Mario Danelo

1 Biography
2 Remembering Mario Danelo
3 High School career
4 College career
5 Personal
6 References
7 Related Articles
- 7.1 Recent Mario Danelo ArmchairGM Stories

[edit] Biography

Born on July 3, 1985, Mario Danelo grew up sharing a love of football with his father, former NFL kicker Joe Danelo. Mario ended up being an all-city linebacker at San Pedro High School and walked on to the USC Trojans football team. After redshirting his freshman year, Danelo ended up earning a football scholarship and became one of the premier kickers in college football, setting USC, Pac-10 and NCAA records. Danelo's career and life came to a tragic and unexpected end shortly after the 2006-07 season when a hiking passer-by found Danelo's dead body about 120 feet down a rocky cliff on Jan. 6, 2007. The cause of Danelo's tragic death is still unknown.

[edit] Remembering Mario Danelo

"Mario was a wonderful young man of high character." -USC Coach Pete Carroll

"Mario was the guy who always had a smile on his face and would always cheer you up." -USC Linebacker and Team Captain Dallas Sartz

[edit] High School career

Danelo prepped at San Pedro (Calif.) High, where he played football (he was an All-L.A. City first team linebacker as a senior in 2002) and soccer.

[edit] College career

Danelo began his USC career as a walk-on. He later earned an athletic scholarship to be a kicker.
In 2005, Daleno set NCAA, Pac-10 and USC Trojans season records for PATs (83) and PAT attempts (86).
In 2006, Danelo led USC in scoring with 89 points.
In his Trojan career, Danelo missed only two field goals, going 26-for-28, and was 127-of-134 on extra points.