Past changes helped Ciardi be at the center of Nashua North football's success

For as long as he played football, Harley Ciardi was a center.

But midway through his junior year, injuries hit the offensive line of the Nashua High School North football team, and Ciardi was moved to tackle.

It was not a move that the Titans lineman was excited to make.

"He wasn’t happy last year," North coach Dante Laurendi said. "We talked to him and said we’re doing this because you’re versatile. I don’t think any kid is happy changing a position they’ve played their whole life. It’s an adjustment. It’s not just about the position you play, it’s can you benefit us somewhere else in this situation."

Not only did the Titans benefit from having their best linemen on the field, but it helped Ciardi get a better understanding of every position on the line and each one's responsibilities.

"It definitely helped me realize how hard some of the other positions are to pick up," he said. "I definitely find myself more aware of everything that’s going on pre-snap. When I snap the ball, I’ve already thought about what’s going on."

The coaching staff could see that the move helped Ciardi, too, especially once he moved back to center.

"Any time you play multiple positions, I think it helps and it helped him," Laurendi said. "He’s the center because he’s got football smarts. Usually, you’ve got to have a guy who has some savvy and understands blitz and blitz pickup and protections and can make some checks and calls for you.

"He is smart and versatile enough to be able to do that. Then when you move out, you get a different perspective of why you’re making those calls."

While he didn't crack the starting lineup until his junior year, Ciardi saw a lot of playing time with the varsity as a freshman and sophomore, including time as the long snapper on special teams. It was a daunting experience at first, but any nerves for Ciardi were washed away by his desire to get on the field.

"At first, I was a little nervous, as a freshman going up against bigger kids," he said. "But I was eager to get in there and I wanted to play as much as possible."

Ciardi also tries to work as much as he can on the one thing the center has to do on every single play - snapping the ball.

"Outside of football practice, I try to snap a good 10 minimum, but on the weekend, I aim for 50 a day with my dad (Frank)," Ciardi said. "We work together and he motivates me to do that outside of football. We snap a lot before practice and pregame. I’m practicing a lot."

Not only does the center need to be able to make the right calls for North's offense - which Laurendi always had faith in Ciardi doing - but he needed to be a physically gifted player as well.

"You’ve got to have good hands," Laurendi said. "He’s an athletic kid. He’s a big kid, but he’s an athletic kid. He can snap the ball because he’s got good big hands and soft hands. He’s got good feet for a big guy."

While Ciardi hopes to play football in college next year, he's planning to add a couple of other sports before his high school career is over.

"I’m thinking about doing wrestling this year to get in shape and try lacrosse with all my friends," he said. "I definitely want to play in college."