Quigley a jack-of-all trades for Lansdale Catholic

Here's hoping Ryan Quigley has the softest mattress money can buy. A comfortable couch could suffice, too.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back and defensive back has been a busy young man at Lansdale Catholic.

Not only does the senior also play basketball and baseball for the Crusaders, but he is also heavily involved in extracurricular activities, and has done it all while maintaining a blemish-free GPA.

With all that busyness, perhaps the master of multitasking finds a measure of peace in football.

"He never leaves the field," fourth year coach Tom Kirk said. "He's our running back, our safety, and then he returns kickoffs and punts. So, every facet of the game, Ryan plays a role."

Well, maybe not every facet.

"It beats me how he does it," senior two-way lineman Vince Picozzi said in a phone interview. "I mean the only break he gets is after he scores a touchdown on extra points."

Senior kicker Ryan Carbone handles those duties for Lansdale Catholic (2-0).

After that one-play siesta, Quigley, who led the Catholic League in interceptions last season with six, gets back to work on defense.

The two-time captain's versatility, athleticism and brains have earned him college football interest from Ivy and Patriot League schools, with Temple and Villanova also in the mix.

Quigley, who was named AA Catholic League MVP by league coaches as a junior, said Princeton is scheduled to attend his game Friday night at Hatboro-Horsham.

Afterward, you will likely find him logging well-earned Zs.

"Honestly, I'm always a lot more tired (at the end of the day)," said Quigley. "As soon as I lay down on the couch at night I'm out in under two minutes."

He added: "I don't want to go home after school at 3 p.m. and go sit on the couch and watch football. I'd rather be around the community, whether it's doing community service or hanging out with friends or playing a sport. That's what I love. I love getting home at 8 p.m. then starting two hours of homework. That's what I enjoy. I don't enjoy having nothing to do."

That much is clear.

Quigley said he's helped with St. Joseph's University's Hand-in-Hand program, an organization that raises awareness and acceptance for individuals with special needs; helped run a March Madness basketball tournament for fifth through eighth graders at Corpus Christi (his former middle school); helped run Traditions, a leadership program at Lansdale Catholic; and even umpired a breast cancer awareness youth baseball tournament last year.

All of that while taking advanced placement courses and holding down a 4.0 GPA.

Perhaps when sheep can't sleep they should count Quigleys.

"It's definitely been hard and I've definitely had challenges I had to overcome," he said. "School's always been most important to me. I've always cared most about my grades. I hate to miss a practice but if I had to get tutoring, my coaches would understand, which I'm thankful for."

For college, Quigley counts business and nursing among his options. His dad, Paul, is a businessman. His mother, Kelley, is a nurse.

Whatever Quigley chooses won't entail inactivity, and it will likely include helping people in need.

"One of my goals for my senior year is to keep a smile on my face," he said. "I've been blessed by people around me who helped me through tough times, so I want to be one of those people to make somebody's day or year better."

@AceCarterINQ