yards.
Urso’s 21-yard scoring run in the first quarter got the Cougars on the board for the season and helped lead to a unique scene in the locker room at halftime.
“It felt so good to be up 17-0 because they kicked our butts the last three years,” he said. “The coaches actually had to put us back in our places a little bit. A half like that boosted our ego and our confidence. I had a feeling before the game it would be different.”
For Urso, this season figures to be much the same. That means reprising the workhorse role he has held since he entered the starting lineup during his sophomore season, when he played with his older brother, Giacomo.
That opportunity gave Urso a chance to prove that he could compete with older players.
“I always felt like I was a step ahead of everyone because I was friends with all of my brother’s friends,” he said. “I would work out with them. I trained a lot, practiced a lot and ate a lot. Things really took off for me my sophomore year.”
Urso’s upward trajectory continued last season, when he rushed for 1,018 yards and 11 touchdowns and was named all-conference in the Central Suburban North for the second time.
“Football is his whole life, and he practices exactly how he plays,” Vernon Hills coach Bill Bellecomo said. “He’s always locked in and is always trying to get better and doesn’t take any shortcuts. And because of that, he’s one of those kids who as the game goes on he gets stronger.”
Urso’s postgame routine is important too. He said Homer has helped with that, allowing him to borrow Normatec leg sleeves, which help reduce inflammation and accelerate muscle recovery.
“I run angry and have a ferociousness where I’ll fight for every yard,” Urso said. “Football isn’t such a nice game. If you don’t protect yourself, you’ll get hurt. The other night, Grayslake North felt every yard.”
Urso is just as valuable off the field in his role as a captain and team leader.
“He’s always been able to motivate guys, but now that he’s a senior, he’s a lot more hands-on and more vocal,” Vernon Hills senior linebacker/tight end Lex Sarantos said. “He may not be the biggest guy, but he doesn’t play like it. He always plays at 100% — nothing less.”
Urso yearns to win.
“I don’t want us to be satisfied with one win,” he said. “I want us to be on the rise and to make a statement. We haven’t been taken seriously, and that’s one thing we’re looking for.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.