Immediate impact

Dan Clendaniel
Published: August 27, 2008

Brandon Livingston made an immediate positive first impression on coach David Coccoli when the new mentor met with the team for the first time last spring.

“When I was finished, Brandon was the first one to come up to me to introduce himself,” Coccoli said.

Livingston’s second, third and ensuing impressions upon Coccoli have been even more impressive.

“He’s a football player as well as a team leader and he’ll be a team captain,” Coccoli said.

An example of Livingston’s leadership came at a recent practice. Despite being banged up from the previous two hours of drills and
scrimmaging, Livingston was nonetheless in his customary place when the session ended, leading the squad in running drills.

Livingston has already proven to Coccoli that he is a team-first kind of player. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Livingston loves nothing better on a football field than to be a pass catcher. Last year, playing as a wideout, Livingston caught 32 passes for 413 yards.

But Coccoli brought the I-formation to the Cougars, which means more power running and more blocking responsibilities for Livingston.
Livingston developed a good chemistry with Michael Mehus, who was inserted at quarterback midway through the 2007 season. Mehus and Livingston hooked up for 25 completions over the last five games.

Livingston hopes to develop the same kind of rapport with the new quarterback, sophomore Donavan Johnson. In between his blocking assignments, Livingston still hopes to demonstrate his pass-catching skills.

“Our new offense is a running offense,” said Livingston, “but we can definitely come back and hit passes now and then.”
Livingston never groaned about being moved to tight end.

“He said, ‘Coach, I’ll play wherever you need me,’” said Coccoli. “He’s adapted well to the blocking and never complained.”
On defense, Livingston will play outside linebacker.

Livingston is one of the few Cougars left from the last Manassas Park playoff team, the 2005 edition that reached the state finals.
He would like another crack at the post season before his high school career ends.

“My goal is to make as many plays for this team and do whatever I can to help it make the playoffs.”

Livingston hopes his versatility as a two-way player will help him succeed at the college level.

“I’ve talked to some colleges like Richmond, Concord and Liberty,” said Livingston. “I’d like to play for a big school because I think that would help me reach my goal to play pro ball. Football is the biggest thing in my life.”

Coccoli sees no reason why Livingston cannot at least play successfully on the college level.

“I will do anything I can to help get into a school somewhere,” said the first-year coach. “He comes with a good attitude ready to play and is self-motivated.”