Joe Roche, a Darien offensive lineman, has received his first Division I offer, and the tale of how that came about begins with the player he hopes to emulate.
Joe Roche, a three-year starting lineman for Darien High School, received an offer from Columbia. That offer comes after watching his older brother Kevin play in front of more than 50,000 fans at Georgia Tech. Kevin is a 6-foot-9, 270-pound tight end for the Yellowjackets, and through three games this season he has 12 catches for 141 yards and a blocked field goal on special teams.
On Sept. 12, Georgia Tech hosted Tennessee at Bobby Dodd Stadium, and that was the moment Joe called “surreal”. That same game, Kevin had six catches for 66 receiving yards, which was the most by a Yellowjackets’ tight end since 2000, per the Georgia Tech athletics site.
The Brother Who Set the Bar
Joe claims he talks with Kevin constantly, and he considers the guidance he receives to be absolutely essential.
“It’s nice having that older influence, someone who has seen everything I’m seeing,” Joe Roche said. “He played up through Darien, he was a captain and went through the recruiting process, so it’s nice having a leader in that. He’s somebody who can tell me what’s coming next and what I can do to maximize my potential and find a place in college.”
Joe said that Kevin’s desire to play football in college came from the trips he took to SEC and Big Ten schools on his way to Georgia Tech.
“It was insane, going with my brother seeing the whole recruiting process,” Roche said. “Going to SEC, Big 10 games, and I’m seeing that from the perspective of somebody they want. It was definitely really cool.”
Family History on the Field
The family has a solid history with college athletics. Both of Roche’s parents attended Fordham, where his father, Kevin Sr., played football and his mother, Jeana, played volleyball.
Jillian is his older sister and a senior on the Colby College volleyball team.
Roche considers it a blessing to be able to follow his older brother and father into the world of college football.
“Since (the recruiting) started, it’s been fun,” Roche said. “I’m playing the sport I love, so to have the opportunity to do what I want to do is a gift and I’ll get some reward out of it later. I’m just balling out and seeing what it will net me.”
What the Offer Means Now
Columbia’s offer came through at the start of Joe Roche’s recruiting window, which opened earlier this year for the high school junior.
“It’s always a grind until you get that first one, and once that first offer is with you, it’s pretty cool,” Roche said. “Columbia’s a great school, great academics, I love their football team, their program and their coaching staff. For that to be my first offer is great.”
The Line Around Him
Roche began playing since his freshman year, and that initial season saw him on a Darien team that placed second in the CIAC Class L tournament. The group includes seniors Will Primmer, who carries a 6-3 record with 270 saves, Thomas Cavolo, and James Dionisio, who boasts a 6-1 mark with 235 saves — all three having started for multiple seasons.
Coach Andy Grant demands a great deal from his Darien Wave linemen, and that expectation may be even greater for Roche due to his experience.
“I kind of expect more from him on a daily basis than anyone else because he’s been around it, he’s seen it at the state championship level,” Grant said. “He needs to be a leader of this group and the guy who demonstrates what work ethic is and what it means to put in the grind during the season.”
Grant said that each week they receive a little bit more from Roche.
The Recruiting Run
College coaches have been asking Grant questions about Roche as the recruitment season reaches its busiest point.
“He has a lot of options,” Grant said. “A lot of people inquire about him and it doesn’t hurt that the name is out there. He’s been around for three years, so he’s seen a lot of these college programs coming in and out of the building. Really the opportunities are endless with FBS, FCS, and he’s a high academic kid so obviously Ivies and Patriot League are in the mix.”
“This is the critical time to get yourself on the radar and then have a really good season. He’s got a lot going for him and we’re excited to see who comes around.”
A Familiar Setting
During his recruitment, Kevin heard from Joe that he was the “little brother tagging along.”. The campus visits gave him a taste of what playing college football would actually be like.
“It was insane, going with my brother seeing the whole recruiting process,” Roche said. “Going to SEC, Big 10 games, and I’m seeing that from the perspective of somebody they want. It was definitely really cool.”
The environment at Bobby Dodd Stadium left an impression on him.
“Seeing the ball go up in the air and my brother coming down with it and them announcing his name was pretty insane,” Roche said. “That feeling’s new to me, being in that environment.”
“Bobby Dodd is an insane stadium on game day and having the entire side of a stadium cheer for my brother was pretty cool.”
“I’m just balling out and seeing what it will net me.”
Roche recognizes that the Columbia offer marks the beginning rather than the end of a longer process.
“It’s always a grind until you get that first one, and once that first offer is with you, it’s pretty cool,” Roche said.
The current strategy involves sticking with the game he enjoys, proving his worth through performance, and waiting for the opportunities to arrive on their own.
| Fixture | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia Tech vs. Tennessee | Sept. 12 | Bobby Dodd Stadium |
| Columbia offer extended to Joe Roche | Start of recruiting window | — |
Source material: “Darien lineman Joe Roche earns first D1 offer, following brother Kevin's path to college football,” Yahoo Sports.
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