Penn wide receiver the target of stellar passers

When Ramapo High School wide receiver Rob Milanese was ready to embark on a college football career at Penn, he certainly wasn't intimidated by the prospect of having to fit in with a potent offensive unit at the next level.

"My dad would always kid me that I was going to have a better quarterback in high school than in college," Milanese said.

No disrespect to Matt Rader, who was the Quakers quarterback when Milanese arrived at Penn as a freshman, but very few signal-callers in the nation had the credentials and the bright future that Ramapo's did.

That's because the quarterback was Chris Simms, current starter at the University of Texas and son of former New York Giant and current CBS sportscaster Phil Simms.

Milanese became accustomed to the large crowds and media hype at a younger age than most, and hoped that college would provide at least as great a stage as his Franklin Lakes, N.J., high school had.

But when another star quarterback, Gavin Hoffman, decided to leave the Big Ten and come to the Ivy League, Milanese was energized.

He would now have the privilege, and the rare opportunity, to have caught passes from two of the nation's better quarterbacks.

"I think I'm pretty lucky. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard Gavin was transferring," Milanese said.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound wideout has excelled as an integral part of the dynamic air attack that Penn has featured in recent years with Hoffman. After being redshirted due to injury in 1998, Milanese has gone on to post 2,069 career receiving yards in just 2 1/2 seasons of play for the Red and Blue.

This ranks him third all-time, and since Milanese will return for a fifth year in 2002, a variety of Penn receiving records are in jeopardy.

The success that he is currently enjoying seemed destined to happen.

As the son of a college football player and the next-door neighbor of the Simms family as a youngster in an affluent northeastern New Jersey suburb, Milanese was immersed in the world of football at an early age.

"[Chris]'s father was always there coaching him, and he'd help me too," Milanese said of his experiences with the Simms family.

"He's had the advantage of learning from professionals, which few others do," Penn coach Al Bagnoli said.

Milanese explained that his celebrity neighbor did more than just offer private lessons in the yard.

"I think [Phil] played a pretty big role for me," Milanese said. "When we were little, we'd go to [Giants Stadium] on Saturdays and hang out in the locker room. It ignited my interest in football."

In addition to these moments during practices, during which the two boys got to associate with players such as wide receiver Phil McConkey and tight end Mark Bavaro, Phil would also get tickets for Chris and his best friend for home games at Giants Stadium.

On eight Sundays every fall, Milanese and Chris Simms further increased their burgeoning passion for the game when they watched one of the NFL's most dominant teams of the 1980s and early '90s.

Today, the two players who have known each other since their days in Pop Warner, when Milanese served as his team's running back, remain in close contact.

"I talk to him once every couple of weeks," Milanese said. "We played backyard football together for years and, in the summer when he's back, we throw every day."

As the two aged and continued to develop their considerable talents, people began to take notice. Simms never had a problem attracting a crowd because of his size, power and last name.

Milanese was slowly making a name for himself as well at running back, but decided to change positions after his freshman year of high school.

"I moved to wide receiver. I thought it would be a good fit for me because of my size," said the Wharton senior, pointing out that he probably didn't possess the sheer strength and proper build required of a tailback.

As a wideout, Milanese quickly adapted to his new role on the football field. Rather than taking handoffs from Simms, he was now catching 40- and 50- yard bombs downfield.

And although the Ramapo H.S. team had little need to pass during the course of an average game because of its equally superior running attack, the 10 or so times that Simms did put the ball in the air, it was for serious gains that excited fans, local media and, best of all, recruiters.

"It was really good because it got our team a lot of publicity," Milanese said. "Before that, we never got recognition as contenders."

This recognition reached its pinnacle when Ramapo won the state championship for New Jersey Group 3 high schools in 1997, Milanese's senior year.

In that season, the senior captain played a critical role in his team's 11-0 record, as he garnered first team All-Bergen County and third team All-State honors.

"If I did my job and got open, [Simms] would put the ball right on the money," Milanese said. "He'd throw some great balls. I feel that my skills helped him excel, and that his skills helped me excel."

Now in his third year playing alongside Hoffman, Milanese spots a definite likeness between the past and present.

"They're both big, have great arms and smarts. I think they're pretty similar, and that they'll both get a chance to go on to the next level," Milanese said. "I think I'm very lucky for that."

As for his play on the field this year, which includes a team-high 37 receptions for 431 yards, Milanese is pleased, but knows that he is still capable of even better production.

"For me to be satisfied with my performance, I need to make more big plays," Milanese said.

It should come as no mystery where he learned that.

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