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Benedictine's Puccinelli Brings Cadets Discipline To Purdue After Transfer From Wake

In the age of the transfer portal, NIL and social media, it's easy for a Division I recruit to walk on campus as a freshman and think they're the man.

Benedictine alum and Glen Allen native Luca Puccinelli made no such assumptions when he arrived at Wake Forest.

The 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end who this past week announced his transfer to Purdue amid coaching turnover in Winston-Salem, N.C., credits that mature mindset to the culture instilled by Cadets coach Greg Lilly.

"I want to thank Coach Lilly and (assistant) Coach (Kurt von Bargen) at Benedictine for helping me with all the discipline along the years," Puccinelli said during a Monday interview after cleaning out his dorm and getting on the road to return to Richmond from Wake.

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"I think a lot of high schoolers coming out, they can have big egos, and they can walk on campus and think they're the guy. Coach Lilly and Coach von (Bargen), when you play under them, they make it very clear that you're not the guy, it's a team sport, and I think that's led to a lot of my success over the years."

Lilly said Puccinelli, who redshirted this past season and has four years of college eligibility remaining, stepped up as a leader his senior year at Benedictine (2023).

The Cadets won a state title that season, and Puccinelli was a key piece of that championship puzzle. An elite run blocker, he caught 10 passes for 120 yards and three TDs while helping Benedictine amass 2,500 yards on the ground in 12 games.

Lilly added that the previous coaching staff at Wake Forest was "thrilled" with Puccinelli's development. Out of high school, ESPN ranked him as the No. 26 tight end prospect in the country.

Running back Leo Boehling, then a star at Benedictine, celebrates a touchdown with Cadets tight end Luca Puccinelli on Nov. 18, 2023.

MARGO WAGNER, TIMES-DISPATCH

Puccinelli comes from an athletic family — older brother and fellow Benedictine graduate Andrew (Class of 2019) played QB at Hampden-Sydney, and younger brother Ralphie will be a junior QB at Glen Allen next season.

"Luca was great with us. Hard worker, massive amount of ability," Lilly said.

"Just a big frame, can move around, athletic. Loves football, loves competing. It's always good to have the supportive families like the Puccinellis who appreciate the traditions of Benedictine and love being a part of this community."

After 11 seasons leading the Demon Deacons, Dave Clawson in mid December announced his resignation. That, and the news that Wake would not make an in-house hire to replace Clawson as head coach, shocked Puccinelli.

He took a couple weeks to consider his options with his family, then decided to "take that leap of faith" and enter the notorious transfer portal.

Michigan State and Purdue were the two main schools showing interest. And after visiting the latter and meeting the coaching staff under big whistle Barry Odom, the Puccinelli family "fell in love with the place."

Tight end Luca Puccinelli runs after the catch in the first quarter of Benedictine's home victory over Woodberry Forest on Sept. 8.

Photo by Robby Fletcher

Because Puccinelli redshirted, he had no college film. So entering the portal was even more stressful than it already is. He wasn't sure how much interest he'd garner.

"You don't know who's interested, so you just jump in there and just you better hope somebody wants you, or you're kind of you're just lost in there," he said, thanking God and his family for helping him navigate that hectic process.

"So it was definitely stressful at the start, and then Purdue reached out right after I jumped in the portal. And then it really got exciting from there, because Michigan State did. And then now you're trying to figure out all the paperwork and transfer stuff, and then it gets stressful again."

Tight end Luca Puccinelli hauls in a catch in the first quarter.

Photo by Robby Fletcher

Puccinelli saw in Odom's vision at Purdue a chance to win at an elite level in the Big Ten.

Odom took over the Boilermakers, who finished 1-11 in 2024, just last month after leading UNLV to a 19-8 record and back-to-back Mountain West championship game appearances.

Perhaps Puccinelli can bring some of the championship pedigree attained off River Road to West Lafayette, Ind. He followed along with pride as the Cadets won their second consecutive VISAA state title in 2024.

"If you know Coach Lilly, you know how disciplined he is. He doesn't tolerate anything, all the flashiness, all the dancing and everything," Puccinelli said.

"It's just a very disciplined program that he leads, and I think that's why they have success every year."

Nikkos Kovanes catches a pass to score Saint Christopher's second touchdown, against Benedictine on Friday, October 1, 2021.

Saint Christopher's Jacob Zolar carries the ball against Benedictine's Aaron O'Neal Friday, October 1, 2021.

Pass intended for Saint Christopher's Andre Greene is incomplete against Benedictine's Eddie Jackson Friday, October 1, 2021.

Benedictine's Wes Buleza carries the ball against Saint Christopher's Trent Hendrick Friday, October 1, 2021.

Saint Christopher's Jacob Zolar carries the ball against Benedictine's Aaron O'Neal Friday, October 1, 2021. Benedictine

Kobi Onyiuke, left, then a star at Benedictine, puts pressure on Saint Christopher's quarterback Joshua Powell on Oct. 1, 2021. He won a VISAA state title with the Cadets in 2019.

Benedictine's Xavier Mears evades a tackle by Saint Christopher's Evan Wilson Friday, October 1, 2021.

Nikkos Kovanes catches a pass to score Saint Christopher's second touchdown, against Benedictine on Friday, October 1, 2021.

Saint Christopher's Jacob Zolar carries the ball against Benedictine's Aaron O'Neal Friday, October 1, 2021.

Pass intended for Saint Christopher's Andre Greene is incomplete against Benedictine's Eddie Jackson Friday, October 1, 2021.

Benedictine's Wes Buleza carries the ball against Saint Christopher's Trent Hendrick Friday, October 1, 2021.

Saint Christopher's Jacob Zolar carries the ball against Benedictine's Aaron O'Neal Friday, October 1, 2021. Benedictine

Kobi Onyiuke, left, then a star at Benedictine, puts pressure on Saint Christopher's quarterback Joshua Powell on Oct. 1, 2021. He won a VISAA state title with the Cadets in 2019.

Benedictine's Xavier Mears evades a tackle by Saint Christopher's Evan Wilson Friday, October 1, 2021.

Watch Wake Forest Demon Deacons Vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

There is early ACC women's basketball action on Thursday, Jan. 9 with the No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish taking on the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind.

The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.M. EST and will be available to stream on ESPN+. ESPN+ plans are currently at $11.99 a month or $16.99 a month if you bundle with Hulu and Disney+.

Fans looking to watch this college basketball game will need access to the ACC Network, which they can get by using FuboTV, which offers a free trial and $30 off your first month, or DirecTV Stream, which also offers a free trial. SlingTV doesn't offer a free trial but does have other promotional offers available.

These squads have had the complete opposite results since ACC play started with the 12-2 Fighting Irish going 3-0 in their opening conference games and Wake Forest going 0-3, dropping its overall record to 7-7.

Who: Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. No. 3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

When: Thursday, Jan. 9 at 5 p.M. EST

Where: Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, Ind.

Stream: ESPN+. ESPN+ plans are $11.99 a month or $16.99 a month if you bundle with Hulu and Disney+.

Betting: Check out our MA sports betting guide, where you can learn basic terminology, definitions and how to read odds for those interested in learning how to bet in Massachusetts.

What is ESPN+?

ESPN+ is a one-stop shop for content from almost every single sport. In addition to on-demand replays of games across all sports shown on the ESPN and Disney family of networks, there is also exclusive access to select college football games, NHL games, soccer matches, UFC programs and the entire 30 for 30 catalogue. Additionally, there is ESPN+ exclusive original programing like NFL Primetime, Dana White's Contender Series and The Breakdown with Peyton and Belichick.

What is FuboTV?

FuboTV is an internet television service that offers more than 200 channels across sports and entertainment including Paramount+ with SHOWTIME. From the UEFA Champions League to the WNBA to international tournaments ranging across sports, there's plenty of options available on FuboTV, which offers a free trial and $30 off the first month for new customers.

What is DirecTV Stream?

DirecTV Stream offers practically everything DirecTV provides, except for a remote and a streaming device to connect to your television. Sign up now and get three free months of premium channels including MAX, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and Starz.

What is SlingTV?

SlingTV offers a variety of live programing ranging from news and sports and starting as low as $20 a month for your first month. Subscribers also get a month of DVR Plus free if they sign up now. Choose from a variety of sports packages without long-term contracts and with easy cancelation.

Two Things: Coach Clawson Calls It Quits At Wake And Who Can Blame Him?; Big Day For Gamblers

Happy Tuesday. Forget leaving cookies for Santa; give Amazon drivers tacos.

To fans casual and rabid, the only thing surprising about the decision to step away made by Wake Forest head football coach Dave Clawson was its timing.

Late Monday afternoon — an odd time for such major announcements to leak — word began to spread that Clawson, 57, had had enough.

After 11 seasons wrangling fickle teenagers and headstrong 20-somethings, Clawson is hanging up his whistle and slipping into a coat and tie to assume a less fraught position in school administration as a special advisor in the athletics department.

And given the man's record — seven consecutive seasons with bowl invitations, one trip to the ACC championship game (2021) and 67 wins, which trails only the legendary Peahead Walker and miracle-worker Jim Grobe on the school's all-time list (77 each) — it's more than fair to say Clawson earned it.

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That job, working as a head football coach at a big-time school (or those who insist on trying to keep up with the deep-pocketed power conferences) is taxing both physically and mentally. Heck, Clawson is fresh off a complete shoulder reconstruction and bicep repair.

And with the constantly shifting landscape that finally dragged the influence of booster and sponsorship dollars out into the light where it belongs, it's gotten even trickier for a small group of men typically not noted for their ability to adapt on the fly. "Control freaks" might not be a strong enough descriptor.

Naturally enough, Athletics Director John Currie and Clawson had prepared statements ready to distribute the second breaking news alerts started dinging Monday on smart phones and laptops.

Being the smart, PR-savvy institution that Wake Forest is, those statements, while no doubt sincere in their sentiments expressing mutual admiration, left large chunks of the "Why" and "Why now?" out of the equation.

Hints, however, have been left behind by Clawson in recent years much the same way as other successful coaches who've decided to look elsewhere rather than wallowing in the uneven, unpredictable field of the transfer portal.

College kids finally empowered to leverage their own names, likenesses and labor for financial gain — the American way — surely is difficult.

But having to sit by while other coaches and programs swarmed around two- and three-star recruits that he and his staff developed must have been particularly galling. Even if Clawson's guys tried to remain above board while figuring it all out.

"It's not like when they tell me this I'm surprised," Clawson said in the summer of 2023 about schools trying to poach a few of his starting players. "But it's also great to hear. I love the way they handle it. There were none who tried to leverage or negotiate."

Putting it into the best light, lipstick on a pig, whatever you want to call it, Clawson surely suffered gastrointestinal distress over this new world.

Several starters had moved along in recent years including running back Kenneth Walker to Michigan State and quarterback Sam Hartman to Notre Dame.

"You only dated him (for) a couple of months. It can't be love," Clawson said of Notre Dame when Hartman finished his career and expanded his bank account in northern Indiana. "We're the ones that love him. We had five years with him. You rented him for a season. … When that (farewell) video played, it was like, 'Holy cow, this is where college football is.'"

And whether Clawson says so out loud this morning at a scheduled news conference, that surely was among the heaviest straws piled onto a buckling camel.

It has to be maddening for a highly successful, highly competitive guy to essentially turn into a farm team for the Notre Dames and Tennessees of college football.

Casino ready for grand opening

DANVILLE, Va. — Unless you're an aficionado — or a candidate for Gamblers Anonymous — you might not be aware that a long-awaited (and rapidly completed) permanent Caesar's Virginia Casino is set for a grand opening later today.

And that, ready or not, is a very large deal.

The Virginia Legislature knew exactly what it was doing in 2020 when it approved casino gambling in five economically distressed areas, most of whom are conveniently located near the state line.

Dating back to Prohibition time and continuing through North Carolina's foot-dragging with the lottery and legal weed, Virginia has demonstrated a penchant for slipping a hand in Tarheel wallets.

And Caesar's Entertainment, no corporate dummy, likewise knew what it was doing when it stepped up with an eye-popping $650-million investment for the 90,000-square-foot complex that officially opens around noon.

A 300-room hotel, conference center, restaurants and a casino with some 1,500 slot machines, 80 Blackjack tables, two dozen more for poker and a sports book is something to behold.

For Danville, a city of some 42,000 residents, Caesar's is the biggest thing since carpetbagging textile-mill owners moved south. It can expect up to $40 million annually in state-collected gaming revenue and sales, occupancy and property taxes.

For locals, some 1,300 full-time jobs paying a minimum of $15 an hour, more money for local schools and projects is a boon, too.

If you venture up — secondhand smoke and feeding one-arm bandits isn't my thing — know this, too.

Many days, if not most, since a temporary casino opened on-site in April 2023, the parking lots were full of cars bearing First in Flight (or Freedom) license tags.

And do not be surprised if sometime in 2025, lawmakers in Raleigh renew a drive to allow casino gambling here, too.

Five will get you $10 that it gets done by summer's end.

ssexton@wsjournal.Com

336-727-7481

@scottsextonwsj

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