Ozzy Trapilo Turning Heads with 'Football Intelligence' at Bears Camp
Ozzy Trapilo Turning Heads with 'Football Intelligence' at Bears Camp originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Chicago Bears have officially wrapped up offseason camp activities, with OTAs now in the books. All eyes have been on new head coach Ben Johnson as he begins molding this roster in his vision. While much of the buzz has centered around familiar names and position battles, one highly touted rookie has started to make waves—quietly earning the respect of coaches and analysts alike.
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Ozzy Trapilo, the 6'8", 316-pound offensive lineman out of Boston College, spent five years refining his craft in the ACC. But coming out of Bears camp, it's not just his massive frame turning heads—it's his football IQ. In a recent segment from Bears at CHSN, analyst Jake Butt responded to Trapilo's post-practice reflections on playing left tackle. Trapilo explained:
'It's a little easier I would say because I don't go flow state like I do if I were to get on the right side. On that foreign side… you're able to really hone in on the minor differences these coaches want to see.'
Brayden Keim #74 and Ozzy Trapilo #75Getty Images
Butt followed up with high praise:
'He seems like a really intelligent football player for a rookie.'
He even likened Trapilo's mindset to that of Ryan Ramczyk, who successfully transitioned positions and became a three-time All-Pro.
Head coach Ben Johnson also echoed the sentiment early in rookie minicamp shared on the Chicago Bears Youtube channel:
'He's exactly who we thought he was going to be—super smart. He takes those concepts in the meeting straight to the field and applies them immediately.'
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While the battle for left tackle is far from decided—especially with Braxton Jones still recovering from an ankle injury—Trapilo has firmly inserted himself into the mix. The Bears aren't handing out starting roles just yet, but if this offseason is any indication, Ozzy Trapilo is someone worth watching.
Related: Bears' Top Rookies Still Unsigned as Agent Power Moves Trigger Chain Reaction
Related: Backfield Shake-Up Brewing in Chicago as Emerging Talent Draws Buzz
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.

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Forbes
37 minutes ago
- Forbes
Former Yankees Pitcher Sam Militello Has Had A ‘Rewarding' 25 Years With The Tampa Spartans
Sam Militello is part of an impressive 'Who's Who' of Tampa baseball that includes two of his Jefferson High School teammates, Tino Martinez and Luis Gonzalez. He and Martinez overlapped one season at the University of Tampa, where Militello returned following a pro career and has spent the last quarter century as a coach. 'Being a Tampa guy, I grew up watching Dwight Gooden, who was something special,' said the 55-year-old, in his office at UT's Bob Martinez Athletics Center four days after the Spartans took a doubleheader from Central Missouri to win yet another Division-II national title. 'I got to play against Gary Sheffield and Carl Everett. All these studs from Tampa, which has been a hotbed for a long time. All of the Tampa major leaguers know each and it is like a little club that we have.' It was quite a club the left-handed pitcher was part of in three seasons (1988-90) at UT. Militello was on the front end of a 35-year string of success that has seen the Spartans win 10 national titles. While the first of those championships was in 1992, two years after he was a sixth-round selection of the Yankees, the wheels along the Hillsborough River began turning big time in the mid-to-late 1980s. Militello had much to with that, though he needed a reassuring phone call when it came to deciding what school to attend. 'I spoke with Tino's father when I was deciding where to go to school,' said Militello, of the late Rene Martinez. 'I asked why Tino went to UT. He could have gone anywhere in the country. After that conversation, I hung up the phone and said, 'I am going to UT.'' It was a good choice. In 1990, his junior and final year at UT, Militello went 15-2 with a 1.75 ERA to earn Division-II player of the year honors. His effort helped the Spartans make it to the national championship series and place third. 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'They wanted me to be the head coach, but I didn't have my degree because I left after my junior year,' said Militello, noting university higher ups required a degree to be a head coach. 'I told Cleveland, 'Hold on, I might be back.'' There was no going back. Not when another former UT teammate, Joe Urso, was handed the keys to the program. 'Joe surfaced late in the (hiring) process and he wanted me to stay, so I ended up staying,' said Militello, who completed his 25th season with Urso as pitching coach and, essentially, a co-head coach. 'Little did I know that 25 years later I would still be in the same spot, which I am totally fine with and have been totally fine with all along.' Opportunities to become a head coach, including at Division-I institutions, arose especially early in his UT tenure. However, Militello has been and remains literally and figuratively right at home. 'When I am asked if I want to be a head coach, my response is, 'I am,'' he said. 'Joe treats me that way. 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39 minutes ago
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